GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / November 13) – More than 6,000 residents here will have a chance to watch for free the live telecast of the highly-anticipated historic title fight on Sunday between this city’s favorite son Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas.

City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. said the local government will set up anew a giant screen inside the 6,000-capacity city gymnasium in Barangay Lagao to allow residents to witness live the Pacquiao-Cotto fight.

“We are doing this as support for Manny and as a break for the thousands of our residents here who have been supporting and rooting for him to win this fight,” the mayor said.

On Friday morning, the city government distributed at least 3,000 tickets for reserved seats at the city gymnasium through the city’s 26 barangay councils.  

Avel Manansala, executive assistant of the city mayor’s office, said the city gymnasium will be opened to the public as early as 7:30 am on Sunday to allow those who intend to come to settle in early and also watch the undercard fights.

“Those who will not be able to get a seat inside the gym will still be able to watch the fight as we will be installing televisions outside,” he said.     

Pacquiao, currently the reigning International Boxing Organization (IBO) world junior welterweight king, is mainly aiming a space in boxing’s history books with an unprecedented 7th world boxing title in as many weight divisions via Cotto’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt.

Most boxing analysts and oddsmakers have picked Pacquiao to dominate the slated 12-round title fight at the MGM Grand Arena.

Acharon, who had admitted to be a big fan of Pacquiao, said he again expects another convincing win from the lefty power puncher.

“We will all pray for him,” said the mayor, who is expected to watch the fight at gymnasium along South Cotabato 1st District Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio and other city officials.

Despite his past differences with Pacquiao, who lost his congressional bid against Rep. Custodio in the 2007 elections, Acharon said he remains supportive of the boxing sensation’s ring exploits.

“First, he’s from this city. Second, he is my wedding godson and third, he has been providing tremendous boost for the city’s image because his achievements and overwhelming popularity worldwide,” he said.

Pacquiao earlier transferred his official residence to Kiamba town in the neighboring Sarangani Province as part of his bid to seek the province’s lone congressional seat under his own local political party People’s Champ Movement.

“His change of residence is just a political move. The world knows that Pacquiao hails from General Santos City,” the mayor added. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)

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