Pacquiao supports Negros Occidental's boxing program
As Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao pledged support for the boxing program in Negros Occidental province, he said he hopes to discover another "Manny" there. “I hope we discover another Manny Pacquiao here ... I want to help the governor’s boxing program in any way I can, we hope to discover good boxers who have the potential to be champions," Pacquiao said in a report of the Visayan Daily Star. Pacquiao made the pledge during a meeting in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Sunday with top officials of the province including Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez, Reps. Alfredo Marañon III and Mercedes Alvarez, and some local mayors. The report quoted Marañon as saying Pacquiao's Sarangani boxing team will fight against Negros boxers in Bacolod City in December, after Pacquiao’s fight against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas in the United States on November 12. Marañon said the provincial government has been holding boxing tournaments to discover new talents. Pacquiao preparing for Marquez Meanwhile, the report said Pacquiao is getting ready for his fight against Marquez in November. The report said Pacquiao will be leaving for New York on Sunday to promote his fight with Marquez not only in the US but also in Mexico. After his promotional tour, Pacquiao will then begin training in Baguio on September 15 and fly to the US to begin the final phase of his training on October 12. The two boxers' first fight on May 8, 2004 ended in a draw, the report noted. However, Pacquiao later on beat Marquez and won the WBC Super Featherweight and The Ring Junior Lightweight World Titles in a rematch on March 15, 2008. - VVP, GMA News