Manny Pacquiao signs exclusive deal with UK (darts) promoter

A UK darts design and manufacturing company and boxing’s biggest superstar have joined forces.

UK-based Target Darts and Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao have signed an exclusive deal to work together on the creation of products to promote one of the boxer's favourite pastimes.

Manny – who played darts against Ricky Hatton in a Manchester pub in February 2009 on a tour to promote their one-sided fight - will work with the company to create "his own personal range of soft and steel-tip darts, flights, surrounds, and bristle and soft-tip dart boards". Target Darts will also design and manufacture "an innovative new Manny Pacquiao darts pack. This will contain a Manny Pacquiao branded paper board, which will come with two sets of Manny Pacquiao branded darts. Separate Manny Pacquiao branded sticker darts surround sets will also be available".

The darts sets will also be part of an educational initiative designed to help promote numeracy in Manny’s native Philippines. This will compliment Manny’s on-going charitable endeavours, as well as his political work as the State Congressman for the Sarangani Province.  

Garry Plummer of Target Darts was understandably thrilled with the deal to be working with Manny, saying: ‘We are absolutely delighted to be working with someone of Manny’s calibre who is a sports icon known throughout the world. Not only is Manny a fantastically talented competitor in the boxing ring, but he also conducts himself with great dignity and professionalism, and it is a wonderful accolade for everyone at the company to be working with such a renowned sporting ambassador.

"Aside from his record-breaking boxing exploits, Manny is a great scholar of the game of darts, as well as a highly talented dart player.

"He is also a generous patron to the sport, having sponsored his own darts tournament; which has been held in his native Philippines and Los Angeles in recent years."

Pacman lost a leg of 501 to Hatton and the ultra-competitive Filipino blamed it on his unfamiliarity with that form of the game, saying he much preferred 'cricket'. True story.

In prophetic words, his trainer Freddie Roach said, "The only thing that Ricky Hatton will beat Manny Pacquiao at is darts."