The Palace wished Senator Manny Pacquiao the “best of luck” in his fight against American boxer Keith Thurman in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Speaking to Palace reporters on Thursday, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said that Pacquiao, an eight-division world boxing champion, faces a good fight against Thurman, an unbeaten WBA welterweight champion.
“We wish him the best of luck in the world. He’s fighting someone… I’ve seen some of the fights of Thurman, he seems to be a good boxer, too,” Panelo said. “Thurman is young. He is good. But our boxer is good as well.”
In January this year, Malacañang has previously hailed Pacquiao for uniting anew all Filipinos worldwide with his recent victory against Adrien Broner, an American professional boxer.
Panelo said the 40-year-old Filipino boxer displayed athleticism, power, and Filipino pride.
“We thank our pound-for-pound King for not only bringing honor and glory to our flag but for once again uniting all Filipinos worldwide with his display of athleticism, power and Filipino pride,” he added.
The Duterte administration has been supporting the bout of Pacquiao. In fact, President Rodrigo Duterte even flew to Malaysia in June 2018 to watch the boxer’s fight against Argentine boxer Lucas Matthyse. After the match, the Chief Executive then praised Pacquiao for “cementing” his position in the boxing world.
“You have proven time and again that you are not just a public servant, but one of the greatest boxers of all time. This win will surely cement, yet again, your position and legacy in boxing’s Hall of Fame,” Duterte said last year.