BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Evelio Leonardia, flag-bearer of Team Pacquiao, said Filipino boxing icon, Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, is still at his peak at 40 years old.
The chief executive here, who waved the Philippine flag inside the ring before the bout in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, said Pacquiao, in defending his World Boxing Association welterweight title against American Adrien Broner, showed the same form he had at the prime of his boxing career.
“Life begins at 40. This is what Senator Pacquiao has just proven in Las Vegas. He did not only beat Broner, but he also beat Father Time,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Some 5,000 residents of Bacolod City watching the free live broadcast of the Pacquiao-Broner fight at the Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports Center celebrate after Senator Manny Pacquiao defended his World Boxing Association welterweight title against American Adrien Broner on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019.
Photo courtesy of Bacolod City PIO
Leonardia added that it was “amazing to watch a 40-year-old boxer still with so much speed and power.”
“While other boxers see their careers decline upon reaching the 30s, Manny is even still peaking,” he further said.
Leonardia, who first carried Pacquiao’s belt in 2005, and who has been carrying the Philippine flag inside the ring since 2006, said that after the only eight-division world boxing champion’s latest triumph, “the Manny Pacquiao mystique goes on.”
“And it looks like it will still be a long, long time that he’ll rule the fascination and adoration of the Filipinos,” he added.
The mayor said Pacquiao, an adopted son of Bacolod City, once again brought all the Filipinos together as one to cheer the flag and the Philippines.
Here in Bacolod, about 20,000 people flocked to the eight free live viewing venues set up by the city government, including the Bacolod Arts, Youth and Sports Center where 5,000 people gathered.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. also lauded Pacquiao’s win against Broner.
“Our boxing hero’s latest triumph will certainly inspire many young athletes who dream big,” the governor said in a statement.
He added that Pacquiao “again showed the world that with long years of championship experience and hard work, one would be able to overcome any challenge in the ring.” (PNA)
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