World Boxing Organization (WBO) President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel awarded an 18-carat gold ring studded with diamonds to Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and bestowed upon the WBO welterweight champion the title as WBO Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter of the Decade during yesterday’s final press conference held at the Hollywood theater of the MGM Grand.
Pacquiao will defend his WBO crown this Sunday against Tim Bradley of the U.S.
In the WBO website wboboxing.com, Valcarcel stated that “We are going to take this opportunity to deliver to Manny Pacquiao a ring that raises his status as a super champion. The ring that we will give Pacquiao is one of only two in the world, the other was delivered to Oscar de la Hoya in 1995. It is a ring especially designed for Pacquiao, hand-made and which the WBO gifts to elite fighters.”
According to an article posted on philboxing by Eddie Alinea, Valcarcel’s gift to Pacquiao was in appreciation of Pacquiao’s 10-year heroics and was given in a simple ceremony inserted in the program witnessed by members of Team Pacquiao and Team Bradley, media men and supporters of both camps.
“This diamond ring is being given in recognition of Manny Pacquiao as the WBO’s Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter of the Decade,” Valcarcel said during the awards rite.