Boxing News 2014: Born-Again Christian Pastors Get Top Rank OK To Sing National Anthem, Rapper Ja Rule To Sing Star-Spangled Banner
It's official. American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez lost again. Not to an American belter but to born-again Christian pastors whom Top Rank Promotions approved on Friday to sing the Philippine national anthem on Nov 22 before the much-awaited bout between Manny Pacquiao and Chris Algieri.
GMA reports that Top Rank, which handles the promotion of Pacquiao's bouts, okayed the request by its prized fighter, Pacquiao, despite previous arrangement that Sanchez would repeat her singing of the national anthem.
Read: Boxing News 2014: Pacquiao Considers Ditching Jessica Sanchez To Sing National Anthem In Favour Of Born-Again Pastors
Here's a peek at the pastors practicing for their performance.
YouTube/Suleyman Sahin
The pastors are part of the 300 plus entourage of Pacquiao that arrived in Macau on Monday. The boxer, now the richest congressman in the Philippines, paid for their two charter jet, hotel and food.
Read: Boxing News 2014: Pacquiao Charters 2 Jets For Macau Bout; 'Hexer' Mum Dionesia Included In Entourage Of 300
It appears that male singers rule this time, unlike Pacquiao's last bout in Macau when two sexy and pretty women belted the Philippine and American national anthems.
YouTube/JaRuleVEVO
Rapper Ja Rule would sing the American national anthem. Ja Rule starred in the music video Always on Time, which features Ashanti who sang the Star Spangled Banner in March when Pacquiao beat Timothy Bradley also in Macau.
YouTube/OneWorld1972
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All is set for the Nov 22 match, including the arrival of sports journalists from different parts of the world, according to Arum who forecasts better numbers in terms of pay-per-view buys.
"Every New York paper is here as well as the LA Times, the Associated Press, Yahoo, ESPN, Reuters. Everybody is here to witness this fantastic show. The publicity is tremendous. People are very interested in witnessing this fight. I'm looking forward to a great promotion, a great week and an even greater result," Arum told GMA.
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