3 FIGHTS PA'
[PHOTO - MANNY PACQUIAO: Retiring soon AP FILE PHOTO]
MANILA, MARCH 22,
2012 (INQUIRER) What his mother failed to accomplish, God
apparently succeeded with Manny Pacquiao.
It took a divine vision, by way of a dream sometime in January, to make the
Filipino ring icon change his ways and mull early retirement.
Pacquiao, widely regarded as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, said
that God appeared to him in a dream and asked him to retire soon.
"I will not stay long in boxing because He said: 'You have done enough. You
have made yourself famous but this is harmful,'" Pacquiao told dzMM radio in
Monday's interview that was also broadcast over the network's Teleradyo show.
As early as 2009, Aling Dionesia, Pacquiao's mother, had been badgering her
son to hang up his gloves to avoid further harm.
Pacquiao, who has won eight titles in as many weight divisions and has been
named Fighter of the Decade, would grudgingly accede—only to have fights lined
up for him one after the other by promoter Bob Arum.
On June 9, Pacquiao will again climb the ring and stake his World Boxing
Organization welterweight crown against American light welterweight challenger
Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
And when he does, Pacquiao will be a new man—rid of his vices and preaching
the Bible.
Asked if his newfound religious fervor would affect his boxing prowess,
Pacquiao replied: "I will do my work inside the ring."
Meaning, he would still wage war against the unbeaten Bradley, who is
undoubtedly in his prime at 28 with a 28-win, 0-loss, 1-draw record.
The 33-year-old Pacquiao, owner of a 54-3-2 slate, who declined to reveal how
many more fights he would have before stepping down, said he believed he had
been chosen by God to use his fame to spread the Christian message.
"When I speak, a lot of people listen," said Pacquiao, who has translated his
sports fame into huge riches, a show biz career and election to Congress as
representative of Sarangani province.
Gambling, partying
Having given up gambling and late-night partying as part of his covenant with
God, Pacquiao said he would make a major announcement on a religious note later
this month, or before he plunges into serious training for the pay-per-view
fight with Bradley.
And if Pacquiao does choose preaching over fighting, chances of his
much-awaited megabuck bout with another unbeaten American, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
(42-0), might go kaput.
Fans have long sought a Pacquiao-Mayweather matchup. The pair were in
negotiations for a mega-fight to have been held later this year but talks fell
through. Reports from Roy Luarca and AFP
FROM MANILA BULLETIN
'3 Fights More,' Says Pacquiao By NICK GIONGCO
March 20, 2012, 10:24pm
MANILA, Philippines — Cheer up, boxing fans. Manny Pacquiao is not
hanging up his gloves anytime soon.
"Three fights pa," Pacquiao told the Manila Bulletin Tuesday from Cebu where
he will be taping two episodes of his weekly game show on GMA-7 in the coming
days.
Pacquiao said he has to tape his shows in advance because he will soon start
the first phase of his training in Baguio City for the June 9 showdown with Tim
Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao said in a radio interview on Monday that he has spoken with God, who
has told him to retire, as he has accumulated enough fortune and achieved fame
no other Filipino athlete has.
While Pacquiao always mentions the word retirement in his recent speeches –
majority of them laced with Biblical verses – the 33-year-old congressman from
Saranggani made it clear it won't be this year.
Should he get past Bradley – a fight ringsiders believe will be a
walk-in-the-park for the Filipino star – Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum will
line him up possibly against Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico, or against Floyd
Mayweather, if both camps reach an agreement financially.
Arum had earlier expressed concern over Pacquiao's behavior the past weeks,
but is nevertheless confident that once he gets into training mode, his mood
will change.
Pacquiao will spend three weeks in Baguio City and will wrap up the final
stage at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
The fact that Pacquiao is giving himself three more fights is reason enough
to believe that the country's greatest fighter ever remains motivated and hungry
for more adulation.
Even if Pacquiao doesn't end up facing Mayweather, his reputation as an
all-time great will not be affected and his standing as an "immortal" will
remain.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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