WBC: No request to stop Pacquiao-de la Hoya fight
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/25/2008 9:47 PM
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The World Boxing Council has not received any request from the Philippine Games and Amusements Board (GAB) to stop Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao from his welterweight super bout against six-time world champion Oscar de la Hoya in Las Vegas on December 6.
“We have not received such a request but I personally believe that it’s a match that should not be promoted because of the extreme differences in height and weight," WBC president Jose Sulaiman told Manila-based sports and boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz in an overseas telephone interview.
Pacquiao stands 5' 6 1/2" while de la Hoya is four inches taller.
Besides, Sulaiman added, he doubts if the WBC as an organization can stop the megabuck clash from taking place in Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The WBC boss said that he and Buhain agreed on the point of the big height difference between Pacquiao and de la Hoya.
"He (Pacquiao) is not considering the serious differences where a lower weight beat a higher weight and in this case is not moving from one division to the next but from one to three more divisions," Sulaiman said.
Sulaiman's statement came after Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez quoted GAB chairman Eric Buhain as saying that he (Buhain) had asked the WBC to cancel the non-title fight since Pacquiao has no chance against de la Hoya.
"This boxing bout is just about money. Pacquiao has no chance. We have to protect him. He is a national treasure," Rodriguez said.
Reached for comment, Buhain told Nathanielsz that what he told lawmakers during a budget hearing was about his concerns with the disparity in height of the two boxers.
The GAB chief said he was surprised at the story that came out Thursday morning about the supposed call made to the WBC. The statement from Buhain was contained in a press release from Rodriguez's office.
In a separate report by Agence France-Presse, Buhain said his request was denied by the WBC since it came late in the day.
Malacañang, meanwhile, distanced itself from the issue, saying the people should respect and trust Pacquiao's decision.
"I feel that we should respect and trust him enough to make an intelligent decision on what’s best for him and his career," deputy Palace spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said Thursday, adding that Filipinos will rally behind Pacquiao no matter what the result may be.
"A defeat does not diminish his glory or the honor he has won for our nation. He will always remain a modern day hero for his courage and bold daring," she added. Roy Medina, abs-cbnNEWS.com
