Pacquiao: Honor belongs to Filipinos, too

Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao on Sunday offered his record-breaking victory over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto to his fellow Filipinos. Interviewed on television program Showbiz Central after his 12-round bout at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday (Sunday in Manila), the 30-year-old Pacquiao said the honor of winning his seventh title belongs not just to him but to the country. “Maraming salamat sa lahat na mga kababayan ko na nagdasal at sumuporta sa fight ko. Alam ninyo di ko ito di lang karangalan ko kundi karangalan nating mga Pilipino na magkaroon ng magandang record sa larangan ng boxing at ito di na makalimutan sa boxing from the Philippines, nakagawa tayo ng history," he said. (I thank my fellow Filipinos who gave me their prayers and support. This is not just my honor but the honor of the Philippines.) Pacquiao won by technical knockout (TKO) over Cotto, who was pummeled severely that referee Kenny Bayless had to stopped the fight at 55 seconds of the 12th round.

History The victory earned Pacquiao his seventh world title as he snatched Cotto’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown and the diamond-studded World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond Belt, an honorary championship for elite boxers. Pacquiao is the first boxer to win seven world titles in seven weight divisions. He has won the world championship in the flyweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, and light welterweight. In the interview, Pacquiao also offered his triumph to God. “Thank you sa Mahal na Panginoon sa binigay nyang biyaya at lakas sa akin sa bawa’t laban at napasaya natin ang lahat na Pilipino," he said. (I also thank God for giving me his blessings and the strength in each of my fights, so I can carry the cudgels for my fellow Filipinos.) Next foe Pacquiao said he and his family would spend the next days in the United States “relaxing." He said he is not yet sure who his next opponent would be amid calls for him to go against Floyd Mayweather next, adding that he would leave the decision to his promoter Bob Arum. “Hindi pa sigurado kasi kung ano gusto ng promoter ko, si Bob Arum. Hindi pa naman pinag-usapan yan ngayon. Bakasyon muna, mag-relax muna with my family," he said. (We are not yet sure what Arum wants. There are no discussions for that yet. But for now I’ll spend the next few days going on vacation with my family.) Pacquiao is set to arrive in the country on Wednesday. - GMANews.TV