Pacquiao, Victoria's Secret model spar in viral video

MANILA -- Brazilian supermodel and Victoria's Secret star Adriana Lima was at a loss for words when she had a "dream-come-true" encounter with Pinoy boxing champ Manny Pacquiao.



The 32-year-old catwalk superstar met the fighting congressman for a sparring session recently, as shown in an episode of the Fox Sports talk show "Crowd Goes Wild," which aired November 22 in the United States.

The segment was then uploaded on Fox Sports' official YouTube page. As of writing, the video already had over 212,000 views.

In the 84-second clip, Lima is seen gushing as she meets Pacquiao for the first time. "I can't believe it! [This is] like my dream!" she exclaims.

The supermodel is then shown doing exercise routines and later sparring with Pacquiao, who calls Lima's jabs "strong" at one point.

"Boxing is something that became my passion," Lima says in the video.

"She's training for a fashion show and I'm training for the fight," adds Pacquiao, who won against American Brandon Rios in their 12-round welterweight clash, two days after his meeting with Lima aired.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

CTA denies issuing freeze order on Pacquiao accounts

The Court of Tax Appeals denied it has issued any freeze order on the bank deposits of boxing champ and congressman Manny Pacquiao, in connection with a P2.2 billion tax evasion case.

"The CTA has not issued any order freezing the bank accounts of Pacquiao. It is the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) which issued a warrant of garnishment to the banks, which in effect froze his accounts," Atty. Margarette Guzman, CTA First Division Clerk of Court. told ABS-CBNnews.com.

The CTA made the statement after Pacquiao confirmed that there was a freeze order on his bank accounts and properties. Pacquiao even said he had to borrow money for the financial aid he promised for the typhoon survivors in the Visayas.

Guzman said Pacquiao has filed a civil case with the court last August questioning the assessment issued against him and his wife for P2.2 billion.

"Sometime October 18, the petitioners, congressman Pacquiao and Jinky Pacquiao filed urgent motion to lift warrants of restraint and levy and garnishment and for the issuance of an order to suspend the collection of tax with prayer for issuance of TRO. That is the one being heard by the court currently. No ruling as of yet has been rendered by the court to that effect. Whether or not the court will grant the motion or deny the motion," she told ANC.

However, the CTA's First Division has not yet issued its ruling on Pacquiao's motion, Guzman said.

Pacquiao's tax case stemmed from the reported failure of his accountant to report in his income tax returns the millions of dollars-worth of taxes he paid in the US in relation to his fight purses from 2008 to 2009.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao fires back at Mayweather

MANILA, Philippines – Fighting congressman Manny Pacquiao blasted his rival, controversial boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., for his recent smack talk.

Pacquiao reacted to Mayweather’s claims that the Filipino boxer is already a “has been” and that he has already missed his chance for their supposed “super fight.”

“Sa atin, nayayabangan tayo. E puro salita lang siya no? Bakit puro na lang siya salita, ayaw niyang sabihin na ‘let's fight,’ (To us, he sounds cocky. He’s all talk. Why not stop the talk and say ‘let’s fight’ instead?)” Pacquiao, who has never fought since his loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, said.

The Filipino boxer insisted that he’s not yet over the hill and he will gladly prove it when he fights Mexico’s Brandon Rios.

He added that he was never really beaten up in his last fight, stressing that his loss was caused by a lucky punch.

“Hindi pa ako laos, kaya ko pang magpanalo ng mga laban (I’m not a has been, I can still win fights),” said Pacquiao.

“Ang pagkatalo ko ay nachambahan lang tayo. Hindi naman 'yung binugbog tayo... na-lucky punch lang tayo, which is part of the game (I lost because I took a hit. I wasn’t beaten up… it was just a lucky punch, which is part of the game).”

Pacquiao will begin his promotional tour for the Rios on July 26 in Macau.

Mayweather Jr. delivered a stinging rebuke against Pacquiao when fans mentioned the Filipino's name during the American boxer’s media tour for his bout against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

Mayweather was addressing the crowd in San Antonio, Texas, when a fan shouted, “Fight Pacquiao!”

“Pacquiao's a has-been. His career is over,” was the quick retort of the controversial boxer who has deliberately avoided the celebrated Filipino boxer in the past four years.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao hauls in big bucks in Las Vegas

Even before the final bell sounds in the fight between Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez on Sunday (Manila time), Las Vegas' economy can count itself to be among the big-time winners.

An article on The New York Times said Pacquiao is an economic driver in Las Vegas when his matches are scheduled there, as fans patronize establishments like casinos, hotels, and bars.

"It's way more. Not $100 million. Hundreds of millions," said Top Rank Boxing president Todd DuBoef, when asked about Pacquiao's impact on the economy.

A bout like Sunday's between Pacquiao and Marquez at the MGM Grand may even earn the Nevada Athletic Commission its budget for the year, the New York Times story added. Increased patronage leads to an increase in hotel rates to the price of bottle service at local nightclubs.

But the NYT said Pacquiao seems unaware of the economic boost provided by his fists. "I'm here to fight," he said.

Pacquiao was not considered a superstar until November 2009, when he beat Miguel Cotto for his seventh title in seven weight classes.

He has since brought with him a large and loyal fan base, which included high-end Asian gamblers who helped Las Vegas' economic recovery.

Michael Lawton, a senior research analyst for the Nevada Gaming Control Board, noted those types of high rollers appear drawn to championship fights.

DuBoef said Top Rank saw this coming when it signed Pacquiao, planning to capitalize on the Asian market with an Asian superstar.

"We thought Macau was the promised land," DuBoef said. "It turned out Manny translated here, for the same reasons, instead."

Pacquiao also draws international, often political, coverage unlike any boxer before, having graced the covers of Time and Newsweek. JVP, GMA News

source: gmanews.tv