Pacquiao: I'm no ‘Mexecutioner’

12/07/2008 | 03:27 PM MANILA , Philippines – Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao on Sunday said there was nothing personal in his victory against Mexican slugger Oscar de la Hoya. Sought for comment on his new tag as a “Mexecutioner,” Pacquiao said it was not his intention to fight with Mexicans. “I hope you understand, everybody, it’s nothing personal. It’s not my intention to fight the Mexicans,” Pacquiao said in a press conference in MGM Grand Hotel right after his victory. Before De la Hoya, Pacquiao won against Mexican boxers David Diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Jorge Solis, and Erik Morales, among others. De la Hoya threw in the towel before the start of the ninth round, giving the huge upset win to Pacquiao. In the eighth round, Pacquiao kept De la Hoya bouncing back against the ropes for much of the round. As the commentators put it, Pacquiao has been landing more punches than De la Hoya, who seemed reluctant to let go, as if waiting for his opponent to come in and expose himself. In the press conference, Pacquiao said he “pitied” De la Hoya at one point during the boxing match. “Alam mo minsan may time na naawa ako sa kanya pero narealize ko na nakatayo pa, pwede pa siyang makatsamba (At one point, I felt pity towards him, but I realized that he is still standing and may still fight back),” Pacquiao said. Top Rank, Pacquiao’s promoter, is eyeing a possible bout with British boxer Ricky Hatton or US boxer and former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV