PACQUIAO TO AWARD P1M PRIZE IN WSOF GLOBAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN MANILA JULY 30

GLOBAL FIGHT. MP-Highland Gym's Rene Pacquiao (extreme left) gives a t-shirt with the signature of Senator-elect Manny Pacquiao (not in photo) to WSOF president Shawn Wright (2nd from left). — *GLOBAL FIGHT. MP-Highland Gym’s Rene Pacquiao (extreme left) gives a t-shirt with the signature of Senator-elect Manny Pacquiao (above) to WSOF president Shawn Wright (2nd from left).*

By LITO DELOS REYES

SENATOR-ELECT Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will be awarding the P1 million cash prize that will be raffled during the much-awaited World Series of Fighting (WSOF) Global Championship slated on July 30 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

This was confirmed by Rene Pacquiao, who personally invited last week his cousin, an 8-time division world champion, in General Santos City together with his partners in the MP-Highland Boxing Gym – Ace Pacquiao and Brico Santig.

“Yes, Kuya Manny confirmed to us that he will be coming on July 30 to award the prize and watch the fights,” said Rene Pacquiao, who also played with Manny Pacquiao’s Team Emmanuel which won the championship game against Bobby Pacquiao’s Team Sniper.

WSOF president Shawn Wright and owner Vincent Hesser are both happy and are excited that a boxing icon like Pacquiao will be gracing the event that will feature the best MMA fighters from different countries including the Philippines.

“We are truly honored and excited that a boxing icon like Pacquiao is coming,” said Wright, who also received an official MP-Highland Gym t-shirt signed by Pacquiao.

The grand prize of P1 million cash will be given to the lucky ticket buyer of the event. Tickets are sold for as low as P300 only.

Vice President for Operation and international matchmaker for WSOF-GC Jason Lilly had earlier paid a courtesy call to Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon.

Together with co-promoter Santig, Lilly also finalized the details and requirements for the staging of one of the biggest mixed martial arts organization in the world.

Guanzon welcomed WSOF-GC and assured his support for the success of its first ever venture in the Philippines on July 30.

“The MMA is a relatively new sport. The GAB always welcomes promoters willing to invest in the Philippines in this pioneering venture by facilitating their needs and requirements as expediently as possible,” said Guanzon.

The WSOF-GC unveils an exciting fight card bannered by two cops from Russia and America fighting it out for the world light heavyweight title and also featured by four flyweights in a ladder-type tourney for the title.