WBC president 'worried' about Pacquiao [1]

ABS-CBNnews.com | 01/06/2013 9:07 PM

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MANILA, Philippines – World Boxing Council (WBC) president Don Jose Sulaiman expressed his concern for Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, who suffered a devastating knockout loss to Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez in December.

In a statement released to Boxing Scene [12], Sulaiman called Pacquiao’s knockout loss “dramatic.”

“No one could withstand such a powerful punch, right on the button, and that is worrying,” Sulaiman said.

“I pray that Pacquiao has no health problems, because he’s been the biggest star of the past decade and the world of boxing owes so much to the Filipino,” he added.

Sulaiman noted that the WBC named Pacquiao their “best of the decade.”

Last week, a neurologist said the “Pacman” may be showing early signs of Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Rustico Jimenez, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, told DZMM that he observed Pacquiao showing early signs of Parkinson’s, including stuttering and hand-twitching.

Jimenez said that he has not met with Pacquiao personally to check on his condition, but added that the boxer’s hand twitches, which he saw during TV interviews, is a cuase of conern.

Pacquaio, however, has stressed that he is in good health and criticized both Jimenez and forensic expert Dr. Raquel Fortun for being irresponsible and showing “a total lack of ethics.”

After Pacquiao’s loss to Marquez, Fortun called on the boxer to retire in order to prevent further head trauma.

But Pacquiao insisted that there was nothing to worry about. “I am 100% healthy,” Pacquiao told Boxing Scene.