BACOLOD CITY — For the nth time, Mayor Evelio Leonardia will carry the Philippine flag during Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao’s fight.
This time, in the Filipino boxing icon’s defense of his World Boxing Association (WBA) World welterweight title against American Adrien Broner at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 19.
“I started with (carrying) the belt way back in 2005. Since I joined him, I missed only two fights,” Leonardia told reporters here on Tuesday, January 8.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia (left) with Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao at the Le Meridien Sentral Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in July last year. Leonardia is holding the flag he carried during Pacquiao’s fight against Argentine Lucas Matthysse at the Axiata Arena.
Contributed Photo
The first was during Pacquiao’s fight against Jorge Solis in San Antonio, Texas on April 14, 2007, which then coincided with the election campaign, he said.
In July 2017, Leonardia failed to join Pacquao in his fight against Jeff Horn in Brisbane, Australia due to visa problem. Pacquiao lost to Horn.
Leonardia has been carrying the Philippine flag during Pacquiao’s fights since 2006.
The mayor, who last carried the flag during Pacquiao’s successful match against Argentine Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur in July 2018, said he received a letter from the senator asking him anew to join the Team Pacquiao as flag bearer.
Pacquiao’s letter dated Dec. 11, 2018 read: “Once again, may I invite you to come into the ring with me, together with a few trusted friends, to carry the Philippine flag before the fight begins.”
“As in my many previous fights, your presence in the ring will be a great morale support for me, particularly as this promises to be an exciting fight, knowing that Broner is a four-division title holder,” the fighter from General Santos City added.
Pacquiao also said in the letter that his inspiration to do his best comes when he can feel the support of his fellow Filipinos, and family and friends rooting for him in the crowd.
The senator included the mayor’s wife Elsa and daughter Kara in the invitation, but Leonardia said he is traveling from Bacolod alone this time.
Leonardia also said Pacquiao informed him that former Philippine National Police chief Ronald de la Rosa will carry the senator’s belt during his fight against Broner.
“I told Bato (De la Rosa) already during the two times he was here in Bacolod and he seems excited about it,” Leonardia said.
Pacquiao, 40, the only eight-division world boxing champion, is returning to the United States for the first time in two years to defend his WBA welterweight title against the 29-year-old Broner, a former four-division titleholder. (PNA)
Stories from the Sugarlandia 