PACQUIAO DECORATED WITH LEGION OF HONOR
by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Filipino boxing icon and national treasure Manny Pacquiao has been decorated with the Philippine Legion of Honor in a ceremony marking the 73rd founding anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
A reservist in the Philippine Army, Pacquiao was honored alongside 15 soldiers who were decorated for bringing honor by fighting in their own battlefields with Pacquiao saluted for bringing pride and honor to the country by his remarkable achievements in the ring.
The No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world cemented his place in boxing history with a spectacular 8th round stoppage of “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya in a fight where most experts believed Pacquiao hadn’t a chance to win in Las Vegas last December 6.
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But he surmounted the disadvantages of height and reach and with incredible speed, power and skill pulverized De La Hoya to gain the admiration of his countrymen and millions of boxing fans around the world.:
Pacquiao is currently ahead of the great Indian cricketer Sachin “The Little Master” Tendulkar in the semi finals of ESPN Star Sports “Champion of Champions” on line poll despite the fact that the population of India far outnumbers that of the Philippines .
Pacquiao is scheduled to leave for Los Angeles on Wednesday with his three children to join wife Jinkee who is expected to give birth to their fourth child soon. They will spend Christmas in the US .
The boxing icon had a hectic schedule shooting a commercial for Smart in Makati City on Monday and Tanay on Tuesday along with popular stars Robin Padilla and Rufa Mae Quinto.
A possible fight against Britain ’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton is almost a done deal for May 2 in Las Vegas according to Hatton’s father Ray Hatton in an overseas telephone conversation with www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports with only a few details to be ironed out.
Meantime, Pacquiao’s MP Promotions is also looking to move forward by not only signing-up and promoting promising young Filipino fighters but also expanding to include talented foreign fighters.
One of the fighters being considered is undefeated WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto of Florida who has a record of 23-0 with 19 knockouts and won the title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Steve Forbes last September 27.
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