MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang is wishing eight-division world boxing champion Sen. Manny Pacquaio luck in his World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title fight against undefeated American Keith Thurman on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“We wish him the best of luck in the world,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing on Thursday.
“He’s fighting someone, I’ve seen some of the fights of Thurman, mukhang magaling din eh. Bata pa. Magaling. Pero yung ating boxer magaling din eh,” he added.
Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao (R) fights Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse during their world welterweight boxing championship bout at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on July 15, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Mohd RASFAN
Malacañang has hailed Pacquiao “for not only bringing honor and glory to our flag” but for “once again uniting all Filipinos worldwide with his display of athleticism, power and Filipino pride.”
READ: Palace: Pacquiao brings honor to country, unites Filipinos in win vs Broner
Pacquiao retained his WBA regular welterweight title after earning a unanimous decision victory over Adrien Broner in January this year.
Thurman is the reigning WBA super welterweight champion. /gsg