Jessica Sanchez to Sing US National Anthem in Pacquiao-Bradley Fight

American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez is set to sing the US national anthem in Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley bout this Saturday ,June 9 (Sunday morning, June 10 in Manila). The news was confirmed by Top Rank Entertainment through it's spokesperson, Fred Sternburg.

The Fil-Mexican Jessica Sanchez once again will sing to the world US anthem Star-Spangled Banner. It can be remembered that Jessica sang the US national anthem during the PBS Memorial Day concert at the US Capital, Washington D.C. last May 26 (watch her performance here).

Weeks ago, Team Pacquiao had earlier expressed their invitation to Jessica to sing the Philippine national anthem on the said fight but Jessica was still busy competing for the Idol crown that time.

Filipino-American Kirby Asunto from New Jersey will be singing Lupang Hinirang instead on the said Pacquiao-Bradley World Welterweight Championship bout on MGM Grand, Las Vegas, June 9.

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Manny Pacquiao Barred from 'Extra' for Making Anti-Gay Remarks

Pinoy Champ and Saranggani representative Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao was barred from his supposed to be Extra interview at the Grove in Los Angeles after making an anti-gay remark.

Manny Pacquiao and friend, Extra host, Mario Lopez

The anti-gay remark of Pacquiao was made on his interview with the National Conservative Examiner last weekend saying that he disagree with US President Barrack Obama's stance on same-sex marriage. Manny Pacquiao quoted,

God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they so are in love with each other. It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of Old.

 The examiner report also quoted Leviticus 20:13 which says,

If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

Following these statements, Pacquiao's scheduled appearance on Extra was called off, according to LA Weekly. Pacquiao was supposed to be interviewed by Extra host Mario Lopez and both of them even promoted the appearance on Twitter. 

According to Bill Reich, spokesman of The Grove, they were cancelling the event.

“Manny Pacquiao is not coming to the Grove,” he said.

In their Twitter account, it was announced that Pacquiao is not welcome at The Grove.

Boxer Manny Pacquiao is not welcome @TheGroveLA. @TheGroveLA is a gathering place for all Angelenos, not a place for intolerance.
— The Grove LA (@TheGroveLA) May 16, 2012

Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, spoke to boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz regarding the situation and explained their side of the story.

Ronnie Nathanielsz then relayed Koncz' statement to ABS-CBN news, saying that "Manny was aked about same sex marriages and he quoted a verse from the Bible to drive home a point."

"He did not wish ill will on anybody," Koncz added.

In a report by TV Patrol, Wednesday, May 16, Pacquiao denied that he quoted Leviticus, saying that he has yet to encounter the said bible verse. He also added that he is not homophobic but he does not support same-sex marriage, which he called a sin.

The writer of the examiner article, Granville Ampong confirmed that Pacquiao did not quote the Leviticus verse. It was him who added the said verse to his article to give substance to the topic.

Meanwhile, Mario Lopez' interview with Pacquiao is reported to push through, perhaps in a different venue.

Photo courtesy of LA Weekly

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