Former Pacquiao business manager Nazario, dies

Manny Pacquiao’s former business manager and long-time boxing promoter Rodolfo “Rod" Nazario died Thursday morning at the Perpetual Help Hospital in Las Piñas. He was 74. Nazario, who handled the reigning International Boxing Organization (IBO) and Ring Magazine light welterweight champion’s affairs from 1995 to 2005, was diagnosed with lung cancer last year and even celebrated his birthday last Sept. 12. Pacquiao even visited Nazario at the hospital over the weekend before heading to Baguio to begin his training for his scheduled 12-round World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title bout against Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico. Nazario is the husband of Supreme Court Associate Justice Minita V. Chico-Nazario. His remains lie in state at the Funeraria Paz, Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque. The date of interment will be announced later. Nazario was the one who gave Pacquiao his big break in the United States when he negotiated an undercard match for the Filipino ring icon in the Oscar De La Hoya-Javier Castillejo main bout on June 23, 2001 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Nazario, according to Fightnews.com, had his first foray in boxing during the time of former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) flyweight champion Tanny Campo in the 1950s. He was also at ringside when Pacquiao scored a second round knockout win against Briton Ricky Hatton early this year. Nazario owns the In This Corner Wildcard Fitness Gym in BF Homes, Parañaque where Pacquiao also trained before heading to Team Pacquiao’s training camp in Baguio. Nazario is survived by Justice Nazario and their children Rhoderick and Elaine; Rommelious and Joy; and Karen Patricia and Alain; and their grandchildren Joaquim, Lucas, Annika, Andrea, Alix, Axelle, Bianca, Sophia, Paula, and Carla. – GMANews.TV