‘Unfair’ echoes across Philippines
Manny Pacquiao’s loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their welterweight showdown in Las Vegas on Sunday was met with tears, anger and accusations of foul play in the Philippines.
The fight left streets deserted and brought the country to a virtual standstill as people packed into gymnasiums, cinemas, hotels and bars to watch their boxing hero fight the undefeated American champion on big screens.
In Kidapawan, North Cotabato province, some of the fans angry over Pacquiao’s loss threw monobloc chairs around the city gym where they watched the fight.
Ferdinand Piñol, municipal administrator of Mlang town in North Cotabato, said Mayweather won because he “threw 265 hugs and ran 15 miles,” referring to the American’s dancing away from Pacquiao’s haymakers.
In General Santos City, some fans cried while others called for an immediate rematch, saying Pacquiao deserved the win as he had been the aggressor, chasing Mayweather around the ring for much of the 12-round fight.
Hometown decision
“It’s a home court decision,” said Karlo Alexei Nograles, a congressman from Davao City. “Manny should’ve won. He had Mayweather running and cornered on the ropes. Manny did not disappoint Filipinos; he gave it his all.”
In Pacquiao’s home province of Sarangani, which he represents in the House of Representatives, Jeffrey Abellanosa, who watched the fight at the Alabel gym, said Pacquiao should have won.
“The score did not reflect what I saw during the fight—that Manny won,” Abellanosa said.
For the people of Zamboanga province, Mayweather was “maru,” which means “clever” in Chavacano. They called the American judges “hecho” or game fixers.
In the Philippine Army gymnasium in Zamboanga, where thousands of soldiers and their families watched the match, loud boos echoed as the decision was announced.
Unfair decision
“The decision was unfair. From the start, the commentators were for Manny. Everyone is disappointed,” Lt. Col. Noel Precioso said as others nearby expressed similar sentiments.
Even the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., weighed in with emotional comments immediately after the fight.
“I think the decision was not fair. Like Manny said, he thought he was ahead on points. Both fought carefully, but Manny was more aggressive. He was hitting Floyd,” Catapang said.
John Amin, one of those who watched the fight in the Army gym, said Mayweather “hardly delivered a punch, and kept on running around and embracing Pacquiao.”
For Mayor Joel Lopez of Santa Cruz town in Davao del Sur province, Pacquiao and the boxing fans “deserve a rematch.”
Pacquiao cheated
At the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City, the crowd sat in stunned silence after the decision was announced. Then boos erupted.
“Manny was cheated,” a Pacquiao fan complained, echoing similar sentiments from disappointed fans streaming out of the convention center.
“There was no war. Definitely, it was not the fight of the century,” one disappointed fan said.
In Naga City, Camarines Sur province, residents who packed into a hotel’s restaurant sat in silence after the announcement of the decision.
But they cheered when Pacquiao, speaking at a postfight news conference, said he knew he won the match.
Hearts and minds
Robert Obiedo, a local businessman, said Pacquiao won the hearts and minds of the millions who watched the fight.
He said he expected the judges to reap criticism from the national and the international media for giving the fight to Mayweather.
At the Virac Sports Center in Catanduanes province, most of the people who watched the fight said they were disappointed, but respected the decision. They said Mayweather won because he was “too slippery” and “wily.”
In Makati City, about 3,000 fans of Pacquiao walked out of the city coliseum sadly after their hero’s loss to Mayweather.
City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. and his children, who sat and cheered Pacquiao during the early rounds, left with some city councilors even before the fight ended, anticipating Pacquiao’s loss by decision.
Earlier, many fans said they were sure Pacquiao would redesign Mayweather’s “pretty face.”
After the fight, they said Mayweather won by running away from Pacquiao.
False belief
In Marikina City, Roxanne del Valle joined the crowd of boxing fans in Freedom Park believing the folk saying that pregnant women bring luck. She was pregnant with twins, she said.
But perhaps because she watched the fight from halfway around the globe and not at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the luck she brought did not reach Pacquiao.
Still, Pacquiao remains an inspiration for many Filipinos, she said.
“I will tell my boys what hard work can do. Pacquiao is an inspiration. He showed us that anything is possible if we work hard,” Del Valle said.
Alexander Batestin, who also watched the fight in Freedom Park, was disappointed at the outcome of the fight, but said Pacquiao had “proven himself to be a great fighter.”–Reports from Maricar B. Brizuela and Jovic Yee in Manila; Tonette Orejas and Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon; Melvin Gascon, Gabriel Cardinoza and Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon; Delfin Mallari Jr., Juan Escandor Jr. and Fernan Gianan, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Julie S. Alipala, Williamor Magbanua, Frinston Lim, Alan Nawal, Orlando Dinoy, Eldie Aguirre and Charlie Senase, Inquirer Mindanao; wires
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