Piñol sees Pacquiao 2016 Davao fight

DAVAO CITY—Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has agreed to stage a fight here, specifically in the under-construction Kingdome, in 2016.

Sonshine Sports Management chief executive officer Manny Piñol bared this Friday during the weekly media forum at SM Lanang Premier.

“I talked to him (Pacquiao) last Monday and he was receptive to fighting again in the country and in this city,” said Piñol, former governor of North Cotabato. “Only the finances have to be tackled.”

If the fight pushes through, it will be Pacquiao’s second fight in Davao.

Pacquiao, who is in General Santos City training for his WBO welterweight title defense against Chris Algieri on Nov. 23 in Macau, stopped Thai Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym in the first round at Rizal Memorial Colleges here in 2002.

According to Piñol, the Kingdome, which will actually be the worship center of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ but is also designed to host big sports events, can seat 75,000 and will be finished by the first quarter of 2016.

Among the topnotch fighters Piñol is considering to be Pacquiao’s opponent are Amir Khan and Miguel Cotto, whom he stopped in the 12th round to become the WBO welterweight champion.

Piñol said a Pacquiao fight is part of Quibuloy’s vision to make Davao a sporting haven.