Pacquiao Mum’s ‘Hex’ Strengthened By LA Pastors’ Prayer For Victory Over Mayweather On May 2

For believers in the power of prayer, Filipino champ Manny Pacquiao may have just added another invisible source of strength for his May 2 bout versus unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather after pastors in Los Angeles prayed over Pacquiao on Sunday. The Christian pastors’ prayer adds to the much-vaunted prayers that the boxer’s mother, Dionesia, utters during the match itself.

Boxing fans have teasingly referred to the prayers recited by the Pac-mum as a “hex” powerful enough that Pacquiao convincingly won over Timothy Bradley and Cris Algieri. These were the two times that Mommy D, as Pacquiao’s mum is called in the Philippines, openly prayed for her son’s victory from the ringside and not in her prayer room in General Santos City.

On Sunday, Pacquiao attended the service of the Shepherd of the Hill Westside church in LA, together with his family. After the service, the pastors prayed for his safety and victory, reports ABS-CBN.

Lest the Mayweather camp think that Dionesia is set to unleash another powerful “hex” on Money May, the 65-year-old former vendor who singlehandedly raised her children from two failed relationships told GMA she too is praying for her son’s opponent. Not of course for Mayweather’s victory but for protection for the two boxers as they trade blows to the head which could potentially be fatal.

Even if Pacquiao is a born-again Christian, he still has friends in the Roman Catholic Church who also pray for his win. One of them is Fr Marlon Beof, parish priest of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Santa Ana, California.

The 46-year-old Filipino priest was the Mass celebrator on the morning of Pacquiao’s bouts in the US from 2003 until 2012 when the boxer joined a Christian denomination. The two men had retained the friendship. Fr Beof visited Pacquiao in LA a few days ago.

In a phone interview with Philippine Star, the priest shared his insights on the fight of the millennium. “I really think Mayweather is scared. If you notice, he’s not as talkative anymore. Lately, he’s been saying he’s tired of boxing. Once he steps into the ring with Manny, he’ll have second and third thoughts about getting hit,” he said.

For those who thinks there should be a separation of the church and the boxing ring, Pacquiao’s pontification is a turn off.

Larry Limcangco, writing in Now Boxing, chides the congressman from Sarangani Province for bringing religion into boxing. “How dare Manny believe that God favors him over his apparent brother in Christ? To me this is blasphemy,” said Limcangco.

But Limcangco added that “If Pacquiao comes to fight and gives his all against Mayweather, he will shock me and I will admit I was wrong.”

May 2 should help settle the question if indeed, prayer works or like a constitutional clause, faith and boxing should never mix. Or perhaps, it is a deadly combination after all.

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au