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  • Manny Pacquiao Sparks Firestorm Of Criticism, Calls Gays ‘Worse Than Animals’

    Manny Pacquiao suffered from a serious case of foot-in-mouth when he compared homosexuals to animals during a recent interview by a local Phillipines TV station.

    The former world boxing champion, who is a born again Christian, was asked by the interviewer about his thoughts on same-sex marriage. In a mixture of English and his native language, Pacquiao responded by saying that animals have a much better grasp of “proper” sexual relations than gays.

    “It’s common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex? Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female,” said the Filipino boxer.

    Using this analogy, Manny Pacquiao concluded that gays are “worse than animals” for choosing to have same-sex relations.

    The Philippines has long been considered one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world despite its religiosity, with recent studies claiming that one out of 16 Filipino men is gay. As a result, Pacquiao received huge backlash for his comments, including criticism from several local celebrities.

    One of the country’s most well-known comedians named Vice Ganda started the hashtag #PrayForMannyPacquiao on Twitter and posted several messages addressed to the boxer.

    “The LGBT is a group of people. We are humans. But not animals. Though we’re no saints we will pray for Manny Pacquiao,” said the tweet.

    The video, which was widely shared online as soon as it was released, could not have come at a worse time for Manny Pacquiao as he is vying for a seat in the Philippine Senate in this year’s national elections. In an attempt to do some damage control, he posted a video on his social media pages in which he seeks forgiveness to “those I’ve hurt” and apologizes for “comparing homosexuals to animals.”

    In another post, Manny Pacquiao shares a photo of himself and his wife, Jinkee, along with a Bible verse that condemns same-sex relations.

  • Manny Pacquiao Compares LGBT Community To “Animals”

    Manny Pacquiao ignited a firestorm of controversy this week when he made incendiary comments about the LGBT community during a senatorial interview in the Philippines.

    The boxing legend is gearing up for an election in May and a fight in April, two high-profile events that necessitate promotion of himself, and he isn’t holding back when it comes to his views.

    “It’s just common sense. Have you seen any animal having male-to-male or female-to-female relations? If you have male-to-male or female-to-female (relationships), then people are worse than animals,” Manny said on Monday.

    Gay marriage is currently against the law in the Philippines, but Pacquiao says he isn’t making it a personal battle. Rather, he says, he is upholding the words of the Bible. In a recent Instagram post, Pacquiao apologized for anyone he may have hurt with his comments.

    “I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt. I still stand on my belief that I’m against same sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I’m not condemning LGBT. I love you all with the love of the Lord. God Bless you all and I’m praying for you,” he wrote.

    Manny Pacquiao is projected to win the senate seat he’s campaigning for, but his most recent comments have upset many Filipinos, some of whom say they believe he should stick to the boxing ring.

    “Outside the boxing ring, I don’t think Manny Pacquiao should be taken seriously. It struck me first as funny. I pity him. I would advise him to talk to more LGBT persons, meet them and not just reduce his concept of LGBT to the sexual act,” said Pastor Kakay Pamaran.

  • Manny Pacquiao Announces Run For Senate Seat

    Manny Pacquiao is best known here in the states for his boxing prowess, but in the Philippines he’s also well known for his political influence, having served in congress there since 2010. Now, he says he plans to run for a Senate seat next year, and the announcement is getting mixed reactions from fans.

    “Yes, I’m going to run for a Senate post this coming 2016 election. But as to which party, that’s still to be determined,” Pacquiao said on Monday.

    Manny has reportedly lost favor with his district due to having the largest amount of absences from congressional meetings, with some saying he spreads himself too thin between his rigorous training schedule and his other endeavors.

    Manny Pacquiao made headlines earlier this year when he challenged Floyd Mayweather to a rematch following Mayweather’s win by decision at their highly publicized Vegas fight in May. According to Manny, Floyd was allowed to receive an infusion of vitamins before the match, but he himself was heavily watched before the bout and was denied painkillers for an injured shoulder.

    “I have more than 20 years of boxing experience but that was my first time that I was treated that way. Even my own mineral water, my Gatorade were not allowed inside my dressing room. How come?” Pacquiao asked. “That is why I want a rematch. One without any injury and with fair play. No favoritism. Not one where the Mayweather camp gets to dictate all the terms and conditions,” he said.

  • Manny Pacquiao On Mayweather: “Hasn’t He Retired?”

    Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are still going strong in their long-running feud, with Pacquiao saying this week that he’s still angry over doping allegations that led to his character being questioned during their last match.

    Pacquiao and Mayweather have both accused the other of using illegal enhancements, which led to a lawsuit that was eventually settled, but not without a fair amount of bad blood. Manny says that he was treated badly before their fight in May, which Mayweather won by unanimous decision.

    “I have more than 20 years of boxing experience but that was my first time that I was treated that way. Even my own mineral water, my Gatorade were not allowed inside my dressing room. How come?” Pacquiao said.

    Pacquiao says he was upset upon learning that Mayweather received an “infusion” of vitamins the day before their match, especially when the Nevada State Athletic Commission wasn’t informed about it until three weeks afterward. However, Mayweather says he didn’t do anything illegal.

    As for a rematch, Pacquiao says he wants a fair fight after being denied painkillers for an injured shoulder.

    “That is why I want a rematch. One without any injury and with fair play. No favouritism. Not one where the Mayweather camp gets to dictate all the terms and conditions,” he said.

    Pacquiao isn’t holding anything back when it comes to his irritation with Mayweather, posting a video on Instagram on Sunday–the same day Mayweather tied boxing legend Rocky Marciano’s record in Vegas–with a caption saying he was “bored”.

    What I do when I'm bored. Hehe

    A video posted by Manny Pacquiao (@mannypacquiao) on

    It’s unclear whether a rematch will actually happen, however, and Pacquiao made it clear this week that he’s over

  • Floyd Mayweather Victory Tinged by Pacquiao Injury Claim

    Floyd Mayweather was the unanimous decision winner of the much anticipated fight that pitted him, against Manny Pacquiao. While many commentators are saying that Floyd Mayweather outclassed Pacquiao hands down, Manny Pacquiao says there was more to his defeat than meets the eye.

    Manny Pacquiao told reporters that he tore his right rotator cuff in his shoulder during sparring. He said he chose not to postpone the fight against Floyd Mayweather because he thought he would be allowed to take a shot of numbing agent to dull the pain on the night of the fight.

    Pacquiao says Floyd Mayweather beat him because he was not allowed to treat his injury before the fight. Furthermore, he says Floyd Mayweather was aware of his injury weeks before the fight and sought to aggravate it during the bout.

    “Someone leaked it from the gym,” Pacquaio said about his injury. “Did you see when he was pulling my arm? Because he knew. He was pulling it, did you see? Because he knew (about my injury),” he said.

    Pacquiao says that the fight went bad for him at about round four because of the injury. He says the pain in his shoulder felt like felt like “a needle penetrating my bones.”

    “I really needed that shot because if I throw a power hook or power jab, it hurt,” said Pacquiao.

    Pacquiao further charged that the Nevada Athletic Commission had approved his use of the numbing agent, and that his team had filled out the appropriate paperwork to use it. But the NAC says otherwise, defending their refusal of the drug before the Floyd Mayweather fight.

    But Pacquiao also says they would not let him keep his own vitamins or water in his dressing room.

    “We filled it out but also I’m so disappointed because for the first time in my boxing career, more than 20 years, they hold my vitamins, they hold my water (from) the dressing room. This is new.”

  • Manny Pacquiao Vs. Floyd Mayweather: Will $250 Million Be Enough To Make This Fight Happen?

    The terms have been set, Manny Pacquiao’s fans are all riled up, and the budget has been finalized, but the boxing deal won’t be complete without Floyd Mayweather’s signature.

    The match is set to be worth $250 million, making it the most expensive bout in boxing history. A report from The Sunday Telegraph said that Pacquiao has completed his contractual agreements over the weekend, making his side of the deal 100% complete. We wish the same could be said for Mayweather’s camp who is still set to review the contract before signing it down. After the deal had been signed, the rest of the world would have to wait for the upcoming event.

    Pacquiao is currently in the Philippines and has started training in General Santos City to prepare for his next fight. Mayweather spent his Valentine’s Day weekend in New York, shopping for jewelry that’s reported to cost more than a hundred thousand dollars. Reporters were expecting Mayweather to announce the fight during the NBA All-Star Weekend, but it appears that people will have to wait just a little bit longer for the final announcement.

    The two boxers met face-to-face last month after attending a Miami Heat game. Mayweather went up to Pacquiao’s hotel suite and the two discussed the possibility of giving their fans the boxing match that they’ve been craving for. The fight is expected to go down this May at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

    Fans of the two boxers have been waiting for the fight that’s been years in the making. Mayweather previously said that he will beat Pacquiao during their match. “I know that he’s not on my level,” the outspoken boxer said. Meanwhile, the Filipino boxer is confident that he can bring the American boxer down. “I can easily beat @FloydMayweather, I believe that,” Pacquiao tweeted.

     

  • Dionisia Pacquiao Gains Fame Through Ringside Antics

    The boxing world was quite alive this weekend as the highly anticipated rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley took place Saturday night in a packed MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. And, as many people had predicted following Pacquiao’s earlier contested loss to Bradley, the Filipino Congressman emerged victorious, defeating Bradley unanimously after 12 hard-fought rounds.

    Prior to their rematch, Pacquiao spent much time intensifying his traditional training regimen, going as far as hiring a new trainer and switching his entire boxing mentality: “… I have to be more aggressive than I had been. I have been working on being aggressive,” stated Pacquiao. Pacquiao’s coach, Freddie Roach, stated that Pacquiao “… wants to give people what they want, which is a knockout.”

    Unfortunately for Pacquiao and his camp, a knockout was not achieved Saturday night. While Pacquiao’s training may have factored greatly in his victory against Bradley, the internet is assured that someone outside the ring played a large role as well.

    During HBO’s telecast of the fight, much attention was given to one prominent audience member – Manny’s mother.

    Dionisia Pacquiao, better known as “Mommy D”, did her best to lead her son to victory Saturday night, emulating gestures which warranted claims of voodoo and hexes against Bradley from spectators.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRKZSbMm8JI

    After the fight was over, “Mommy D” entered the ring to either lift the supposed hex she placed on Bradley, or to simply give the formerly undefeated boxer words of support.

    In a television interview Monday morning, however, “Mommy D” gave away her secret. While the hex angle is a quite intriguing one, Dionisia Pacquiao stated that she was simply praying to Santo Santo Niño de Cebú, a statue of the baby Jesus which many Catholic Filipinos believe to be miraculous.

    “Sabi ko, tulungan ko ang kuya mo na hindi mapabagsak ni Bradley (I prayed that he help Manny not to be knocked out by Bradley),” stated “Mommy D”.

    Dionisia Pacquiao’s actions were most likely prompted by her recent disappointment in Pacquiao’s religious shift away from Catholicism and toward a new Christian movement in the Philippines.

    Following Pacquiao’s last loss against Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez, Dionisia replied, “That’s what he gets for changing his religion.”

    “Since the Protestant pastors came into his life, he has not focused on his boxing. They always pray, with Manny losing sleep,” stated “Mommy D”, adding that, “He lost because God wanted him to.”

    Following his victory Saturday night, Pacquiao stated that he thinks he “… can go another two years,” eschewing any thoughts of retirement from the Filipino.

    If Pacquiao doesn’t want to feel his face on the canvas once again, “Mommy D” may become a perennial force along the ringside, especially if the fans get the Pacquiao v. Mayweather, Jr. matchup they desperately want.

    Image via YouTube

  • Manny Pacquiao’s Next Fight: Will Floyd Mayweather Jr. Finally Man Up?

    At a press conference following Manny Pacquiao’s latest victory, Pacquiao’s agent Bob Arum said that he has an idea on how to get a Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather fight that will satisfy both their fans.

    “The only people that can make Floyd Mayweather fight Manny is the public, if they boycott the nonsense on May 3,” Arum yelled. The “nonsense” he was referring to was Mayweather’s upcoming fight against Marcos Maidana, which will be held in a few weeks.

    He continued to say that the media should tell the people not to purchase tickets or watch the fight on pay-per-view. “There is no other strategy. We are prepared tomorrow to sit down at a table with his people.” He also said that they are willing to talk and work out the conditions with Mayweather’s camp.

    With Pacquiao’s latest victory against Timothy Bradley, fans are now talking about a possible fight against Mayweather. If this is not possible, the next logical move is a fifth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. The two have been in four fights, 3 wins for Pacquiao and 1 for Marquez wherein he knocked out Pacquiao.

    After the fight with Bradley, Pacquiao stated that he is willing to go in the ring with Marquez for a fifth fight, but it is ultimately Arum’s decision. This is more logical, as Arum promotes the two men, and they both generate a lot of money, both live and on pay-per-view.

    On the other hand, a Pacquiao and Mayweather fight has been anticipated by fans for years, and it would no doubt be a great fight between the sport’s two biggest names. It is not clear to many who is avoiding whom, but there are speculations that Mayweather has been avoiding the fight for wise reasons. Through the years, he has demanded conditions before fighting with Pacquiao, such as a greater profit, and enhanced drug testing. Pacquiao’s camp has obliged to comply with his requests. However, there is still no final agreement between the two sides.

    Mayweather’s list of excuses.

    Arum’s words on Sunday were fueled by the fact that there were signs and banners promoting Mayweather’s upcoming fight when he was also working on advertising a Pacquiao-Bradley rematch.

    Arum also called Mayweather a thug. “We’ll give you quality fights. But you want to close your eyes to thuggery in this sport,” he said. When asked about his use of the word “thuggery,” Arum only said that “the ring is square” and that rules for shepherding a fight are “immutable.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Manny Pacquiao Won’t Retire Soon, Even With Golf Clubs

    Manny Pacquiao says he’s not ready to retire just yet now that he’s defeated Timothy Bradley, even though some had their doubts as to how much he had left in him before Saturday’s match.

    “I think I can go another two years,” the 35-year old said

    Bradley said before Saturday’s match that he thought his opponent might have gotten in over his head.

    “I think he may lack fire,” he said. “His motivation is not there. He’s been at the top for a very long time. He has over 60 fights in the ring with all the best. Maybe this is one fight too late for him.”
    .
    Pacquiao can afford to take a little break now that he’s defeated the previously unbeaten Bradley and taken back the title he lost to the American athlete in 2012; he’s even got a set of golf clubs to use on vacation, if he chooses to take one. Callaway gave him a new set of clubs last week, which include a Big Bertha Alpha driver, Big Bertha 3-wood and 5-wood, X2 Hot hybrids, Apex irons, Mack Daddy 2 wedges, and an Odyssey White Hot Pro #1 putter.

    Bradley’s taunt that Pacquiao might have lost some of his fight seemed to have gotten to the Filipino boxer, who said he would bring some aggression this time around.

    “I’m so happy to be world champion again,” Pacquiao said. “Tim Bradley was not an easy fight.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Manny Pacquiáo: Can’t Reclaim Lost Shine?

    There’s a saying: “You can never go home again.”

    While some choose to interpret this timeless quote literally, there is a figurative meaning as well.

    There are times and places in our lives to which we can never return to no matter how hard we’re gripped by nostalgia.

    Though boxer Manny Pacquiáo was successful in avenging his previous loss to boxer Timothy Bradley, some observers feel that pre-Bradley Pacquiáo is gone for good.

    Sports Illustrated writer Greg Bishop had the following to say about the manner of Pacquiáo’s victory:

    Pacquiáo and his handlers and his promoters spent all week, spent months, really, emphasizing the importance of aggression and brutality and, ultimately, a knockout. Pacquiáo, for all the skill he displayed again on Saturday, never came close to that.

    Bishop also commented that the Pacquiáo of old had been “been replaced by an older one.”

    Rampaging youths in boxing are always replaced by older versions. It happened to the great Muhammad Ali whose late boxing career is often blamed for his Parkinson’s ailments. It happened to George Foreman, Oscar De La Hoya, and countless others.

    Boxers will age out of the sport at some point in their lives.

    The window of time allowed for greatness in any physical and competitive sport is always a small one. Some boxers never reach the level of fame they desire and retire with nothing to show for all their abilities.

    The “Pacman” of today defeated Bradley with a unanimous decision and reclaimed the WBO welterweight belt he has long missed.

    It’s true he didn’t knock Bradley out. However, three different judges agreed that he outboxed his opponent.

    It was never going to be an easy match for Pacquiáo, regardless of what he or anyone else thought. It was a hard fought victory and a well earned one at that.

    No, Pacquiáo will never again step into the ring as the man he once was. Should he retire without facing Floyd Mayweather Jr., some boxing fans will no doubt mourn what could have been.

    It’s doubtful that this will be anywhere near the forefront of Pacquiáo’s mind as he heads back to the Philippines to welcome a fifth child.

    Pacquiáo cannot return to his past form and glory, but he will go home again—as a victor and champion.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Manny Pacquiao Vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fight Could Yield $50M For Each Fighter

    The long-desired super fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. may not be in the works yet, but if both fighters keep winning in their respective next fights, each could command a guaranteed $50 million when they finally meet glove-to-glove.

    Bob Arum, the CEO for Top Rank Promotions, previously stated his belief that Pacquiao will eventually fight Mayweather “in the near future.” It’s all up to Mayweather, who has said that he is willing to face Pacquiao, but on condition that the Filipino boxer cut his ties with Arum’s group. Mayweather insists that he has no interest in doing business with Top Rank Promotions.

    Arum says that they are prepared to “dumb down the rhetoric” just to get the fight done. He can see the match happening, he says, but he can’t say that the match will transpire “because it takes two to tango.”

    Pacquiao is currently in Hollywood preparing to face reigning World Boxing Organization champion Timothy Bradley on April 12 and avenge his controversial loss in June 2012. The rematch will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. If Pacquiao wins the match against Bradley, he will likely face long-time opponent Juan Manuel Marquez in a fifth showdown. A win over Marquez means that Pacquiao’s next match could finally be against Mayweather.

    The Filipino boxing icon has been training incessantly in Hollywood’s Wild Card Boxing Club for next month’s fight. Celebrities, from Hollywood actors and music artists to basketball stars, have been known to drop by the gym to watch Pacquiao in his training sessions. One of the biggest stars to grace the venue is the legendary musician Bob Dylan, who watched Pacquiao go through eight rounds of sparring.

    Dylan is not only a fan of the sport; he actually worked out with former boxer Bruce Strauss. When the 72-year-old musician walked in the Wild Card gym, he shook Pacquiao’s hands and also posed for a photo with the boxer. He then went on to watch the training session “like a hawk.”

    Mike Tyson: Pacquiao looks spectacular, Mayweather is boring

    http://youtu.be/khY2rhALo54

    Image via Manny Pacquiao, Twitter

  • Manny Pacquiao Ups Training for Bradley Rematch

    In the summer of 2012, Manny Pacquiao faced perhaps the most controversial decision of his two decade, 63 fight professional boxing career. At the end of the highly-anticipated bout between Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, CompuBox scored punches landed as 253-159 in Pacquiao’s favor. Despite this overwhelming display of dominance with his striking game, the judges decided, in a split-decision, to award the victory to Bradley.

    Life after this controversial loss to Bradley did not improve for Pacquiao. In his next match-up against Juan Manuel Marquez in December of 2012, Pacquiao was knocked out in the sixth round.

    Despite the back-to-back losses, Pacquiao was able to rebound with a victory over Brandon Rios this past November. Since then, Pacquiao has been training like a man possessed to revenge the loss he suffered against Bradley in a contest slated for April 12.

    After conducting the first half of his training in the Philippines, Pacquiao has returned to Los Angeles to resume training with his coach, Freddie Roach.

    For his rematch against Bradley, Pacquiao and Roach have been working on a new strategy that relies upon being more aggresive: “I don’t think he’s going to try to go toe-to-toe with me, but I have to be more aggressive than I had been. I have been working on being aggressive,” stated Pacquiao.

    Part of that aggressive strategy involves Pacquiao throwing more jabs. While Pacquiao has questioned the strategy, stating “He’ll [Bradley] just block it and back away,” coach Freddie Roach believes that the jab is key to Pacquiao changing the end result this time around:

    “I told Manny the other day, ‘Manny, you have the best jab in the world and it drives me crazy that you don’t use it. He can knock guys out with his jab. It’s fast, hard and quick and I’ve been telling him he needs to use it more. In sparring, I’ve been getting him to double, triple and even throw four at a time. It sets up his left hand well.”

    In order to help Pacquiao throw as many jabs as he possibly can, the camp has brought in a new, yet familiar, trainer. Justin Fortune has rejoined with Pacquiao after the boxer parted ways with former trainer Alex Ariza.

    “Against Bradley, Manny will be strong and quick. (There will be) no problem with cramp issues, those will be addressed. He’ll be in the best shape of his life,” assured Fortune.

    While the Pacquiao camp may be exuding confidence, Timothy Bradley is not intimidated. The American boxer has been preparing for his rematch with Pacquiao as well and believes that he will emerge victorious once again: “I know he is gonna try to bring the pressure on me. It’s not gonna work. Right now, it’s not gonna work. He is gonna have to definitely out-think me in there. He has to be a lot faster,” stated Bradley.

    Bradley believes that “The only way he’s going to beat me is if he puts me to sleep and he’s not going to do it.” – a sentiment the Pacquiao camp shares:

    “A lot of times I tell Manny he needs to go for the knockout and he says, ‘Yeah, you’re right,’ and then in the fight, his compassionate side kicks in and he doesn’t do it. But the difference this time is that Bradley said it to him. Bradley said at that first press conference that Manny lost his killer instinct… That must have bothered him, because more than once, Manny has said to me, ‘Can you believe he said that to me?’ And you can see by the way he’s working, he wants to give people what they want, which is a knockout.”

    Pacquiao is training as if all of the chips are in, and perhaps they are. Before Pacquiao entered the ring against Brandon Rios, coach Freddie Roach advised the boxer to retire if he lost the fight. While Roach has yet to advise Pacquiao on what to do if he loses again, Bradley understands the importance of the fight:

    “Manny knows this is do or die for him. If Manny doesn’t win this fight then his career will be over. So this is a must-win situation for Manny Pacquiao.”

    Image via Twitter

  • Floyd Mayweather Jr. Lets You Pick His Next Opponent

    The date is set and the arena is booked. Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. will fight at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on May 3. Boxing fans were hoping that the rumors were true that Mayweather would announce his next boxing opponent during the Super Bowl on Sunday. But he never did.

    Most boxing fans were hoping to see the luxury-living American boxer face his rival Manny Pacquiao. However, “Pacman” has lost both of his last two matches, as the 35-year-old seems to have lost a step or two due to age. Now, Mayweather wants you to decide who the undefeated five-division world champ should fight.

    Pugilsit enthusiasts from anywhere in the world can go to any one of Mayweather’s social media sites to vote: Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. Will it be Amir Khan or Marcos Maidana?

    Mayweather will be risking his perfect record of 45-0. Amir Khan, a flashy 27-year-old Brit, has a professional record of 28-3. He is known for his lightning quick speed and agility. Pacquiao’s former trainer Freddie Roach thinks that Khan has a shot at victory. “I’ve always said Amir has the right style to beat Floyd if he fights correctly and doesn’t stay in the pocket too long.” He added, “I always thought he could beat him with his speed.

    Maidana, a 30-year-old Argentinian, brings a more business-like approach to the ring. The current WMA welterweight title holder has a 35-3 record and is known for his strength.

    Mayweather may be 36-years-old but he still has an incredible work ethic and desire to win. If you have an opinion on who he should fight next, check out one of his social media sites to cast your vote.

    Image via Twitter

  • Manny Pacquiao: Why Won’t He Fight Mayweather?

    It seems as if everyone wants to see a match-up between Pacman and Money except for the two people actually risking their faces if they did.

    For years now, we’ve watched Pacquiao win countless victories in rising weight classes with moves that put living rooms and bars across the country in an uproar. At the age of 35, he is the first and only eight-division champion of the world.

    Manny Pacquiao is so good at boxing that even when he does lose, he does it epically. We all remember his precise execution as he laid perfectly flat on the canvas like a once fussing baby finally put to rest with the best and warmest milk– even that faceplant looked like it probably took intense training.

    So, if Pacquiao is so great (at this point, he is a legend) why hasn’t he fought the only boxer of this time who would likely give him a run for his money (see what we did there)? It’s obvious that they do not like each other, which could be gathered from Mayweather’s Christmas card sent to Pacquiao today via twitter:

    How Nice. Mayweather recently chimed in some more on the subject via Fighthype.com:

    I’m gonna give you two reasons the Pacquiao fight is not going to happen. Like I said before, I will never do business with (promoter) Bob Arum in life, but I don’t wish him nothing bad, and Pacquiao is Bob Arum’s fighter … And I want to see Manny Pacquiao’s real pay-per-view numbers

    In actuality though, it may be Manny Pacquiao’s fault. A fight was staged between him and Mayweather in 2010, but was called off due to Pacquiao refusing to submit to Team Mayweather’s drug testing terms. Earlier this year, however, Yahoo Sports told us that Pacquiao finally agreed to accept the same type of testing for another opponent, albiet three years later. So there may be hope for a Pacquiao-Mayweather match after all. If the taunts and potential earnings don’t persuade Pacquiao, maybe the fact that his legacy will be indisputedly sealed if he defeated the one dominating (and talkative) stone left unturned in his boxing career.

    Image via Youtube

  • Manny Pacquiao Hits $300 Million Saturday

    Manny Pacquiao will hit $300 million in career earnings after fighting Brandon Rios on Saturday night. He will square off against Rios in Macau, China at the Venetian Macao. Depending on the size of Saturday night’s pay-per-view audience, Pacquiao could earn as much as $30 million for this fight alone.

    This huge payout is fairly new for Pacquaio. He was used to scoring pittances at times as he climbed the boxing ranks. His popularity and earning power blew up big time after fighting Oscar De La Hoya back in 2008. Since then he has enjoyed a steady climb in earnings on pay day, and has propelled to the big leagues in terms of numbers of fans and overall popularity. Manny has earned more than $30 million alone for being a spokesperson for numerous corporations. Over the years he has touted the merits of products from Nike, Sony, Hennessy, San Miguel Beer, Monster energy drinks, Sony and more.

    Big screen TVs are being set up in a sports stadium and near some churches in the typhoon-hit areas in the Philippines so that fans of the Filipino boxer can watch what they hope will be his great comeback match.

    Even though Manny Pacquiao’s province in the Philippines wasn’t impacted by the typhoon, he has promised to bring aid to those devastated areas when he visits there following his fight against Brandon Rios. That’s certainly an excellent way for him to spend some of that $300 million he has amassed over the past several years.

    Image via Wikipedia

  • Brandon Rios Set To Fight Manny Pacquiao Tonight

    A defeat in this fight could put an end to Manny Pacquiao’s career. When Manny was knocked out by Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez, many critics said that the career of the Filipino boxing sensation was over.

    The intriguing Welterweight boxing clash between Manny Pacquiao and the Mexican American lumbering slugger, Brandon Rios, will take place this  Saturday night in Macau, China, as both fighters fight to rebound from defeat.

    When Manny faces Rios tonight, he will be going against a guy who has lost just once to Denver’s Mike Alvarado.

    Alvarado gave Manny some advice. “The important thing is to keep that strong mental (attitude),” Alvarado told sportscaster Rich Marotta in a video interview. He also advised Manny to not giving in to his style [Rios], and to avoid getting into a slugfest.

    “Rios did that with us in the first fight and it gave him more of an opportunity to land that big shot.” Alvarado said.

    Manny has won 10 world titles in eight weight classes and is ranked as one of the best pound for pound boxers in his generation. Although the fighter goes into the match on the back of a defeat, he isn’t letting that rattle his confidence.  “I lost. My next fight, I’m not thinking I’m scared because I’m going to get hit again,” Said Manny is a Video series.

    Rios, also known as “Bam-Bam”, has brushed off his critics who think that his style will be a piece of cake for the lightening-quick style of Manny. “It’s okay, there’s always going to be criticism out there, there is criticism for everything I do,” Rios told USA Today, “It actually motivates me even more. And it gives me the (motivation) to prove everybody wrong. When I fight the best, they always bring the best out of me.”

    http://youtu.be/gMbpuvJYRE4

    (main image via YouTube)

  • Pacquiao On Obama: “God’s Words First”

    Famed Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao–who is also a congressman in the Philippines–has had a strong reaction to Obama’s recent announcement that he supports same-sex marriage.

    During an interview last week with the National Conservative Examiner, Pacquiao said, “God’s words first … obey God’s law first before considering the laws of man.”

    Pacquiao apparently sees the president’s campaign to rally the LGBT community as an attack on Christian morals and values and is urging everyone–the president included–to go back to the bible for guidance on the matter. He says same-sex marriage is an abomination and should be stopped at the highest level of the government.

    “God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they so are in love with each other,” the boxer said.

    The media attention Obama has garnered with the announcement isn’t sitting well with some conservatives, especially after an edition of Newsweek was released showing the president with a rainbow halo over his head with the headline, “The First Gay President’.

    (image)

    The president has had his share of supporters, however, and possibly even more so now that he has formally announced his support of the gay community. Andrew Sullivan, who is openly gay, wrote the Newsweek story and had this to say on his blog:

    “Let me simply say: I think of all the gay kids out there who now know they have their president on their side. I think of Maurice Sendak, who just died, whose decades-long relationship was never given the respect it deserved. I think of the centuries and decades in which gay people found it impossible to believe that marriage and inclusion in their own families was possible for them, so crushed were they by the weight of social and religious pressure. I think of all those in the plague years shut out of hospital rooms, thrown out of apartments, written out of wills, treated like human garbage because they loved another human being. I think of Frank Kameny. I think of the gay parents who now feel their president is behind their sacrifices and their love for their children.”

    (image)@Toure
    Touré    Manny Pacquiao says Obama’s view is a direct attack on the morals of society and the will of God. #SexualRedneck(image) 11 minutes ago via TweetDeck ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@missbwalya
    MissBwalya    Now even Pacquiao has an opinion on Obama’s stance on gay marriage. Doesn’t this guy have a blood test to take for his next fight?(image) 49 minutes ago via HootSuite ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

    (image)@tpmcghee
    Tim McGhee    Hey Pacquiao, instead of taking on Obama, why don’t you fight Mayweather instead? That’s all anyone cares about. http://t.co/RaokjW6Z(image) 2 hours ago via Tweet Button ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto