Manny Pacquiao signs new deal with Chinese sportswear brand

Manny Pacquiao signs a contract with ANTA. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Present in the contract signing were ANTA Board Chairman and CEO Ding Shizhong, ANTA President James Zheng, and Pacquiao’s business manager, Arnold Vegafria. It was held prior his Nov. 5 fight at Wynn, Las Vegas.

Boxing’s only eight-time division world champion had a bitter separation with long-time sports apparel partner Nike because of his highly controversial remarks regarding same-sex marriage. His statement instantaneously drew flak from the huge LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders) community. His remark, though, did not dent his chances well enough to cause his defeat in the 2016 national elections.

Prior to his fight, “Pacman” as he is also known in the boxing world, was seen wearing ANTA apparels in his daily activities.

Other well-known endorsers of ANTA sportswear include NBA stars Rajon Rondo, Klay Thompson, Shandler Parsons and fellow boxer two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming.  Clarizel Abanilla