Manny Pacquiao to Add Bible Study, Christian Songs in Fight Against Bradley
Manny Pacquiao, 33-year-old Filipino congressman and boxer who currently holds a welterweight championship belt, plans to incorporate the Bible and Christian music into his upcoming bout on Sunday against Timothy Bradley.
Pacquiao recently spoke to the press about his plans to be "full of the Word of God" before and after his pay-per-view fight, in which he will attemp to defend his title. After arriving at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Pacquiao spoke about his plans to have Bible study on the night of his fight.
"Before and after, we're gonna do a Bible study," Pacquiao said, according to Ring TV.
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Although the Filipino boxer's fans are used to witnessing a concert after his Las Vegas fights, Pacquiao spoke about singing Christian songs instead.
"We will sing Christian songs," Pacquiao said about his plans for a concert after the fight.
Pacquiao recently credited God and his growing Christian faith for helping to improve his training regiment for his upcoming fight. Still, his team has recognized that the bout will not be an easy one.
Buboy Fernandez, a Pacquiao aide, spoke about the challenges that are awaiting the boxer in his next match.
"Bradley has his own moves," Fernandez said in an AFP report. "He's good at head movement and we have to pay attention to that. He can also bend the rules to his advantage."
However, Pacquiao said his Christian faith has not changed his focus before the fight. Instead, the pugilist said it has made him happier.
"Nothing has changed," Pacquiao said in an Agence France-Presse report. "I am still fully focused on training although now I am happier because I have God."
Although Pacquiao has been vocal about his Christian beliefs since being asked to serve as a Bible ambassador in January, some have questioned if the congressman's faith was a gimmick he exploited for political reasons. However, Pacquiao's advisor, Michael Koncz, said Pacman has truly grown in his Christian faith.
"But that is absolutely not true. He's found inner peace and inner happiness with the Bible and he's serious about it," Koncz said, according to a Manila Standard Today report last month. "I should know because I drive around with him all the time and now he is my pastor. He and his wife Jinkee are very happy, the kids are involved in the Bible study which is a good thing too and a tremendous amount of good things that came out of it."
