Palace: Pacquiao brings honor to country, unites Filipinos in win vs Broner

Manny Pacquiao, right, throws a right to Adrien Broner in the WBA welterweight title boxing match Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang hailed Senator and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao after his win over American boxer Adrien Broner.

READ: Still the champ: Manny Pacquiao keeps welterweight title, outpoints Adrien Broner

“The Palace is one with the entire Filipino people in celebrating Senator Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao’s successful WBA welterweight title defense over American Adrien Broner,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement moments after the fight.

“While 11 years older than his opponent, the 40-year-old ‘Pambansang Kamao’ displayed his vintage form just like in his heyday and dominated Broner, who went back-pedalling, in full twelve rounds of battle,” he added.

The Palace meanwhile thanked Pacquiao “for not only bringing honor and glory to our flag” but for “once again uniting all Filipinos worldwide with his display of athleticism, power and Filipino pride.”

Pacquiao retained his WBA World welterweight title after garnering a unanimous decision victory over Broner at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday (Manila time). /je