Manny Pacquiao's controversial views toward the LGBT community have cost him his sponsorship with Nike as well as a great deal of criticism from all over, but the 37-year-old Philippine boxer will not lose his fight with Timothy Bradley, Jr. However, HBO made it clear they stand in stark disagreement with Pacquiao's recent comments.
During his campaign to be named to the Philippine Senate, Pacquiao said people in same-sex relationships are "worse than animals." As a result, Nike announced it would discontinue its apparel sponsorship of Pacquiao, calling his comments "abhorrent."
HBO followed echoed the sentiment, but stated it had an "obligation" to keep the fight as scheduled.
"Next month Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr. are scheduled to meet in a Pay-Per-View bout. We have an obligation to both fighters and, therefore, will proceed to produce and distribute that event," HBO said in a statement. "However, we felt it important to leave no uncertainty about our position on Mr. Pacquiao's recent comments toward the LGBTQ community. We consider them insensitive, offensive and deplorable. HBO has been a proud home to many LGBTQ stories and couldn't approach this event without clearly voicing our opinion."
Pacquiao later apologized for the comments he made while campaigning, though he initially defended what he said, writing in an Instagram post he was "just telling the truth of what the Bible says."
"I'm sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals," he said in a video on Facebook. "Please forgive me for those I've hurt."
But after Nike decided to drop Pacquiao, the boxer posted a now-deleted photo to Instagram with a caption containing a Bible verse from the book of Leviticus calling for those who enter into homosexual relations to be "put to death."
Pacquiao's third fight with Bradley will be on April 9 in Las Vegas and it will be the last of his career as well. He plans to devote more attention to his run for a Philippine Senate seat, the election for which is in May.
Though he plans to end his boxing career, Pacquiao recently stated he would be open to fighting in the Rio Summer Olympics if professional fighters are allowed to participate. The Philippine Olympic Committee did not comment on Pacquiao's statement.
Pacquiao vs. Bradley: HBO pay-per-view, April 9, at 9 p.m. ET
