KUALA LUMPUR - President Duterte paid tribute to Manny Pacquiao for making the country proud following his knockout victory over Lucas Matthysse in their world championship bout here.
Pacquiao made a courtesy call to Duterte and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed shortly after stopping Matthysse in the seventh round to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight crown at the Axiata Arena here.
"I would like to congratulate Senator Manny Pacquiao for giving us pride and bringing the Filipino nation together once more," Duterte said in a statement.
Asked what the President told him during their short meeting, Pacquiao said, "'You made us proud, the Filipinos are proud of you.'
"He (Duterte) was so happy."
Pacquiao returned the compliment.
'I told him I'm so inspired and proud to fight before you," he said of the President, who watched the fight in a VIP box in the company of presidential son Baste and Special Assistant Bong Go.
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