LOS ANGELES ? There?s a Latino fighter here in LA who?s rooting for Manny Pacquiao, and not Erik Morales.
“I know Pacquiao is fighting a Latino. I?m Latino. But my money?s on him,” said Charles Vila of Cuba, a rising star in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championships or UFC.
The 25-year-old Vila chanced upon Pacquiao Friday afternoon as the Filipino boxer was having late lunch with friends and team members at a Thai restaurant just outside the Wild Card Gym.
“Is that Pacquiao?” a stunned Vila asked Pinoy scribes who were with the boxer. “Yeah, he?s Pacquiao. Man, I can?t believe it. I?ve seen his fights. His hands are so quick. He?s so good.”
Vila, who has won 27 of his 30 UFC fights, including 18 by knockout, was later introduced to Pacquiao, and had a picture taken with the hard-punching superstar from Gen. Santos City.
Pacquiao had just finished training and was in jogging pants, jacket and a Lakers cap. He shook hands with Vila and looked surprised when told that the Cuban is a tough UFC fighter.
The Cuban, who?s married to a Burmese, said he plans to go to Las Vegas early next week to catch the third and decisive showdown with Mexico?s Erik Morales at the Thomas and Mack Center on Nov. 18.
“I?d be there and I?ll bet on Manny. I lost on him when he fought Morales the first time. I know they?re even but I hope he wins this time. I?d place probably a thousand bucks (P50,000) on him,” he said. Not bad for a Latino rooting for a Pinoy.
