Pacquiao is ‘fighting for God’

Manny Pacquiao in pre-fight talk with reporters in Las Vegas. PHOTO BY ELTON LUGAY

LAS VEGAS — If Floyd Mayweather Jr. is in it for the money, Congressman Manny Pacquiao wants to use the upcoming “Fight of the Century” to share his faith.

“I am most excited to glorify the name of the Lord, my God whom I serve,” the Bukidnon-born World Boxing Organization welterweight champion told a group of select reporters before the general press conference April 29 at KA Theatre inside MGM Grand. “I want to be an inspiration to the people—on how I treat everyone around me and how I live my life in humility.”

The southpaw fighter has repeatedly expressed immense gratitude to his creator. “The most important thing in my heart is to let the people know that there is God who has turned me from nothing into something,” he said during the press conference Wednesday.

“I was living in the streets with nothing. I cannot imagine that a boy [like me who] didn’t have slippers, was sleeping in the streets, begging, looking for food, starving—became somebody. I cannot be thankful enough to the Lord who gave me all these blessings. That’s the most important thing for me, to let the people know [of my story], to inspire them, to let them know that there is God.”

The 37-year-old boxing great and his family arrived in Las Vegas Monday night aboard his camper, along with a 200-car convoy from Los Angeles.

Tuesday morning, a beaming “Pac-Man” kicked off the Fight Week with a fan rally at Mandalay Bay. “Are you excited?” he asked the thousands that showed up for the opportunity to see him in person before the mega-fight. “Relax, I’m the one fighting on Saturday, not you. I want you to enjoy and have a good time.”

Many in the audience wish to watch the May 2 fight live, but are catching the pay-per-view broadcast instead due to the staggering ticket cost. Tickets have long been sold out, and US$1,500 was the cheapest going rate.

Young couple Jeff and Ann Gauna, who drove to Sin City for 10 hours from El Sobrante, California, are a bit sad they’re going to miss watching the fight live. “We’ve been following Manny for years now,” Ann told Inquirer.net during a Bible study gathering Wednesday night at Pacquiao’s suite in Delano Hotel. “Though we won’t be there physically, we’re still happy and proud to join our folks here in Las Vegas for this grand celebratory reunion.”

Dorie Paniza, president of the Fil-Am Democratic Club of San Mateo, is luckier. She arrived this week from San Francisco with her husband to catch the fight live. “I admire Manny’s strong faith in God and I’m rooting for him because of that,” she said.

Perfect timing

Freddie Roach and Pacquiao at press event. PHOTO BY ELTON LUGAY

“It’s a good thing that this is happening now,” Pacquiao told reporters during the press conference.  “I believe that it is God’s plan. A lot of people are informed of this fight now, even those who are not fans of boxing [are now interested] to see this fight.”

Freddie Roach noted that Mayweather was just forced into this fight. “He wants to please the companies and to make money,” said the world-renowned trainer who is unimpressed by Mayweather’s undefeated status.

When asked about his prediction for the fight, Pacquiao refused to pick a winner but boasted he’s never been so prepared. “I don’t have a prediction but I’m excited and confident. This confidence that I feel right now is [a] first time for [any] fight. We did our best in the training camp. We even held private camps because we developed some strategies and techniques to use for the fight, [especially] on what’s going to happen in the ring.”

“For this fight, I am better prepared and more relaxed because the focus that I had 10 years ago is back,” Pacquiao said. “In my previous fights, I never felt like this. I have nothing to worry about, 100 percent I am relaxed. I’m confident. It’s a good feeling.”

Over at Pacquiao’s Delano Hotel penthouse, dozens of friends and families joined their idol’s worship service Wednesday night. His faith ally, Amir Tsarfati, a Jewish pastor who flew in from Israel, was the guest speaker. He told the crowd how “the battle belongs to the Lord”.

After the service, Pacquiao’s third-born child Queenie announced some house rules for visitors to observe while in the suite. These included: “No physical contact, no flash photo, no autograph signing, no discussion of business proposals or personal problems, no selling of items, if sick—come another day.” Everyone who went into the suite was required to use the sanitizer before entering.

Several undercard events are lined up for the remainder of the Fight Week. The final public appearance of Mayweather and Pacquiao before the fight is during the official weigh-in scheduled May 1 noontime at MGM Grand Arena. The event is no longer free to the public. In order to regulate potential security and safety issues, the organizers have sold $10 tickets, which were sold out minutes after the announcement. Proceeds will reportedly go to charities.

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