By Carlos Boogs
According to a report in the Philippine Star, former eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao was reportedly attacked outside a Japanese restaurant on Sunday in Hollywood, California after hosting lunch for family and friends.
The newspaper's reporter Abac Cordero says a lone assailant lunged at Pacquiao at the parking lot of Kabuki Japanese Restaurant and tried to punch him.
Pacquiao returns this coming Saturday night in a trilogy fight with former two division world champion Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The assailant was held and pushed away from Pacquiao, who ordered his team not to hurt the guy. Pacquiao was by the door of his Ferrari when the person rushed to him. The person reportedly kept shouting 'f*** you Pacquiao.'
Edward Lura, a longtime buddy of Pacquiao in Los Angeles, was first to thwart the attack.
Codero says to expect security around Pacquiao to be tighter in Vegas during fight week. Pacquiao's group did not call the police. Pacquiao told them to let the guy go.
No word if the attack was some form of retaliation over Pacquiao's controversial comments about homosexuals. Last month the Filipino superstar made statement regarding the behavior of homosexuals and said animals were better than them.