Pacquiao relies on his faith, inside and outside the ring -- Los Angeles Wave

By ERIC MARRAPODI, CNN

WASHINGTON — Manny Pacquiao punches people in the face for a living.

He is, pound for pound, the greatest boxer in the world. An eight-time world champion, the 150-pound Filipino fighter has obliterated his way through weight classes on his way to becoming a national hero in the Philippines and an international superstar.

The southpaw has crushing punching power, and his team has worked hard to develop a right as devastating as his left. But Pacquiao is packing a secret weapon when he walks into the ring, a deep abiding faith.

“The most important thing is to believe in God,” Pacquiao said of his faith during a recent train trip to Washington, D.C. With his wife by his side and his team taking up the entire private train car, Pacquiao spoke to CNN about his faith, politics and his upcoming fight.

He was heading to Washington to meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. In late November, Reid was down in the polls in a tough re-election fight so he called in Pacquiao for a last-minute rally. On Tuesday in Washington, Reid said it was Pacquiao who helped put his campaign over the top.

Pacquiao is cagey but diplomatic when talking politics but lights up when asked about his faith. It is a big part of his life as a boxer.

When the 32-year-old Catholic bounded into the ring before his latest pay-per-view fight, a silver rosary bounced on his chest as he hopped in place getting ready for the fight. He looked skyward and crossed himself.

It’s a familiar scene to those closest to him. “He crosses himself before each round,” longtime Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said. “After every workout we end it with a prayer. He’s very dedicated to his faith.”

His publicist Fred Sternburg said while they are on the road Pacquiao always tries to duck quietly into Catholic churches for Mass. Sternburg said the quiet part doesn’t always happen. One Sunday afternoon during a trip to San Francisco in 2009, Pacquiao tried to sneak into a Mass on the way to the airport. He told the driver to pull over. Sternburg said he waited in the car and when he looked up a crowd of fans was chasing Pacquiao out of the church looking for autographs.

“Paquiao lived on the streets in Manila in a paper shack and fought his way up on the streets. His story is a Cinderella story,” said Bob Arum, his promoter at Top Rank.

And his story in the ring is one for the history books. His trainer thinks he may not just be the best pound-for-pound fighter today but the best pound-for-pound fighter ever.

“Eight world titles will never be duplicated. That makes him the best,” Roach said. “That achievement will never be touched again, the caliber of fighters he’s fighting, and his competition is great. And he’s defeated all of them.”

Pacquiao is much shyer about his talents than his trainer. “I don’t want to say I’m the best boxer in the world. I would say I’m a boxer who can fight a good fight against any fighter in the world. All my talent, it all comes from God,” he said.

Those talents have propelled him to be the face of boxing, not only in the U.S. but also around the world, according to Arum.

“His story has resonated because he’s been able to fight his way out and become the person he is and instead of turning his back on all that growing up, he embraces that,” Arum said.

Pacquiao has taken home millions upon millions for his bouts. By some estimates, he has amassed more than $70 million from his boxing alone. That dollar amount does not include his other business ventures or endorsements.

“[Pacquiao] gives so much money to charity and is such a caring person. And he does so many good works, most of which is not publicized so you don’t even know about it,” Arum said.

For Arum that charity is a tangible example of Pacquiao’s faith. “He’s constantly calling me on the advances, on the upfront of his purse and so forth, because he spending the money on good things.”

For Pacquaio it is clear he believes his success comes from God. “Everything that I have done, that is possible in my mind, He has made possible.”

Arum and Roach both say Pacquiao’s faith in God is as helpful to him in the ring as his lighting-fast fists and quick feet. Arum said Pacquiao sees himself as part of God’s plan, laid out in front of him so nearly nothing bothers him.

“When he lost to [Erik] Morales he said he knew it was God’s decision,” Roach said. “He accepts it well.”

That was the last fight Pacquiao lost, in 2005. He went on to beat him two more times after that.

And that ability to move on quickly has paid big dividends.

As he looks ahead to his May 7 fight in Las Vegas against Sugar Shane Mosley, the expected boxing bravado and trash talk is noticeably absent from Pacquiao.

“I’m not going to say I’m going to win yet because the fight isn’t done yet. I just need to train hard and believe in God,” he said.

Source: wavenewspapers.com

Saul Alvarez-Matthew Hatton Will Be For The Vacant WBC 154-Pound Title: Who Will Succeed Pac-Man - “Canelo” Or “Magic?” -- Eastside Boxing

By James Slater, Eastside Boxing

Golden Boy Promotions wasted no time at all in trying to set up a fight whereby the winner will crown a new WBC 154-pound champion. Just days after Manny Pacquiao made it clear he would not be defending the light-middleweight belt he’d won by hammering Antonio Margarito over 12-rounds, Golden Boy were urging the WBC to sanction the upcoming bout between Saul Alvarez and Matthew Hatton as for the vacated title.

And now, as reported on Fightnews.com, the WBC has complied with the request of Golden Boy - much to the delight of both Alvarez and Hatton, as well as pleasing GB head, Oscar De La Hoya.

At one time, it was assumed the winner of Alvarez-Hatton (set for March 5th in California) would then go on to fight the next available WBC contender at the weight; with Mexican rival to Alvarez Alfredo Angulo looking likely to face “Canelo” providing the 20-year-old got past Hatton. But it appears (according to De La Hoya) visa issues have made things complicated for the vicious-punching “El Perro” and now the winner of the March bout will emerge as the WBC ruler.

“The WBC did the right thing,” Oscar said. “Alvarez is ranked #1 and ‘Perro’ Angulo has some visa issues.”

Alvarez and Hatton are both thrilled to have the title opportunity, naturally.

“I am happy to dispute for the title,” Alvarez said. “I was already motivated but this only adds to it.”

“This is fantastic news,” Hatton said. “Every kid that laces up gloves has a dream to become a world champion. It’s a fantastic opportunity.”

Some fans will perhaps choose to look at either Hatton or Alvarez as something of a “paper champion” after March 5th, and it’s true the winner will have to beat much bigger names before being accepted as even one of the best at the weight. But those fights will come in the future For now we ask: who will win the belt Pac-Man vacated - “Canelo” or “Magic?”

The exciting fighter some have said will be “the new Oscar De La Hoya” is a pretty big betting favourite to win next month, and he is a bigger puncher, he is faster, more versatile and he is the younger man. What the solid if unspectacular Hatton has on his side is experience - having been a pro five years longer than his rival and having had eleven more bouts than the Mexican has had. But will this be in any way near enough to see Hatton through to an upset win?

A touch of added experience aside, I cannot think of one advantage Hatton has over Alvarez. Barring an upset some would maybe even call a shocker, I think Alvarez will be crowned the new WBC champ two weeks on Saturday. Hatton figures to stick around for a few good rounds, but I take Alvarez to get the stoppage win late; say the 8th or 9th-round.

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Stir over boxer Pacquiao causes traffic mess -- Washington Examiner

By Nikki Schwab, Katy Adams and Alyse Newhouse, Washington Examiner

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao caused quite a commotion when visiting the District Tuesday. As the boxer crossed a street near the White House, drivers scrambled to get a quick pic, causing a multi-car pile-up, according to a report from the Associated Press. Luckily, no one was hurt.

This comes after Pacquiao visited with President Obama in the Oval Office, inviting POTUS to his May 7 fight against Shane Mosley. (Obama said he couldn't be there in person, but promised to watch it on television).

Pacquiao also held a press conference on Capitol Hill, wrapping up his world press tour. As a guest of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Pacquiao exchanged flags with the Nevada Democrat, to symbolize their long lasting friendship. "This is an unforgettable moment in my life," he said of his trip to Washington.

Source: washingtonexaminer.com