Pacquiao to help set up boxing academy in China, confident of producing Chinese champions

People’s Champ Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao (HBO.com)

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao says he will help train boxers in China and expressed confidence that the country’s 1.4 billion people can produce world champions.

Pacquiao says he partnered with a Chinese company and the Chinese government to set up a boxing institute in his name to share his knowledge about the sport where the 35-year-old has won eight world titles.

Pacquiao, who is also a congressman, told ABS-CBN television in Manila on Wednesday his new venture will also help promote good ties between the Philippines and China, whose territorial dispute in the South China Sea has intensified in recent months.

He is in Shanghai to promote his Nov. 22 fight against Chris Algieri for a WBO welterweight title in Macau.