Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (R) fights against Chris Algieri of the US during their world welterweight championship boxing bout at the Cotai Arena in Macau on November 23, 2014. AFP
MANILA, Philippines — About 2,000 screaming fans gathered inside the Taguig City University (TCU) Auditorium celebrated the victory of Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao on Sunday against the former undefeated American fighter Chris Algieri in Macau.
Among the people thrilled with Pacquiao’s victory was 38-year-old welder Melchor Lim from Lower Bicutan who said he skipped half day at work just to watch the fight.
“I never miss a Pacquiao fight,” said Lim who claimed that he was really expecting a knockout from Filipino boxer during the fight.
Although the much-awaited knockout never came, Lim said that the repeated knockdowns of Pacquiao and his regained strength and speed were already enough for him.
“His performance against Algieri has really improved compared to his previous fight against Timothy Bradley,” the Taguig resident added.
Aside from the TCU Auditorium, the Pacquiao-Algieri bout was also shown for free in other parts of the city like the Cayetano Sports Complex, Bagumbayan, Tipas Elementary School, Palingon-Tipas, Enlisted Men’s Signal Village Elementary School, and Bagong Lipunan Condominium (BLC) Covered Court, Western Bicutan.
Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano and Vice Mayor Ricardo Cruz also joined the thousands of people gathered at the TCU auditorium.
“In coming together to watch this fight, we are showing our solidarity in supporting the man who gave glory to our country with his every win. We are not just Taguigeños, we are Filipinos as well, and we came to cheer for Pacquiao,” Cayetano said.
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