Filipinos celebrate as Pacquiao avenges loss

Filipinos cheer as they watch the WBO World Welterweight championship boxing match between the Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao and American Timothy Bradley at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, live via satellite at Marikina city, east of Manila, Philippines on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014. AP

“Manny is still the eighth wonder of the world,” Fr. Joey Faller said as Filipinos jumped from their seats, raised their arms and burst into cheers after the country’s boxing hero, Manny Pacquiao, regained his WBO welterweight title from American Timothy Bradley Jr. in a unanimous 12-round decision in Las Vegas on Sunday.

“Manny has proven that he is the better fighter. He still has the speed, the great footwork and the tsunami of punches,” said Faller, administrator of the Kamay ni Hesus (Hand of Jesus) shrine in Lucban town, Quezon province.

But he noticed something in the way Pacquiao, who has won world titles in eight boxing divisions, fought Bradley and he did not hesitate to say it.

“What he lacks now is the killer instinct,” Faller said. “He is so compassionate and not the Pacquiao we saw in the past. Probably his being born again Christian mellowed down his aggressiveness.”

But it’s not yet time for Pacquiao, 35, to quit boxing, the priest said.

“There is one unfinished business for him—to fight (Floyd) Mayweather (Jr.) for a one mega ultimate fight of the century,” Faller said, referring to the current World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion, WBC and World Boxing Association (WBA) superwelterweight champion.

That is probably still in the cards, with Pacquiao saying he’s still good for another two years.

Cheers from colleagues

Among those who cheered Pacquiao’s victory over Bradley on Sunday were his colleagues in the House of Representatives.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the Sarangani representative’s reclaiming his welterweight championship belt this late in his career showed that discipline and determination would always trump adversity.

“At 35, [Manny Pacquiao’s] victory over a much younger Bradley (30), who was said to have been even better trained now than in their previous fight, has shown the world that he continues to be the pound-for-pound King of Boxing,” Belmonte said in a statement.

Not so exciting

In the covered court at Bernardo Park in Quezon City, PO1 Conrad Lim did not find the fight too exciting, noting that Pacquiao was in good fighting condition but Bradley was not.

Still, Lim said he was happy that Pacquiao won. “He has proven that he still has [many] years as a fighter in him,” he said.

In the covered court in San Lorenzo village in Makati City, the crowd erupted in cheers every time Pacquiao had Bradley in a corner, raining punches on the American.

Even foreign residents of the village were seen cheering for Pacquiao.

“I’m a massive fan of Pacquiao. I even have posters of him all over my house,” said Marc Zanetta, a British national working at the UK Embassy in Taguig City.

Accompanied by a fellow British citizen, Zanetta said he always made it a point to see Pacquiao’s fights.

“I saw the previous fight (with Bradley). Although I think he won that one, this time he was faster. He was better. He was an experienced boxer and he wasn’t intimidated with Bradley’s antics. I am happy with the results,” Zanetta said.

“He was still slower but this is still exciting,” Alberto Kwong, 70, said, referring to Pacquiao. “He has shown once again that he is a champion.”

Suspense in Tondo

At the Tondo Sports Complex in Manila, the crowd fell silent during the fifth and sixth rounds, which were obviously dominated by Bradley.

“He’s losing,” someone in the crowd said, referring to Pacquiao, who was taking big blows from Bradley. “He should retire.”

But Pacquiao came back in the seventh round with his trademark rapid combinations, staggering Bradley at one point.

And the sports complex exploded in cheers after the score was announced.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada had been expected to watch the fight in the sports complex, but did not show up.

Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso joined hundreds of boxing fans at the San Andres Sports Complex and cheered with them after Pacquiao was announced the winner.

“Long live, Manny! You made us Filipinos proud again,” Domagoso later tweeted in Filipino.

More than 2,000 people endured the midday heat at the Navotas City Sports Complex and cheered Pacquiao on as the Filipino pressured his American opponent.

“Yes, that’s it,” they cried as Pacquiao staggered Bradley with a left to the head.

“In their first fight, Manny was cheated,” an old man said after the score was announced. “But this time, [he’s the clear winner].”

30-km walk

In Pampanga province, Ben Lampa, a village watchman in Pulong Santol, did not wait for the end of the fight and declared Pacquiao the “winner in round 10.”

Resident Domingo Ponce said Pacquiao “did everything he could to win.”

Nimfa Ferrer, a housewife, said she was happy for Pacquiao even though he did not knock out Bradley.

Fifty Aeta people walked for two hours to Sapang Bato village in Angeles City, 30 kilometers from their own village, to watch the fight.

“[Pacquiao is] our idol,” Roman King, one of them, said. “We want to see him [fight].”

They were not disappointed, as Pacquiao gave them what international boxing referee Bruce McTavish described as a “smart fight.” But McTavish said he was not sure how long Pacquiao would have power in his punches to stay in business.

Traffic in Baguio

In Baguio City, traffic slowed down as early as 10 a.m. on Naguilian and Abanao roads because of the big crowds of people who turned out for the free public viewing of the fight.

The crowds broke into cheers after Pacquiao was announced the winner at about 1 p.m.

In Nueva Ecija province, commuters in the Science City of Muñoz complained about the lack of tricycles to ferry them to their destinations. The tricycle drivers took time out to watch the fight on television at barber shops and other public places.

Ireneo Bucsit Jr., 27, a teacher at Muñoz National High School, said Pacquiao proved he was sharper than Bradley despite his age.

“It was sweet revenge for Pacquiao,” he said.

Mayor Adrienne Cuevas said the fight reaffirmed Pacquiao’s brand of heroism that every Filipino should emulate.

“He showed the virtue of working hard for a great cause,” Cuevas said.

In Bataan province, businessman Bong Talastas, 58, of Balanga City, was unconvinced that Pacquiao gave his all.

“It seems that somebody is controlling his moves to prevent Bradley from being knocked out. For the benefit of the orchestrator, the [farce] must go on,” he said.

Storm survivors happy

In communities in the Visayas ravaged by Yolanda on Nov. 8, storm survivors rejoiced at Pacquiao’s victory over Bradley.

“Of course, I am happy to see him win again and somehow I will go home to our tent happy and contented,” said Florencio Villanuna, 77, whose family lost their home in San Jose district in Tacloban City.

“He is really the best fighter today,” Villanuna said after Pacquiao was declared the winner of the fight.

In the island village of Malangabang in Concepcion town, Iloilo province, fishermen did not go to sea to watch the fight.

“We are all happy that Pacquiao won. We are also slowly recovering despite the damage to our houses,” village councilor Sonny Ciriaco said.

In Tagbilaran City, Bohol province, village gyms erupted in cheers after Pacquiao’s victory over Bradley was announced.

“It was exciting. There were no knockdowns, but that’s OK. We got the victory,” said Mayor John Geesnell Yap, whose administration sponsored the public viewing of the fight in 15 villages.

Supt. Joie Yape, spokesperson for the Bohol Provincial Police Office, said no untoward incidents were reported in the province during the fight.

Except for a drunken man who created a scene at the Cebu Coliseum, there were also no crime reports in Cebu City.

“Pacman (Pacquiao’s boxing moniker) brought peace in Cebu City,” said Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the Cebu City Police Intelligence Bureau.

In an evacuation center in Davao City, Tuanob Talugmao and Teody Mansimuy-at were excited about watching the fight live on television.

“What’s more exciting is that he won,” Talugmamo said.

“Although there were no knockdowns, the fight was still very exciting. First, we thought he would lose. But he won,” Mansimuy-at said.

Time-off for troops

In Unkaya Pukan town in Basilan province, troops of the military’s 18th Infantry Battalion were still in fighting mood after clashes with Abu Sayyaf terrorists on Friday, but they took time out to watch Pacquiao fight Bradley again.

“That’s all they asked from me. It’s OK with them if the clashes last all night, but not during Pacquiao’s fight,” said Lt. Col. Paolo Perez, the battalion commander, said.

Perez said he decided to subscribe to pay per view for his troops.

“The cheering was terrible, as if no clashes with the Abu Sayyaf happened,” he said.—Reports from Gil C. Cabacungan, Nina P. Calleja, Jeannette I. Andrade, Maricar B. Brizuela and Nathaniel R. Melican in Manila; Delfin Mallari Jr., Madonna Virola, Mar Arguelles and Shiena Barrameda, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Tonette Orejas, Anselmo Roque, Armand Galang and Greg Refraccion, Inquirer Central Luzon; Richard Balonglong and Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon; Joey A. Gabieta, Carmel Loise Matus, Jhunnex Napallacan and Nestor Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas; Karlos Manlupig, Julie S. Alipala and Edwin O. Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao; and AFP

Originally posted: 4:44 pm | Sunday, April 13th, 2014

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