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The whole country was startled last night by a rather unwelcoming news that a lawmaker has asked a Philippine sports regulating body to temporarily cancel the boxing license of Manny Pacquiao because of "a possible mismatch" in his coming bout against Mexican-American Oscar De La Hoya.
The report, which headlined a primetime news program of a major free-TV network in the country, said that Philippine lawmaker Rufus Rodriguez has asked the Philippine Games and Amusement Boards (GAB) to temporarily suspend the boxing license of the country's premier athlete.
The next morning, several newspapers have quoted Rodriguez into saying that Manny can't "even shake Oscar" and that he's "afraid that Oscar can hurt Manny very badly."
Rodriguez is pressing the GAB to immediately act to stop fight and "save Manny".
The lawmaker who described Pacquiao as a national treasure also said in interviews "the (Philippine) government will be put in a bad light" if "something bad happens to Manny in that fight." The fight, whose tickets were all sold out in just several hours upon availability, is scheduled on December 6 this year at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
GAB Chairman Eric Buhain clarified that Rodriguez is merely concerned over the safety of the country's boxing hero. "The GAB and the House of Representatives want Manny to be more cautious in this fight," said Buhain in interviews.
Pacquiao, who started his pro career at light flyweight, is viewed by boxing experts as an underdog in his coming welterweight fight against the boxing Golden Boy. De La Hoya, on the other hand, has fought as far as the middleweight in his career.
Experts were saying that the huge size discrepancy between the two is what making the fight a gross mismatch.
Buhain has clarified in recent interviews that GAB will not suspend or withdraw Pacquiao's license. The GAB chairman stressed however that the issues raised by Rodriguez is legitimate.
Last July, the GAB has passed a resolution to the Philippine House of Representatives, which expressed its opposition to the fight.
The GAB only stops fights when it sees a boxer is unprepared for the match according to Buhain.
Buhain has sent letters to Team Pacquiao asking the latter to give GAB regular updates on Manny Pacquiao's preparation in US.
In local politics, Rufus Rodriguez is a member of an opposition party while Pacquiao had just signed his membership to the ruling party several days after his victory over David Diaz.
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