Columnist calls Pacquiao ‘arrogant’ for putting Algieri fight at risk

MANILA, Philippines – Choosing to play in the Kia Sorento’s PBA debut last Sunday was an arrogant move by Manny Pacquiao, according to a renowned boxing columnist.

In his latest column for Yahoo! Sports, veteran boxing scribe Kevin Iole said Pacquiao put himself at risk by suiting up in the Sorentos’ game against the Blackwater Elite in the opening of the PBA’s 40th season at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, on Sunday.

Iole pointed out that Pacquiao could’ve injured his ankles by playing basketball, which is the most common injury affecting NBA players. This, in turn, would result in the postponement of his upcoming bout with Chris Algieri on November 23 in Macau.

“It would have also cost Algieri the fight of his life and all of the fighters on the undercard a significant payday,” Iole wrote.

Pacquiao had an eventful debut, committing two turnovers and a foul in six minutes and 46 seconds of action. He started for the Sorentos, who ended up defeating the Elite, 80-66.

The fighting congressman said afterwards he will sit out the rest of Kia’s games to focus on his fight with Algieri, adding that his lack of focus is what led to his dismal first game as a PBA player.

Iole, for his part, said Pacquiao shouldn’t have played in the first place with the fight just around the corner.

“Pacquiao said after the game that he would stick to his coaching duties and not play until after the fight, but it was incredibly arrogant of Pacquiao to even attempt play pro basketball so close to a major fight,” he wrote.

“A sprained ankle almost certainly would have postponed or canceled the card and would have made a lot of people that he works with in the fight business extraordinarily unhappy,” added the veteran writer.

Pacquiao and Algieri will face off at the Cotai Arena at The Venetian Macao in Macau, China. – Dino Maragay