Manny Pacquiao gives you two choices: He can sing you to sleep, or knock you cold. (Photo by Edison Graff)

Manny Pacquiao, set to go Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a 145-pound throwdown for the WBO Welterweight title, rehearsed with his band Calsada last night at the Studio at the Palms. Well. It’s nice to see the Philippines catching up with the American trend of 25 years ago for athletes to, for some reason, launch into a music career. Sure, the ’85 Bears may have paved the way with the “Super Bowl Shuffle,” but this just feels so … global. It’s heartwarming.

The other thing that’s great about foreign boxers is that Pacquiao, like Vitali Klitschko, pursues a political career in his home country. Why can’t we get behind that here? Is there a political campaign from sea to shining sea that wouldn’t be improved by the presence of Riddick Bowe? Could someone start a committee to draft him to run against Obama in 2012?

Pacquiao’s next match, which could be the dream fight of him taking on Floyd Mayweather, Jr., may take place outside of Vegas, sadly. Worse, it could take place at Cowboys Stadium. Although the bright side is that if Miguel Cotto wins, his next fight may come at Yankee Stadium.

By Jason Scavone

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