Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia is leaving for Las Vegas this weekend to hold up anew the World Boxing Council international super featherweight belt of Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao during the pre-fight ceremonies of his battle against Mexican champion Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 (March 16 in the Philippines).

“I asked him (Pacquaio) about the belt and who will carry it, he (Pacquiao) said ‘ikaw pa rin’ (you will still carry it),” Leonardia said.

Leonardia started carrying Pacquaio’s belt during his fights against Oscar Larios in July 2006 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. He also carried the belt when the Filipino champion fought Erik Morales in 2006 and Marco Antonio Barrera last year.

The General Santos-born Pacquiao, an adopted son of Bacolod, won via unanimous decision against Larios and Barrera. He toppled Morales by knockout.

Pacquiao’s fight against Marquez is a rematch of their battle in May 8, 2004, which ended in a controversial draw.

Pacquiao is thanking the Bacoleños for their support and is once again asking for their prayers for his upcoming fight, Leonardia said.

Leonardia said he assured Pacquiao that the city is still going to put up TV screens in the major markets for the public.

Leonardia said he will make use of his trip to promote tourism and campaign for the MassKara Festival.

He said he is scheduled to meet  Long Beach, California Mayor Robert Foster to strengthen sisterhood ties between Long Beach and Bacolod.

Leonardia said he will invite Foster to Bacolod on October 19 for the 70th Charter Anniversary of Bacolod.

He said they will formalize with Long Beach the acceptance of a trade mission from Bacolod, which he and Bacolod Tourism Council chairman John Orola are working on.

He said they are targeting a 20-man team composed of public officials and the private sector that will do a sales blitz in Long Beach and probably in San Francisco and Chicago this September.

Leonardia said they have an invitation to join the Philippine Exposition, which is a yearly big event in the area of Los Angeles that will also fall in September.

“We have major tourism and trade programs to implement within this year and I believe the visit to Long Beach will be critical to this project,” he said.

Leonardia said he will also meet with the Bacolod Society in America and will give them an update about Bacolod and will show them what is happening in the city.

He will also meet with the Kahirup of Negros in Las Vegas, he said.*CGS

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