David Beckham has flown into Macau to take up his ringside seat to show his support for the ‘inspirational’ Manny Pacquiao. The global icon has admitted that he is a ‘huge fan’ of the boxing superstar and has backed him to give the Philippine public something to cheer when he faces Brandon Rios this weekend.
The Philippines have been left devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, which has claimed the lives of over 4,000 people and has left nearly 4 million displaced.
But Beckham expects Pacquiao to take care of business and help put smiles back on the faces of his adoring public.
Here’s what Beckham had to say about Pacquiao:
“It’s obviously one of the reasons why I’m here and why I’m really excited being here.
“I’m a huge fan of Manny’s. I met him a couple of years ago in the Philippines, when I was on tour there with the Galaxy and also there with UNICEF. And he truly is an inspirational person.
“I haven’t spoken to him, but I know how much this fight is going to mean to him this weekend because of everything that is happening in the Philippines. The eyes of the world have been on the Philippines the last couple of weeks and I know how much this is going to mean to him.
“He’s not just loved around the world of sport or just around the world of boxing. But the way that people love him and are inspired by him. This fight will mean so much to him because for a slight moment this fight is going to put a smile on the people’s faces in the Philippines. And we all send out love and our hopes to the people in that part of the world.”
Macau is looking to build its boxing and entertainment profile with a host of top events being lined up in the near future, and of course, Pacquiao vs. Rios is headlining that list, as well as potentially more fights involving Pacquiao in the coming year or two.
