Thursday, February 28, 2008 Mayor: Pacquiao's lucky charm
BACOLOD CITY -- When Manny Pacquiao enters the ring on March 15 (Las Vegas time) to challenge Juan Manuel Marquez for the latter's World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight title, a familiar figure will also be with him to carry once again the championship belt of the Filipino punching machine.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he can't say if Pacquiao considers him a lucky charm, but he will definitely carry the boxer's belt inside the ring come fight time at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"He asked me to carry his belt again in the ring. He is my friend and I'm going to do it. It's an honor to be doing this, and I don't mind what they say since I will be doing this for the country," Leonardia told Sun.Star Davao Tuesday night.
Leonardia was referring to some individuals in Bacolod who criticized him for doing such routine when he is a mayor and Pacquiao is only a boxer.
"They criticized me for bowing to the orders of Pacquiao. It was a request and it's for a Filipino boxer. I don't see anything wrong about that," Leonardia said.
The mayor first carried Pacquiao's belt inside the ring when the boxer fought and won over Oscar Larios in a fight staged in Manila.
"Since that time Manny has been asking me to carry his belt," said Leonardia, who also carried Pacquiao's belt when he fought Erik Morales a third time and during the Filipino pug's rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera.
In all the three times that Leonardia carried Pacquiao's belt, the Filipino emerged triumphant.
The only time Leonardia wasn't able to carry Pacquiao's championship belt, the mayor said, was during the General Santos City boxer's clash with Jorge Solis.
""It (fight) was during an election time," Leonardia said.
The mayor will be flying to Las Vegas in a week or two to grant a request of a friend and, just like the Filipino people, he is hoping Pacquiao will pull off another victory to give glory to his countrymen. (CRAM)
