Pacquiao undergoes checkup in LA hospital

Filipino boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test in a Los Angeles hospital Tuesday to examine possible hidden injuries he sustained during his bout with Antonio Margarito last Sunday (Manila time). Radio dzBB reported that Pacquiao, who was observed to be experiencing some body pains after his fight with Margarito, reassured the public his condition was not serious. Reporting from Los Angeles, GMA News' Chino Trinidad said "dadaan siya sa MRI upang matiyak na maayos ang kanyang kalagayan." An MRI uses magnetic signals to create image "slices" of internal human body parts. Like all imaging techniques, an MRI scan creates images based on differences between types of tissues. Trinidad clarified that Manny was not "rushed" to the hospital, but drove himself for the checkup.
Pacquiao traveled to Los Angeles from Texas shortly after pummeling Margarito in 12 rounds to win the World Boxing Council super welterweight crown. On Monday, Pacquiao's adviser Rex "Wakee" Salud said the boxing champ is "hurting" from blows to the kidney area. Salud said Pacquiao sustained hits in the kidney area during the sixth round of his bout with Margarito. But he had said Monday that Pacquiao still got a clean bill of health from his doctors. He added urine and blood tests were "normal so far." Focus on lawmaking Meanwhile, two Philippine bishops said now that he has made history, Pacquiao should finally retire from boxing to focus on his lawmaking duties. At least two bishops said it is time Pacquiao focus on his political position to better serve his constituents. "Congrats! Now that you won, it is time retire and focus on your district," Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Francis de Leon said in an interview on Church-run Radio Veritas. Similarly, Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez said now is the right time for Pacquiao to reassess his priorities. Last weekend, Gutierrez had questioned a conflict of interest on Pacquiao's part by training for his bout with Antonio Margarito at the expense of his legislative duties. “Thank God, Pacquiao won. He should now choose his priority," Gutierrez said in a separate interview on Radio Veritas. Excerpts of both interviews were posted late Monday on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. The bishops’ call came despite Pacquiao already declaring after his bout with Margarito that he is not yet ready to hang up his gloves and that he will “continue to fight." On Sunday (Manila time), Pacquiao made history by winning his eighth world title after pounding Margarito in 12 rounds. — LBG, GMANews.TV