MANILA, Philippines — Inamin ni dating American world champion Evander Holyfield na si Filipino world eight-division titlist Manny Pacquiao ang pinakapaboritong niyang boksingero sa buong mundo.
Bilib si Holyfield sa kakayahan ni Pacquiao sa ibabaw ng boxing ring, ngunit mas hanga siya sa mabuting pag-uugali ng Pinoy champion na dala nito sa loob at labas ng ring.
“I like Pacquiao. He is a good fighter. He is my favorite. I like Pacquiao because the fact of the matter is he is humble, he does what he believes is right, and he is amazing,” pahayag ni Holyfield sa panayam ng Now Boxing.
Sa katunayan ay kampi si Holyfield kay Pacquiao nang harapin nito si undefeated American fighter Floyd Mayweather, Jr. noong 2015.
Hindi makapaniwala si Holyfield nang matalo si Pacquiao via unanimous decision.
Mas marami aniyang binitawang matatalim na suntok si Pacquiao kumpara kay Mayweather.
“When he (Pacquiao) fought Mayweather have you ever seen someone throw more punches than Pacquiao? If anybody was counting the punches, the numbers don’t add up right,” ani Holyfield.
Puro depensa lang ang ginawa ni Mayweather dahil hindi ito makasabay sa bilis ng kamao ni Pacquiao, ayon pa kay Holyfield.
“The point of the matter is Floyd got good defense, but don’t say he throws more punches because Pacquiao is the most busy fighter in the world. He is like that rabbit, the energizer bunny, that you turn up, he’s always punching,” ani Holyfield.
Mahusay din aniyang pumili ng magandang kalaban si Pacquiao na tunay na kakagatin ng mga boxing fans sa buong mundo.
“He really loves to fight and that is what people really like,” wika ni Holyfield.
Wala pang pormal na anunsyo ang kampo ni Pacquiao kung sino ang makakalaban nito sa pagdedepensa ng suot na World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight belt sa susunod na taon.
Isa sa mga tinututukan ng Team Pacquiao si Danny Garcia na nagmamay-ari ng World Boxing Council silver welterweight title.