Pacquiao gracing World Boxing tilt in Doha

Manny Pacquiao arrives at the fan rally at the Convention Center of Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, 28 April 2015. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA

DOHA—Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao will attend the World Boxing Championships which got underway Monday at Ezdan Hotel and Suites here.

The confirmation of Pacquiao’s attendance was announced by Dr. Ching-Kuo-Wu, president of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) during his meeting with National Federation heads from 73 countries.

Wu said he relayed his invitation to Pacquiao through Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap) executive director Ed Picson, who brought the invitation letter to Pacquiao at his residence in Gen. Santos City last month.

Though Pacquiao has several commitments in the period of the event—Oct. 6 to 15—he found one free day (Oct. 8) and decided to go for the said date.

“I really want to be there to see for myself the Olympic hopefuls from all over the world and to give support to our boxers Rogen Ladon and Eumir Felix Marcial,” said Pacquiao, also the congressman of Sarangani Province. “It will also give me an opportunity to visit our 200,000 kababayans there.”

Pacquiao will arrive after a 13-hour trip via Abu Dhabi on the morning of Oct. 8 and return to Manila at 4 a.m. the following day.