Pacquiao assures fans: ‘I’m fine, will be back’

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao will fight another day.

The assurance came through a statement the Filipino boxer made after he got out of the University Medical Center here following a scary knockout against Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand.

“To all my fans, I would like to thank you for your prayers and assure you that I am fine. I am looking forward to a nice rest and then I will be back to fight,” he said.

The statement was released to the press by American publicist Fred Sternburg at around 4 a.m. Sunday (Vegas time).

Mike Koncz, the boxer’s chief adviser, said Manny went through CT scan immediately after the fight that ended in the sixth round in stunning fashion.

“Manny was given a CT scan and the results were negative. We were in and out in just over an hour and Manny was in excellent spirits,” said Koncz.

From the hospital, Pacquiao returned to his suite at The Hotel of Mandalay Bay.

Then he shared dinner with his family members, and watched a videotape of the fight witnessed by millions around the world.

As the bout neared its end on the videotape, Pacquiao even joked, “Spoiler alert. I don’t think you are going to like how this ends!”

Then he thanked God for keeping him and Marquez safe. He took his hat off to his greatest rival.

“First and foremost I would like to thank God for keeping Juan Manuel Márquez and me safe during our fight on Saturday night,” said Pacquiao. 

“I want to congratulate Juan Manuel. I have no excuses. It was a good fight and he deserved the victory. I think boxing fans who watched us were winners too.

“On behalf of Jinkee and our family we would like to wish everyone a joyous Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year,” said Pacquiao.