By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday congratulated Senator Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao after winning his fight against Lucas Matthysse via 7th round technical knockout.

In a statement forwarded to local media, the mayor pointed out it was Pacquiao’s first knockout victory after nine years and said the boxer’s latest win “dispelled the ghost” of his highly-questionable fight against Jeff Horn in Australia last year.

He added, Pacquiao “still has the hardware.”

Leonardia also noted the presence of President Rodrigo Duterte made it a “must-win.”

“Manny, indeed, is a source of pride and unity,” the mayor said. “He is a national treasure.”

Leonardia added, the “spectacular” victory will lay to rest speculations of retirement.

“The Manny Pacquiao story will go on and on and we all know that there will never be another Manny Pacquiao in our lifetime and even beyond,” he added./DGB, WDJ