Martial Arts practitioners Monsour del Rosario and Alvin Aguilar expect a thrilling super boxing bout between boxing idol Manny Pacquiao and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) superstar Conor McGregor next year in Dubai.
A taekwondo champion in mid 80s, del Rosario believes the defending WBA welterweight champion will be tested to the fullest when he faces the durable MMA star who is a two-weight division champion.
“The senator always delivers an exciting fight every time he steps into the ring. McGregor is a UFC champion and also a good striker so I think it will be an exciting fight,” said del Rosario.
“I would love to see how McGregor will compare his experience fighting the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. to Pacquiao. I would like to hear from him who’s the powerful puncher? Who’s the heavy-hitter and who’s the toughest opponent? So I think this will be an exciting bout.”
Aguilar, the Universal Reality Combat Championships (URCC) founder, said the 42-year-old Pacquiao would be fighting the Irish fighterr not only for himself but for the Filipinos.
“It is, as everyone will still watch it and why is it any different when Mayweather did it? Sen. Manny has been proven to be one of the most selfless and generous people in the world,” explained Aguilar, also the Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) president.
“The more money he makes in an honest matter by the way ,which is a rarity nowadays, the better for a lot of people who he sincerely helps. He is always blessed because he has a good heart and works harder than everyone else,” he added.
The collision between pro boxing and MMA fans around the world is definitely good to unite the people in these trying times, and Pacquiao has proven it every time he fights anywhere where all the Filipinos are just watching, cheering at home.
Even Team Lakay’s mentor and trainer Mark Sangiao believes Pacquiao is doing the right move by fighting McGregor.
“It is a good strategy for Pacquiao because everybody is craving to watch him fight again,” said Sangiao, who trains former One Championship lightweight titleholder Eduard Folayang, strawweight champion Joshua Pacio and One former bantamweight champion Kevin Belingon, among others.
