SMC taps Pacquiao as product endorser

Hoping to capitalize on the impressive victories of Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao, food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp. has tapped the 27-year old boxer as the official endorser of its beer, hard liquor and food products.

Just last month, Paquiao won a rematch with superfeatherweight Erik Morales, flooring the Mexican boxing legend twice in the 10th round before the fight was stopped. That bout was seen by the entire world and had been a source of national pride.

Under the deal signed by both parties, Pacquiao will represent San Miguel as a corporation and promote the conglomerate’s products through a nationwide campaign. He will also tour the Asia-Pacific region where San Miguel has existing facilities.

Pacquiao will, in turn, become a business franchisee of San Miguel and all his personal business ventures, including concerts, movies, and other promotional activities as a singer, actor and performer. San Miguel will also provide marketing and distribution assistance to Pacquiao’s "MP" brand of products.

San Miguel will also support Pacquiao’s next international boxing matches, provide him with life insurance, and produce boxing clinic videos to promote boxing as a sport.

"This agreement is in recognition of an excellent athlete who deserves recognition and reward for making our country proud and putting back the Philippines in the world map," San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said.

The boxer, who hails from Gen. Santos City, is also dubbed as "The Destroyer" by his peers in the boxing world.

Pacquiao is the reigning WBC International Super Featherweight Champion former RING People’s Featherweight Champion (2003 to 2005), former IBF Super Bantamweight Champion (2001 to 2004), and former WBC Flyweight Champion, (1998 to 1999). He has a record of 41 wins, three losses, and two draws, with 34 wins coming by way of knockout.

With his win over Morales, Pacquiao is now ranked the top contender in the WBC superfeatherweight rankings and is now eligible to face Marco Antonio Barrera again for the WBC belt.

Most sports analysts consider Pacquiao’s match against Barrera in 2003 as his defining moment as a boxer. He floored Barrera then widely considered as one of the world’s best boxer, in the 11th round, despite being sent to the canvass early in the fight.

Pacquiao started his professional boxing career in 1995.