Opinion: Manny Pacquiao Remains Popular Despite Unsubstantiated Charges

Jan 3, 2010 by ■ Leo Reyes http://www.digitaljournal.com/img/8/9/9/i/5/1/0/p-large/PacquiaoMedia.jpg Despite the massive campaign to discredit Manny Pacquiao for allegedly taking performance enhancing drugs to gain undue advantage over his opponents, the Filipino WBO welterweight champion remains popular among millions of boxing fans around the world. Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao remains popular despite massive campaign to discredit him for allegedly taking performance enhancing drugs by Floyd Mayweather and his team. Pacquiao is scheduled to fight undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather on March 13 in what appears to be the richest boxing fight in history. Both Fighters have agreed to split the fight purse estimated to reach over US$100 million. To gain psychological advantage on the upcoming fight, the camp of Floyd Mayweather launched a massive campaign to discredit the Filipino boxing icon, accusing him in the process of taking performance enhancing drugs to gain advantage over his opponents. Pacquiao denied the accusations and subsequently filed a lawsuit in the State of Nevada to clear his name. Mayweather’s camp demanded that Pacquaio submits to a random blood test within days leading up to the fight. Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum objected but later gave in to the random blood testing provided that it is done in three stages – one, on the second week of January when the two boxers meet in the US for the promotional tour, the other 30 days before the fight and the last immediately after the fight. The Mayweather camp refused and Bob Arum was forced to call off the fight negotiations and started talks with Paulie Malignaggi and Yuri Foreman to take the place of Mayweather for the March 13 bout. The decision to sue the Mayweather camp for defamation was triggered by the accusation by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. that Pacquaio used performance enhancers and include the Philippines as source of said performance enhancing drugs. Known for his patriotism, Pacquiao was so infuriated for linking the Philippines to the drug issue and immediately asked his lawyers to file the lawsuit. For deciding to sue the Mayweathers on the drugs issue, Pacquaio became even more popular among boxing fans around the world for his actions and convictions. Things that make the boxer even more popular are shown in his works outside the ring which usually touched on social, moral and even spiritual issues affecting his country. In past encounters with other world-class boxers, Pacquiao, showing his respect and high regard for his opponent, would always come up with some gestures of concern for his fellow boxer. In the Pacquiao-David Diaz lightweight match, he rushed to the corner of Diaz after the bloody fight to see if Diaz was alright. He made the same gesture of concern with Erik Morales, Larios and Barrera. During his recent fight with the legendary Oscar de la Hoya, he said: ‘You will always be my idol’. Oscar responded: ‘No you are my idol’. The statements speak of his high regard and respect for de la Hoya after punishing him to submission in the middle of their 12-round bout. Outside the ring, Pacquiao is the same caring and concerned person. Most of all he is humble and low key. He will go out of his way to help a person in need. He is God- fearing and deeply religious. He prays hard before the start of every fight and does the same after the fight to thank God for all the blessings. Pacquiao may be a rich man now but he said money is not that important to him as he would always be willing to share his winnings with the poor people with legitimate needs. He said that God will always provide. 'If you give more, you will receive more', he stressed. Manny Pacquiao seldom declines request for assistance from anyone with a real need of help. He has been generous with contributions and donations to charitable institutions that seek his financial support. With his genuine concern for his fellowmen there is no doubt that Pacquiao will continue to succeed in his quest for supremacy and greatness in his chosen field.