Makati fans surprised by Pacquiao victory

MANILA, Philippines—At the upscale Legazpi Sunday Market in Makati, the predominantly male crowd appeared shocked after Manny Pacquiao salvaged a win via majority decision against the resilient Juan Manuel Marquez.

Nonetheless, celebratory cheers went off after ring announcer Michael Buffer called the third showdown between Pacquiao and Marquez to the Filipino’s favor.

Throughout the fight, viewers mumbled in between rounds how Pacquiao could lose the much-awaited third fight against Marquez, whose clean counters staggered the reigning welterweight champion and pound-for-pound king.

The crowd of less than 100 streamed out of the tents after the bout was called to Pacquiao’s favor, in smiles that the Filipino managed to pull off his 15th victory in a row.

Engineer John Gancita, 28, noted that the fighting Saranggani representative deserved to win the fight but the victory “was not convincing as his previous fights.”

His observation was shared by another spectator, Adriel Dumange, 28, who had an assistant watch over his stall at the market to watch the fight.

Dumange described the Pacquiao victory as “somewhat questionable” although he still wanted the Filipino ring icon to leave the ring with a win.

“It could have gone either way,” he added.

About 20 viewers stayed on the viewing area, which officials of Barangay (village) San Lorenzo had been setting up in the past years at the Legazpi Active Park. They booed on Pacquiao when he commented in a post-fight interview: “I clearly won this fight.”