HOLLYWOOD – Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao was attacked by an unknown assailant as he was about to leave a Japanese restaurant along Hollywood late Sunday afternoon (Monday, Manila time).
The man, described as a white male in his mid-30s, suddenly came from behind and appeared ready to punch the Filipino boxing great as he was about to board his Italia Ferrari car at the backdoor parking lot of the Kabuki restaurant.
Pacquiao’s security detail, however, was able to hold the guy and pull him away while he kept on yelling invectives at the congressman from Sarangani province.
“He was shouting, ‘F@#* you, F@#* you. You homophobic,” David Sisson, said Pacquiao’s personal assistant, recalling what the man was saying as he was being led away from the 37-year-old boxer.
Police weren't called to the scene as the guy was eventually released as per Pacquiao’s instruction to his security personnel.
“Manny told them not to hurt the guy, and said, ‘Let him go, let him go,’” said Sisson afterwards.
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To recall, Pacquiao made headlines following his controversial stand on same-sex marriage last February.
READ: Manny Pacquiao apologizes but stands by his belief about same-sex marriage