HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (April 23, 2015) – Fighter of the Decade, eight-division world champion and boxing superhero CONGRESSMAN MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO made another memorable guest shot on Wednesday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! It was the ninth time Manny had been on Kimmel’s popular late-night talk show — more than any other active fighter — in their series of entertaining appearances together dating back to November 3, 2009 (the week before Manny’s knocked out defending WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto for his seventh of eight division world titles).
After being “counseled” by Dr. Phil during Kimmel’s monologue, Manny sat down with the popular talk show host for his interview segment. After discussing Manny’s upcoming eagerly-anticipated May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated FLOYD “Money” MAYWEATHER JR., Kimmel lobbied Manny to not only be part of his ring walk entourage, but to sing the reigning two-time WBO welterweight world champion’s recently-recorded song “Lalaban Ako Para Sa Pilipino” (“I Will Fight For The Filipino.”) Manny, who directed the music video, also recorded the song — which is taking the world by storm — for his ring entrance. While Manny pondered the request Kimmel gave the champ an impromptu audition that either sealed or killed the deal, depending on your perspective. Manny even joined in for a duet. Finally, to sweeten the deal, Kimmel offered to fight Justin Bieber! It should be noted that Manny has never lost a fight when he has sung during a pre-fight appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! – something that has been dutifully noted by the Nevada sports books which have seen more and more money wagered on a Manny victory since last night’s show.
The following links will take you to Manny’s segments from last night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel’s debut singing of “Lalaban Ako Para Sa Pilipino” and Manny’s self-directed music video:
· Dr. Phil Counsels Manny https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N-hb7Ix8dk
· Kimmel Asks to Be in Manny’s Entourage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKv_0PdBIXY
· Kimmel Sings “Lalaban Ako Para Sa Pilipino” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WdyJT0hd0k
· Manny’s Music Video http://youtu.be/uR-3_EwKT2k
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Manny’s debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! unveiled his singing chops, where he belted out a rendition of the Dan Hill-penned hit ballad “Sometimes When We Touch.” Manny and Hill collaborated on a remake which also became a hit. Subsequent appearances featured Pacquiao singing duets with Kimmel and Will Ferrell, and an uproarious send-up of HBO Sports’ “24/7” reality franchise, starring Pacquiao and Kimmel sidekick Guillermo. (This link will take you to Manny’s surprise appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the March 11 Los Angeles press conference that announced the “Fight of the Century” between Manny and Mayweather. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79ft5j-zZzw&feature=youtu.be.)
That 2009 appearance also marked Manny’s U.S. network TV debut, which has since led to a multitude of network television, radio and magazine features for the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world champion, including, CBS’ 60 Minutes, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, ABC’s Nightline, FOX News Channel’s On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, CNN’s America Morning, NPR’s Morning Edition and Weekend Edition, Rollingstone, New York, The New Yorker, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine and cover stories in TIME and Newsweek.
Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative of the Sarangani province in the Philippines, is in deep training for the eagerly-anticipated May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated Mayweather(47-0, 26 KOs), a native of Grand Rapids, Mich., who now fight out of Las Vegas, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the Mayweather-Pacquiao live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
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