Manny Pacquiao interview hits below the belt on gay marriage

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Manny Pacquiao knocks back Juan Manuel Marquez with a left to the body in the first round during the WBO world welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 12, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 20: Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines trains on the speed bag during a media workout at the Wild Card Boxing Club on April 20, 2011 in Hollywood, California.

Manny Pacquiao threw a punch at the president's position on same-sex that marriage that appeared to have to hit below the belt.

The Filipino boxer, named the 4th "Most Influential Athlete" in the world this year by Forbes, trains in Los Angeles. On Friday night, he gave a controversial, exclusive interview to the Examiner from his residence at the Palazzo.

In addressing President Obama's stance on legalizing gay marriage, Pacquiao, a devout Roman Catholic, said "God's words first ... obey God's law first before considering the laws of man." The Pacquiao interview then contextualized the sentiment with a reference to the punishing Leviticus 20:13:

"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."

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