England's most famous football player wants Manny Pacquiao to bend Brandon Rios like Beckham and has flown to Macau to witness their fight firsthand.
The Telegraph is reporting that David Beckham is a huge fan of Pacquiao, the Filipino superstar, and hopes that his support for boxer lends more excitement for the devastated Philippine people in their support during tonight's fight against Rios.
According to Reuters, more than 5,200 people have died and millions have been left homeless as a result of Typhoon Haiyan, which struck on Nov. 8.
"It's obviously one of the reasons why I'm here and why I'm really excited being here," said Beckham as reported by the Telegraph. "I'm a huge fan of Manny's. I met him a couple of years ago in the Philippines, when I was on tour there with the Galaxy and also there with UNICEF. And he truly is an inspirational person.
"I haven't spoken to him, but I know how much this fight is going to mean to him this weekend because of everything that is happening in the Philippines. The eyes of the world have been on the Philippines the last couple of weeks and I know how much this is going to mean to him."
Reuters reports in Tacloban, one of the cities devastated by the super storm, some 3,000 people left homeless have made the Tacloban Astrodome their home. The fight will be shown live in the arena and in other public venues where the homes have gathered.
Beckham understands the significance of bout and to the Philippines and to Pacquiao.
"He's not just loved around the world of sport or just around the world of boxing," Beckham said, "but the way that people love him and are inspired by him.
"This fight will mean so much to him because for a slight moment this fight is going to put a smile on the people's faces in the Philippines. And we all send out love and our hopes to the people in that part of the world."
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