Jessica to sing US anthem in Pacquiao bout

LAS VEGAS—Teen sensation Jessica Sanchez will sing in the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley showdown, after all.

The 2012 American Idol runner-up of Filipino and Mexican ancestry will sing the American national anthem before the battle for the WBO welterweight crown on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here.

Only 16-years old, Sanchez, will share honors with another Fil-Am young talent, Kirby Asunto, 14, who was personally chosen by Pacquiao to sing the Lupang Hinirang.

Sanchez’s mother, Editha Bugay,  hails from Samal, Bataan. Editha’s  father, Gilbert, was formerly with the United States Navy.

Impressed by Sanchez’s performances in the top American reality television singing competition, Pacquiao personally urged fellow Filipinos to support her and even wanted to watch the finals which pitted her against American Philip Phillips, the eventual winner in the finals which drew a record 120 million votes.

The news of Sanchez gracing the world title fight was relayed to the media by Top Rank top honcho Bob Arum, who is promoting the bout, Tuesday during the grand arrival ceremonies of Pacquiao-Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Sanchez’s duet with Jennifer Holliday, Grammy Award Best Female R&B, in the finals is considered the defining moment of Season 12, which saw 120,000 aspirants all over the United States.

Only recently, Sanchez, who lives in Chula Vista in San Diego, performed in the 2012 National Memorial Day Concert.

Along with Phillips and the other top 10 finalists, Sanchez will hold a 45-day live concert, starting in Detroit on July 6.