By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, on his way to loosen up by playing basketball with friends in his hometown of General Santos City, has junked rumors that he wants the super fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. postponed until after the May 2010 elections.
Pacquiao is running for a congressional seat in Sarangani province and agreed to the March 13 date so he could concentrate on training for the fight before plunging into his election campaign against reluctant candidate Roy Chiongbian of the well-established Chiongbian family.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz, who was with Pacquiao on their way to play basketball, said the report was “nonsense. Manny wants the March 13 fight date because he also needs some money to run an election campaign.”
We also learned that Pacquiao, who lost in his congressional bid the last time around to incumbent Darlene Antonino Custodio and was reported to have doled out millions, some of which did not go to the intended recipients such as poll watchers and local leaders - has taken stringent measures to prevent a repeat of such an anomaly and is keeping a close watch on the dispersal of funds.
Pacquiao has said often in the past, that he stays in shape in-between training for fights in the gym by playing basketball.
