MANILA, 25 October — Believe it or not, International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s next bout at home will be ‘rebel-infested’.
Expectedly, the rebels and their brothers in arms will root for Pacquiao when the sentimental favorite takes on a Thai opponent in Davao City on Oct. 26.
Rebels said they will watch Pacquiao as they accepted the invitation of Davao City Mayor Eduardo Duterte to be at the ringside when the Filipino world champion stakes his crown against Fabrakob Rakkiatgym at the 5,000-seat Rizal Memorial College Gym.
At least two revolutionary organizations in the south have already signified their willingness to witness Pacquiao’s bout.
Likewise, these groups said it’s their way of demonstrating their indignation to the indiscriminate bombings happening in the country these past few days.
The Philippine National Police assured the organizing committee that security will be tightened up during the bout. As a matter of fact, the venue will be guarded a week earlier from the day of the fight.
Policemen will also be visible before and after the event, and K9 bomb-sniffing dogs will be used to check the venue for possible bombs.
Gadzali Jaafar, vice chairman for political affairs of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and Faisal Abdurakman, state chairman for the Davao area of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), both said that there was no reason to turn down the offer of Mayor Duterte to witness the fight.
"We accept the invitation of the good mayor," Jaafar said on radio station DXDC-Radio Agong of the Radio Mindanao Network.
Duterte earlier said he would give 20 tickets each to the MILF, MNLF and the New Peoples Army as an assurance to visitors that there is nothing to be afraid of while in the city.
He also assured militants of full security while they are in the city to watch the fight of Pacquiao, who hails from nearby Gen. Santos City.
"This is a very good gesture of the mayor and we would reciprocate by sending our men there," said Jaafar.
However, he declined to name those who would attend from the MILF, although he asked the radio station to confirm that the tickets were really intended for them.
Jaafar added that in return, "not only would we accept the invitation, we would also commit the MILF to help him secure the peace and security of Davao City."
He said that the MILF has expressed its admiration of Duterte’s handling of the city’s problems and the anti-drug campaign.
"If only to show to the good mayor, the people of Davao City and to the whole country, that the MILF is for peaceful co-existence with our brothers and to prove that these indiscriminate bombings are disdained by the MILF," he said. "These bombings are not the ways of the struggle of the Bangsamoro people." Duterte and North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol are joining hands in staging the world title fight.
Pacquiao has become a megabuck boxer. That is, in terms of ticket prices to the champion’s forthcoming defense of his crown.
A ringside ticket costs 50,000 pesos at the Rizal Memorial College Gym, the most expensive ever in ring history hereabouts.
Promoter Soc Piñol said other tickets cost 25,000 pesos each.
Piñol, the youngest brother of Gov. Piñol, said 100 seats are allotted at ringside, 200 at back row worth 25,000 pesos each, and the rest at 1,000 pesos each.
Celebrities from the world of showbiz and politics are expected to grace the event.
But Piñol said that the local government of Davao City had promised to install a wide screen near the venue, courtesy of Mayor Duterte to provide Davaoeños a chance to watch the Pacquiao fight.
Duterte has ordered for the putting up of big TV screens with chairs at the Rizal Park, Magsaysay Park and PTA grounds for the deputy mayors, barangay officials and to the public, who can not afford to buy the tickets.
The event has a projected budget of 15 million pesos.
Pacquiao receives 8 million pesos, while Rakkiatgym pockets $20,000 for the fight.
Piñol said they are planning to beam the fight to Thailand and 11 cities in the United States.
The handlers of Pacquiao, led by business manager Rod Nazario, have warned their ward "to refrain from being overconfident."
"You must not underestimate the Thai challenger," Nazario told Pacquiao. "It’s not right to think that you’re going to take this guy out easily. You must respect your opponent."
Nazario said Pacquiao’s career might turn upside down if he loses to Rakkiatgym.
Actually, a series of high-profile fights for Pacquiao on US soil is already in the pipeline, what with two major fights in the featherweight category happening in November in Las Vegas.
Possible foes for Pacquiao next year are the winners of the November 2 match between Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera and Tapia and the November 16 bout between Mexican Erik Morales and Paulie Ayala.
"Things are looking up for Manny, but all of this won’t be realized if he loses to the Thai," said Nazario.
Even Pepper Roach, the man who will call the shots for Pacquiao, did not hesitate to tell the Filipino handlers of Pacquiao that the Thai challenger is a dangerous opponent.
"I am not taking this Thai challenger lightly," said Roach.
Pepper is the brother of Pacquiao’s chief trainer Freddie, who won’t be able to attend the Filipino jawcracker’s home bout because of a previous commitment in the US.
"I have seen tapes of the Thai in action and I can truly say that he is not a pushover. He has power on both hands," said Roach. "The likelihood of this fight ending early is slim because the Thai is a tough fighter. I think will go six, seven or eight rounds. Manny should be careful and he should be in terrific shape."
Pacquiao hasn’t fought since beating up Colombian Jorge Eliecer Julio in less than two rounds at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee June 8.
