Manny Pacquiao (left) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. AP FILE PHOTO
Just when fans thought Manny Pacquiao would lose, he threw another punch and won again.
For his supporters, the boxer-turned-senator is a never ending surprise who should go back to the ring again — and fight Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“I thought he’d lose [because there was no knockout]. The judges had to give a decision,” said Virginia Sison, 58. “But when they announced Pacquiao’s the winner, I was elated!”
Sison was one of the fans who flocked to Manila’s San Andres Sports Complex, where 3,000 to 4,000 watched the Pacquiao – Jessie Vargas bout, almost filling the covered court that could accommodate 5,000 people.
Chief Inspector Romeo Salvador, deputy station commander of Malate police station, said most viewers arrived about 11:30 shortly before Pacquiao’s fight.
“Before, yong mga tao hindi na lumalabas pag dumating sila ng umaga. Ngayon, naglalabasan na tapos babalik nalang ulit. Maraming tao ngayon pero mas maraming tao noon,” Salvador told reporters in an interview.
Sison said Pacquiao’s speed and stamina surprised her and her friends. Vargas is the younger boxer of the two, but Pacquiao was unstoppable.
“Vargas was taller, has longer arms, was younger but Pacquiao beat him. It was really surprising,” she said.
For Sison, Paquiao is now a “smarter.”
“I used to watch his fights and he looked as if he’s throwing punch after punch. Now, it seemed like he had a strategy,” Sison said. “He still has it. He should fight again.”
Reynaldo delos Reyes said Pacquiao should go back in the ring again too, but only if to fight Mayweather.
“It’s Mayweather or nothing. If not, he should just focus on his work as senator,” Delos Reyes said. SFM