Mosley greets Pinoys in Tagalog on Twitter

Three-time world division champion Sugar Shane Mosley greeted Filipino boxing fans in Tagalog via Twitter on April 11, much to the delight and amusement of online Pinoys. Mosley, who will be fighting WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao on May 8 (Philippine time), seems to have used an automated translator to convert his English tweets into Tagalog. Nevertheless, his messages were clear and seemed sincere: "Pagpapadala ibig at paggalang sa mga tao ng mga Philippines. I tumingin forward sa magandang malinis na laban. ako excited (Sending love and respect to the people of the Philippines. I look forward to a nice clean fight. I'm excited)," Mosley said via his verified Twitter account, @SugarShaneM. As of the evening of April 12, Pacquiao's official Twitter account (@mannypacquiao) has remained silent and has not responded to any of Mosley's tweets. However, by and large, online Filipinos welcomed Mosley's effort to reach out. Most were either touched or amused by the gesture, with everyone looking forward to the upcoming battle of champions. "Oh diba galing mgtagalog ni @sugarshanem," said @zendielacson. "@SugarShaneM Salamat for using Tagalog :)," said @janetbreezy. "@SugarShaneM 's tweets are so cute. Hihihi. So cool," added @earthtoaira. "followin' @SugarShaneM!!! nakakatuwa! he's tryin' to tweet in tagalog!!! winner!!! best way 2 endear u 2 filipino hearts.. goooojabbb!!! =)," commented @jannet38.

Earlier this year, Mosley expressed deep respect and admiration for Pacquiao, eschewing the usual trash talk commonly associated with pugilists about to enter the ring. "Manny is a special fighter because he goes out there and he puts 100 percent into what he is doing," Mosley told Reuters after he and Pacquiao held a joint news conference at Beverly Hills Hotel last February 10. "People, they feel it and they see it when he is out there working in the ring. He always tries to fight, tries to win and tries to knock the guy out. He has a love of the sport. "We are very similar and I think that's what is going to make this fight very exciting," said Mosley, smartly dressed in a pale green suit. "I want to win, he wants to win and it will be a fight to the finish." — with a report from Reuters, GMA News