Pacquiao close to Barrios fight

CANTILAN – Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao rode his BMW R1250GS motorcycle from General Santos City to this Surigao del Sur municipality last Thursday and was welcomed by thousands of well-wishers celebrating the town fiesta that was climaxed by a 14-fight card on the former eight-division world champion’s “Blow By Blow” series.

It took Pacquiao and over 60 other riders 16 hours to traverse the one-way distance of 530 kilometers, including a breakfast stop in Tagum and a lunch break in Bislig. The riders left General Santos City at 3 a.m. and arrived here at 7 p.m. Pacquiao went straight to the Municipal Gymnasium where the fights were held. He was called up the ring to speak and noted “Blow By Blow” was where his boxing career began. The former congressman and senator said boxing has put the Philippines on the world map and it’s his hope that “Blow By Blow” will discover the next Pacquiao. Taking a jab at Floyd Mayweather, Pacquiao said the new generation of Filipino fighters is exciting and won’t run away from engaging unlike his shoulder-rolling rival.

Town Mayor Philip Pichay laid out the red carpet for Pacquiao’s “Blow By Blow” team, led by CEO Marife Barrera with local businessman Engineer Rumel Lamparas bankrolling the event. Pacquiao spent the night in Lamparas’ rest house then rode back to General Santos City on his 1,254cc motorcycle at 7 a.m. the next morning. Among those who rode with Pacquiao were his long-time trainer Buboy Fernandez and Mayor Alexander Reganit of Maitum, Saranggani.

From his Las Vegas home, MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said “I’m praying that we close (the fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios) very soon here hopefully.” Pacquiao is gearing to challenge Barrios in what will be his farewell outing in Las Vegas in November. It’s touted as a legacy fight since Pacquiao’s first title was with WBC in the flyweight division and he hopes to leave boxing with another WBC strap. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman is due in Manila to witness WBC minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem’s first defense against Mexico’s Luis Castillo in Mandaluyong on Sept. 22.