ShareThisMAKATI CITY (PhilAmPress) — After a whirlwind press tour in the United States, Mexico and the Philippines with Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez, world boxing icon and congressman Manny Pacquiao started here his training for his November 12 bout in Las Vegas.
“I will train hard and will be ready for the fight with Marquez,” he said at the Planet Jupiter Gym in Makati City.
The world’s pound-for-pound king will get a guaranteed purse of more than $20 million – his biggest – in the grudge fight against Marquez. When he started fighting in US in 2001, Pacqquiao received a paltry $40,000 only.
Other developments:
1. Pacquiao clarified that he will run for governor of Sarangani in 2013 and later maybe as Vice President, adding he has agreed with the current governor that they will switch posts.
Pacquiao admitted that he was not cut to be a congressman as he bewailed the slow process in the House of Representatives.
2. Pacquiao declared that he is good for one or two more fights, including one against Floyd Mayweather Jr., after Marquez after which he will definitely retire from the ring to concentrate on public service.
3. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is upbeat of posting a new record for Pacquiao in pay-per-view revenue by drawing 1.5 million to 2 million buys. The Mosley fight generated about 1.4 million buys.
4. The Team Pacquiao is setting up a training camp again in Baguio City starting next week as part of the preparation for the Nov. 12 grudge fight against Marquez.
5. The Philippine Embassy in Mexico reported that Filipino boxer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao was hailed as the “best boxer, pound for pound” by the Mexican media during a press conference last 8 September at the Plaza de la Revolucion in the center of the Mexican capital. Tourism Minister Alejandro Rojas welcomed the Filipino champion, who was accompanied by Ambassador-designate George B. Reyes, promoter Bob Arum and coach Freddy Roach.
Top Rank’s Bob Arum said that Marquez will also be earning his biggest paycheck of $5 million and a share in the PPV revenue in the November 12 bout.
Paquiao got $20 million up-front and portion of the PPV sales in his fight against American boxer Shane Mosley also in Las Vegas. The Pacquiao-Mosley fight generated 1.4 million PPV buys.
Arum said that Pacquiao has generated more than 8 million buys in his last 14 fights.
In Mexico City, Tourism Minister Alejandro Rojas led in welcoming the Filipino champion, who is known as the conqueror of Mexican boxing champions.
“May the better fighter win,” Tourism Minister Rojas said.
Ambassador-designate Reyes described Mr. Pacquiao as “the crown jewel of Philippine sports” and “a source of pride of the Filipino nation.”
Reyes reminded the journalists who attended the standing room conference that the Filipino champion is also a representative in the Philippine Congress, whose popularity is such that when his championship matches are televised in the Philippines, the crime rate drops significantly because almost everyone is glued to the television screen.
Promoter Arum predicted that the November duel in Las Vegas would be a closely-fought encounter while Marquez said he would give it his all for his family and country.
Congressman Pacquiao thanked the Mexican people for their warm welcome then said in Spanish, to the delight of his Mexican fans, that he was sad that one of the two boxers would have to lose come November 12 but “that is how things happen in life.”
During his tight schedule in Mexico City, the Filipino pugilist visited the Mexico City Cathedral and the Chamber of Deputies.
Congressman Pacquiao also met with members of the Filipino community at the Regis Hotel where he was booked, autographing gloves and pictures presented to him, then ended his one-day visit by flying back to New York, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In the House of Representatives, Pacquiao participated in the deliberation for the P1.8 trillion national budget.
He said he wants to become governor of Sarangani next. “I want to experience serving in the executive. And I prefer making decisions when to implement the laws and I want these laws implemented immediately,” he said.
“ But here in Congress, if you want to file (a bill), you have to wait for several months (before implementing it),” Pacquiao said.
“I think I can do a lot more if (I would be allowed to serve as an) executive. I’m an action man. I want it to be me who will implement the changes I want,” Pacquiao added.