Canadian hero here on 3-day UFC tour

MANILA, Philippines - Canadian Georges St. Pierre, one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in mixed martial arts, flew in yesterday for a brief but busy three-day RP tour capped by an exhibition tomorrow at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia.

“Kamusta po kayo (How are you all),” were the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s 29-year-old reigning welterweight champion’s first words during the well-attended press conference hosted by television giant ABS-CBN’s cable channel, Balls, the official broadcaster of the UFC, and Colt 45 at the ELJ Building in Quezon City.

Also in attendance were Balls Sky Cable 34 chief Jojo Neri-Estacio, Colt 45’s Joseph Consul and UFC managing director for Asia Mark Fischer, who has put up an office in Beijing, China early this month to strengthen the organization’s fan base in the region.

The fighter, more popularity known as GSP, has successfully defended his title seven times in a three-year stretch and his 20-2 (win-loss) record speaks highly of how the Quebec native has blossomed from a karateka to a world class mixed martial arts fighter.

GSP is set to defend his title for the eighth time against big-mouthed American Josh Koscheck in UFC124 on Dec. 12 at the Ball Center in hometown Quebec.

“He (Koshcheck) has said bad things about me but I wouldn’t let him bait me to get angry. I will just prepare hard and study his strength and weaknesses,” said St. Pierre, who is in the country and Asia for the first time.

“There’s no way I’ll lose the fight if I do all these things,” he added.

St. Pierre, also a force in wrestling, sambo and muay thai, said he has started to improve his boxing skills and even tapped renowned boxing trainer Freddie Roach.

“He’s amazing,” said St. Pierre of Manny Pacquiao’s coach and trainer. “I thought I know boxing but when I met him, I realized I knew nothing. There’s no way I can lose a fight if I follow him.”

As for Pacquaio, St. Pierre said he is a big fan of the Filipino icon and is hoping Floyd Mayweather Jr. could fight the Filipino in the future.

“I haven’t met Pacquaio but I think Pacquaio would win against Mayweather,” said St. Pierre.

“I understand Mayweather is the world No. 1 but he doesn’t want to have the fight because he knows he has a chance to lose. He should do it for the fans.

“If he decides to fight in the future, I think Pacquiao would win,” he said.