Manny Pacquiao Next Fight, Record & News: Boxer Drafted by KIA Motors With 11th Overall Pick
Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao was drafted by KIA Motors in the professional basketball league Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) on Sunday as he makes his way to become the playing coach of the team.
Pacquiao, according to Interaskyon, was the 11th overall pick drafted in the first round of the PBA draft. The boxer, however, was not able to attend the draft in Manila was he was in a press tour for his November fight versus Chris Algieri in Macau.
GMA News noted that the reigning WBO welterweight champion was able to visit the PBA office last Friday and had his measurements taken prior to the draft.
A similar report by Sports World said that Pacquiao set records when he was drafted by Kia. He was the oldest player drafted in the league history with him being 35 years old. He is also reportedly the shortest player in the history of the league and the first "dual-sport" athlete in the PBA.
The boxing champ, aside from his sports endeavour, is also the current representative of Saranggani province in the Philippine Congress. He is also a TV star and a product endorser in the country.
Cebu Daily News noted that Pacquiao joined the 87 hopefuls in the 2014 PBA Rookie Draft. According to the same report, Kia earlier hoped that no one would pick Pacquiao ahead of the team's turn since he had earlier been appointed as team coach.
The eight-time division champ is expected to give ample time and attention to all his duties in the boxing ring, in the basketball court and in the House of Representatives. But right now he is focused on his upcoming fight with Algieri and his press tour, ABS-CBN reported.
Pacquiao's business manager, Eric Pineda, told the local media that he is set to visit Beijing, Macau, Shanghai, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York City for the press tour.
With his schedule undeniably jam-packed, the boxer still finds time for everything. "He runs in the morning and goes to the gym in the afternoon for boxing then early evening, he can attend the Kia practice. I'm not sure if he'll play at practice, maybe he'll concentrate on coaching," added Pineda.
Sports World said that Pacquiao will not be able to play or coach for the first few games in the upcoming PBA season as he needs to prepare for his November fight.
Pacman has a record of 56 wins with 38 knock-outs, 5 losses and 2 draws but it still unclear how the November fight will change his impressive stats.