Snapshots of Boxer and Congressman Manny Pacquiao in Singapore doing his round as a boxer and politician

 

Pacquiao keen to stage the fight with Mayweather in Singapore

SINGAPORE - He is the world's hottest boxing property and barely five hours after touching down at Changi Airport on Friday, Manny Pacquiao (picture) said he is keen to stage his biggest fight in Singapore. His preferred opponent: The much vaunted Floyd Mayweather Jr of the United States.

But Mayweather himself has to say yes. Nothing was said about the doping and blood test issue, which had hampered previous discussions between the two fighters' camps.

Experts predict a clash between two of the world's best boxers could create one of the biggest purses in the sport's history, with each earning at least US$60 million ($81.5 million).

In an exclusive interview with Media-Corp at Vanda Boxing Club in Havelock Road, the 31-year-old Filipino superstar said he will speak to his boxing promoter, Bob Arum, to help make the event happen.

"I will talk to Bob Arum to stage one of my fights in Singapore, maybe next year," said Pacquiao.

His clash with the unbeaten Mayweather would be the one of the most anticipated world championship bouts.

Pacquiao, also known as "Pacman", is the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion and the only boxer ever to win nine titles in seven weight divisions.

Mayweather, the former World Boxing Council welterweight champion, owned nine championship belts in five divisions.

A face-off between the two was on the cards in March this year but was called off following unresolved arguments over blood testing for drugs.

Pacquiao, who will next fight Mexico's Antonio Margarito on Nov 13, said: "I want to fight Mayweather because people are excited about it. I will ask Bob Arum if this is the match that can be staged here."

Last year, Pacquiao fought at the 16,800-capacity MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. His last bout was against Ghana's Joshua Clottey in March at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas in front of 40,000 fans.

Boxing aficionados feel the Marina Bay floating platform could be an ideal venue - with a seating capacity of 27,000 and a stunning backdrop made famous worldwide after two successful Formula 1 races and the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games last Saturday.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB), which arranged Pacquiao's visit here, told MediaCorp they are keen to help make a fight of this magnitude happen.

"This is something we will support and do whatever we can to help make it a success," said Mr. Justin Chew, STB's executive director for hospitality, F1 and sports.

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Listed by Forbes magazine as the world’s sixth highest-paid athlete with a total annual income of S$54 million, Pacquiao is due to return to the ring in November to take on Mexican Antonio Margarito for the World Boxing Council super-weight title.

Pacman shares his thoughts on the much awaited fight.

 

source: TODAY Online | Yahoo! Singapore

Singapore welcome Pacquiao with a red carpet

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – The red carpet will be laid out for Sarangani Province Rep. Manny Pacquiao when he arrives in Singapore on Friday.

The Singapore Government has invited the 7-division world champion for a goodwill visit scheduled from Friday to Sunday.

It will be Pacquiao’s first trip to the Southeast Asian city-state.

“It’s so exciting,” Lynelle Seow of the Singapore Tourism Board said in a telephone interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com. “He's such a boxing hero not only for Filipinos but for all Asians.”

“We’re very excited. We’re so proud of him as well,” added Seow, the Area Director for the Philippines and Brunei.

Lynelle Seow, Area Director for the Philippines and Brunei of the Singapore Tourism Board

Pacquiao is slated to meet with Singaporean youth pugilists as well as members of the Singapore Boxing Federation.

Seow said she expects the pound-for-pound king to inspire the young boxers from Singapore.

Meantime, she added that Pacquiao’s visit is not just about boxing but also about welcoming him to Singapore.

The world-renowned Filipino boxer will be toured around Singapore’s latest attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore, Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer. He will also join a Hippo Bus Tour.

He will also meet with Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Minda Cruz during his all-expenses paid trip.

Source: abs-cbnnews

Manny Pacquiao: The Great Boxer and 6th Richest Athlete in the World

This is something being a pinoy should be proud of, from rags to richest doing what he loves to do and good at it – being the world’s best pound for pound boxer.

Quoting from Inquirer.net:

FROM ring icon to global superstar. From multimillionaire to billionaire.

Manny Pacquiao affirmed his status as one of the brightest lights in the boxing firmament with his first ever appearance on Forbes Magazine’s list of world’s highest-paid athletes this year.

Cashing in mainly on his devastating victories over former boxing Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and British idol Ricky Hatton, Pacquiao ranked sixth in Forbes’ elite cast with estimated earnings of $40 million (about P1.9 billion) from June 2008 to June 2009. Atop the list was golfer Tiger Woods.

The 30-year-old Pacquiao, the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, emerged tied in earnings with current NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and golfer Phil Mickelson, just a shade under soccer glamour boy David Beckham ($42 million).

Forbes is a prestigious business magazine. It describes itself on its website as “a leading Internet media company [that] is among the most trusted resources for the world’s business and investment leaders,” providing reports on business, technology, investing and lifestyle and the databases, such as the annual Forbes Lists, among others.

More money than Federer

In an article written by Kurt Badenhausen, Woods wound up the runaway top grosser for the eighth straight year with $110 million. That amount was below Woods’ $115 million overall earnings last year but nearly 2 1/2 times more than what joint second placers Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Kimi Raikkonen earned.

Bryant, main man of the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, the basketball legend Jordan and the Finnish Formula One driver Raikkonen grossed $45 million each.

Surprisingly, Pacquiao earned more than tennis star Roger Federer, who won the French Open last month for his 14th Grand Slam title. With $33 million to his credit, Federer was tied with the Phoenix Suns’ Shaquille O’Neal.

De La Hoya fight

Pacquiao is estimated to have gotten at least $20 million, including pay per view (PPV) shares, for making De La Hoya quit on his stool after the eighth round last Dec. 6. De La Hoya, who still made the list with $32 million, eventually announced his retirement early this year.

Pacquiao, who was honored by the Boxing Writers Association of America as its Fighter of the Year on June 12 in New York, went on with a two-round demolition of Hatton on May 2, raking in a guaranteed purse of $12 million plus a yet to be announced PPV share.

Also included in Pacquiao’s coffers were the $3-to-$5 million he got for knocking out former World Boxing Council lightweight champion David Diaz in nine rounds last June 28.

Other millionaires

Other athletes on the list confined to those who earned at least $30 million were motorcyclist Valentino Rossi ($35M), Nascar superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. ($34M), Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton ($32M), New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez ($32M), golfer Vijay Singh ($31M), Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett ($31M), Nascar driver Jeff Gordon ($30M), New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter ($30M) and two-time football Player of the Year Ronaldinho ($30M) of AC Milan.

Another huge paycheck awaits Pacquiao when he returns to the ring on Nov. 14, most likely against WBC welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.

A megabuck bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. is also on the horizon for Pacquiao, who is already considered the best Asian and best southpaw fighter ever and is a cinch to enter boxing’s Hall of Fame.

Beyond sports

Earlier this year, Forbes Magazine also put Pacquiao on its roster of world’s most powerful celebrities, ranking him 57th. The roster was headed by actress Angelina Jolie, television host Oprah Winfrey and singer-performer Madonna.

Time Magazine has also put Pacquiao, who has won five world crowns in as many divisions, on its own list of the world’s most influential people.

No other Filipino appeared on the three rosters, a testament to Pacquiao’s universal recognition that goes beyond the realm of sports.