Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Sports

Pacquiao cites love for sport as reason for fighting again

Pacquiao’s decision to continue fighting and his choice of WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas as his next opponent has been heavily criticized. Many disgruntled fans claim that he has chosen an easy fight to secure a win in preparation for a more lucrative fight early next year.

Not content with the mismatch criticism, they also claimed that Pacquiao is broke and needs fresh funds to replenish his diminishing cash flow.

Pacquiao denied he is broke and even cited his latest Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) last year as the lone representative of Sarangani province in Southern Philippines.

“I’ve been fighting for the past 21 years and recipient of so many of what I consider as ‘jokes’ perhaps, to disarm me every time na lalaban ako (everytime I fight). But, I’ll tell you, itong birong ito ang pinaka-nakatatawa at nakaiinis (This joke is laughable and irritating),” Pacquiao told Philboxing’s Eddie Alinea last Friday.

Pacquiao is the richest member of the House of Representative as of May 2015, having declared a net worth oif P1.6 billion, according to the figures released by the lower house.

“Me, broke? Come on. Last year lang, as member of the Lower House, I was adjudged as the richest congressman based on the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) I filed for year 2015. How can that happen?” Nagastos ko na lahat ang halos P4 bilyon na kinita ko sa panahon ng pagbo-boksing ko? (I already spent almost P4 billion that I earned during my boxing career?), Pacquiao asked.

Pacquiao explained that the real reason he is returning to the ring is his love and passion for the sport

“Why am I going back to boxing? “Well, sabi ko naman when I announced my retirement, I just wanted to feel what it is to be a retired boxer,” he recalled. “Noon wala pa kong (before I had no) idea because I had not experienced being retired.”

“Ngayon alam ko na. (Now I know) Masaya din, specially(I am happy especially when I was elected senator. Mas marami akong napagsisilbihan, hindi lamang mga constituents sa Sarangani,” (I am able to serve more other than my constituents in Sarangani) Pacquiao asserted. “Enjoy ako. “But the excitement of boxing is different,” he added.

On the choice of his opponent, Pacquiao explained that he has no hand in picking who is he fighting next. The decision is based on consensus with his camp on one hand and his promoter Bob Arum on the other.

Pacquiao said he will fight whoever is put in front of him, adding that he is a Filipino and he fears no one.

Written By

You may also like:

World

Immigration is a symptom of a much deeper worldwide problem.

Business

Saudi Aramco President & CEO Amin Nasser speaks during the CERAWeek oil summit in Houston, Texas - Copyright AFP Mark FelixPointing to the still...

Business

Traveling in NY is already costly, but it just got worse: transit authorities have approved a controversial $15 toll, set to take effect in...

Entertainment

The Swedish city of Malmo is preparing to host the Eurovision Song Contest in early May under high security.