Manny Pacquiao Speaks Out Against Asian Hate Crimes, Dares Perpetrators To Fight Him

Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao dared Asian haters to fight him in the wake of increasing hate crimes that have targeted Asians living in western countries. The Filipino boxer and Senator added his voice on social media Thursday as he called out the ruthless attacks on helpless Asians.

On his Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts, Sen. Pacquiao posted his call in English, Filipino, Korean and Chinese languages to "stop attacking Asians who can't defend themselves."

“FIGHT ME INSTEAD.”

"We have one color in our Blood! Stop discriminating. LOVE AND PEACE TO EVERYONE!!" he said.

According to the New York Post, the 12-time world champion’s posters showed screenshots of the brutal attack on a 65-year-old Filipino-American woman and her attacker, convicted murderer Brandon Elliot. The posters have been widely shared and has become part of the viral hashtag #StopAsianHate.

Pacquiao emerged from training camp and his senatorial duties to speak out against the recent surge in anti-Asian attacks in the US.

Last week, Pacquiao also tweeted a slow-motion highlight of a combination against Oscar de la Hoya, who is a former multiple-weight class champion. It was in 2008 when Pacquiao fought 48-year-old de la Hoya, which was his last professional fight but he has since announced a comeback bout against an unknown opponent in the summer.

Pacman is reportedly in talks to fight WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford in June, as he announced in February that he was ready “to further add to my legacy in the sport of boxing” after having been considered a champion in recess for the majority of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is rumored that the Pacman-Crawford bout will take place in Abu Dhabi although neither boxer has directly confirmed any talks on the bout, The South China Morning Post wrote.

Crawford, 33, is considered to be one of the pound for pound best active fighters and is bigger in both weight and height.

Pacquiao is the only eight-division world champion and the only boxer to win world championships across four decades in the sport’s history. He will be in his 26th year in professional boxing this year.