While retired boxer Floyd Mayweather is traipsing in 10 countries over the past 13 days, since Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao has one more fight before he follows Mayweather and hangs his gloves, the champ spent his 37th birthday on Thursday preparing for his next bout.
He is seen in a new video posted on YouTube running, while a female ESPN reporter is running alongside Pacquiao in General Santos City in southern Philippines. Besides training for his next and last fight in 2016, the congressman representing Sarangani Province hosted a surprise party with children at GenSan's City Oval Plaza, reports GMA.
He was joined by family and friends. Pacquiao, in a speech cried while he did a Throwback Thursday and recalled his hard life before he rose to become a billionaire, thanks to his earnings in the ring. Besides being wealthy, Pacquiao is considered one of the most influential and popular boxers in the world that even when he lost to Mayweather in the "Fight of the Century" in Las Vegas, the Filipino champ was cheered, while his unpopular opponent was booed by the crowd.
Among those who greeted Pacquiao, a born-again Christian, is popular Christian artist Don Moen who, based on Pacquiao's Facebook post on Friday, apparently performed during the birthday party. In a message to the champ, the Praise & Worship leader known for the song "God Will Make A Way," wrote, "It was an honor to be with you for your birthday. GOD BLESS YOU my friend."
Besides a souvenir photo with Pacquiao's family, Moen also had a separate photo session with Pacquiao and wife Jinkee and an unidentified woman who could be Moen's wife. The second photo was also posted on Pacquiao's Facebook.
It was not the first time that Moen performed in GenSan. A YouTube video showed that he had held a worship concert in Pacquiao's home town in 2013.
All eyes are on Pacquiao's anticipated announcement on who would be his last foe in the ring. Reports say that the choice is between Terence Crawford and Timothy Bradley, although talks of a rematch with Mayweather refuses to die, although it is apparent that "Money May" would, for the meantime, enjoy his free days trotting around the world.