by ALEX P. VIDAL
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Fans of World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao in Vancouver, British Columbia have reiterated their request for the hard-hitting Filipino ringster to stage his next fight in Canada when he goes for his 8th world crown or defend his WBO belt.
"We have been waiting for so long for him to fight here," said Estelita Maglayao, storekeeper at the Vancouver International Airport, whose husband, Andresito, watched Pacquiao annihilate Miguel Angel Cotto in the 12th stanza in the "Firepower" WBO 147-lb title bout at ringside at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada last Nov. 14.
Maglayao, 63, said Andresito, 65, is only one of the thousands of Filipino-Canadian boxing fans eager to watch Pacquiao fight in Canada since last year.
"When news broke out last year that Pacquiao was planning to make his next fight here in Vancouver after he defeated (David) Diaz, every Filipino-Canadian was excited and were ready to buy tickets in advance, Maglayao, whose kiosk sells magazines, candies, newspapers, among other items in the ground floor of the airport.
Family members of a retired division chief of the Department of Labor regional office that migrated here three years ago have also offered to act as volunteers in the promotion if Pacquiao’s proposed fight in Vancouver was held here last year.
"My son (who is an aspiring actor and boxer) was ready to assist the Team Pacquiao if the fight was held here before December last year," admitted Carlos Bolaong, a registered boxing manager in the Philippines, who is now based in Vancouver.
Pacquiao had actually hinted in an interview with Vancouver-based publisher Reynaldo Fortaleza late last year that "he was contemplating" on fighting in Vancouver as he was scheduled to hold a concert here arranged by Filipino composer Lito Camo.
When the concert didn’t materialize, Pacquiao’s proposed Vancouver fight
had also fizzled out.
When it was reported that Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach had planned to put up a training camp here in preparation for his showdown with Miguel Angel Cotto, the excitement of Filipino-Canadian fans had reportedly heightened even more.
They were disappointed when the training camp was established in Baguio City. Pacquiao’s next fight however continued to be clouded by uncertainty as he is planning to run for congressman in Mindanao in the May 2010 elections.
Floyd Mayweather Jr., the last man standing, also reportedly continued to give Top Rank promoter Bob Arum a headache because of his "ridiculous" purse demands in a proposed duel with Pacquiao. (Mayweather, Jr. also doubt if Manny Pacquiao took drugs before his boxing fights.) /MP
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