“Lilipad uli si Superman (Superman will fly again)”
If his best friend Buboy Fernandez is to be believed, Filipino ring legend Manny Pacquiao will be back in the ring to fight again despite his earlier statement that he is retiring for good.
Fernandez claimed that Pacquaio made the reference of Superman flying again right after the Filipino ring icon’s impressive victory over American Timothy Bradley Saturday nignt (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Fernandez said those words only meant one thing: the 37-year old Cogressman from Sarangani will fight again. Fernandez made the statement during an an exclusive interview Tueday, the day Pacquiao and his team flew home back home to Manila from Los Angeles.
“If you will read between lines, iyon na ‘yun, lalaban pa uli si Manny,” Fernandez, who claimed he knows Pacquiao by heart being his bosom friend and neighbor at Barangay Labangal in General Santos City.
“We were actually wraping up with our equipment right after the fight when he told us, “Haplas (brother Roger Fernandez) and myself, to keep those equipment, save them and take care of them,” Buboy said. “I told him, siyempre naman, magre-reire ka na at dapat lamang pag-ingatan namin ang mga ito.”
“Manny then uttered those words” Buboy said. “Tapos sabi pa niya, papaimbulog na naman si Superman upang pasayahing muli lahat ng boxing fans, lalo na ang atin mga kababayang Pilipino.”
“We have been friends since our childhood, magkapit-bahay at barkada kaya masasabi kong kilalang-kilala ko si Manny. Sa body English pa lang niya alam ko na kung ano gusto niya. Except for his parents, perhaps, brothers and sisters, ako na ang nakakikilala a kanya ng lubusan,” Buboy said.
“As of now, he’s retired until such time that he decides with finality kung anong buhay ang gusto niya after boxing,” he explained. “Understandable naman kung babalik siya sa boksing. Boxing is his life. Boxing gifted him no less than 10 world championshipos in eiht weight divisions.
“As well as his his parents, siblings, wife and children wealth and good life. He loves the sport so much. at mahihuirapan siyang iwan ito, “ he added.
“And he. too, loves the fans to whom he dedicates all his fight. Of course, time will come na maiisip mo kelangan na mag-retire, he related. “He’s no longrer getting any younger. Naisipo niya rin ang family, Jinkee and children na hindi niya nakakasama pag may laban. Kaya marahil he announced his plan to hang up his gloves before the Bradley fight.” Buboy said.
Buboy said that the overwhelming unanimous decision result of he showdown that tilted in his favor must have led his boss to think otherwise. Which is why he is now asking those who want him contnue with his career time to allow him to enjoy first a life in retirement before finally deciding.
“Naging napakaganda kasi ng laban at ng resulta. Nakita nating lahat na bumalik ang dati niyang lakas at bilis. Na kaya pa talaga niya lumaban. So, let’s give him what he wants. Let’s allow him to enjoy a life in retirement, Buboy said. “Matagal na rin naman si Manny sa boksing. Two decades plus na,” Buboy said.
“Manny’s already fighting long before he married Jnkee. And longer before Jimuel. Michael, Princess, Queenie and Israel came into his life. Kilangan talaga nhya malasap ang buhay na walang inaalalang laban. Walang ensayo at walang biyahe sa malayong lugar para siya mawalay sa pamilya,” he said.
“But what I can say is, he’ll be back. Huwag kayong mainip. Sbi nga ni Manny, Superman will fly again.”