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Pacman appearance in ONE FC mulled

Chatri Sityodtong publicly called out Manny Pacquiao as he pitches an offer to have him defend his title belt at a future One event. Nikki Collantes
By Mark Mañez

PARANAQUE - One Championship Founder and CEO Chatri Sityodtong mulled a possibility of inviting newly-crowned WBA Welterweight king Sen. Manny Pacquiao to one of its fight cards after the press conference of ONE: Reign of Kings at the City of Dreams Grand Ballroom, Tuesday afternoon.

Chatri threw the call out to Pacquiao during the press event for his organisation’s One: Reign of Kings card to be held in Pasay on Friday night. It’s being headlined by a bout between two division champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen (11-2) who will meet Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon (18-5) of the Philippines for One’s interim world bantamweight title.

"Manny, congratulations. I'm amazed by your legendary career. Let's join hands. Let's give the Filipino fans what they want. Let's do an all-Filipino-heroes mega card. Let's blast it out to the whole world. Manny Pacquiao, please. I invite you to compete in One Championship," said Sityodtong in front of the press.

Unleashing real-life super heroes has always been ONE's mission since Day 1. He also made comparison with western markets that only sell fights. ONE aimed at building up hardwork, discipline, character through it as he further said.

Earlier this year, One went all out with their inclusion of striking-based martial arts such as Muay Thai and Kickboxing with the launch of the ONE Super Series, which has already featured some big-name strikers such as world champion Giorgio Petrosyan and Lumpinee Stadium legend Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.

"What we want to do is showcase all the combat sports, all the flavors, and hopefully we'll get multi-division champions across the different platforms to really celebrate Asia's greatest cultural treasure, martial arts," Sityodtong continued.

For Sityodtong, getting Pacquiao, arguably the most influential Asian combat sports icon, to compete under the One banner would definitely be a monumental milestone.

"Me inviting Manny Pacquiao, I'm dead serious. If he says yes, let's do it. I'd love for him to defend his belt here in the Philippines, and give the Filipino fans what they want, a mega-card."

Follow him on Twitter: @MAManez_DPH16