Pacquiao fan dies of heart attack after split decision loss

Timothy Bradley (L) of US celebrates his victory over Manny Pacquiao (R) following their WBO welterweight title match at the MGM Grand Arena on June 9, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unbeaten Bradley ended Pacquiao's long unbeaten run with a controversial split decision victory over the Filipino ring icon. AFP / JOE KLAMAR

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Minutes after his idol lost in his fight, an ailing fan of Manny Pacquiao died of heart attack, Sunday, his relatives said.

Henry Macion, chairman of Barangay Rosary Heights 4, said Bienvenido Perez, 59, suffered a heart attack and died before reaching the hospital minutes after Pacquiao lost to American challenger Timothy Bradley in a split decision.

Macion said when the ring announcer revealed the results, everybody was dismayed and they noticed Perez gasping for breath.

“He was so disappointed with his idol’s loss,” he said.

“He has a heart problem but the boxing result worsened his situation,” Macion said, adding that his last words was “gitikasan si Manny (Manny was cheated).”

During the Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight, Perez, then already nursing a heart problem, was overjoyed when his idol won the fight.

“He was so happy then when Pacquiao won over Marquez, now he was so disappointed and thus the heart attack,” Macion said.