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A hero??s welcome for M. Pacquiao
MANILA - Despite his loss to a Mexican boxer Erik Morales March 19, the Philippines?? Manny Pacquiao received a hero??s welcome when he returned home from Las Vegas March 23.
Pacquiao lost a close unanimous decision to Morales in a fight so many thought the Filipino prizefighter was tipped to win. Las Vegas odd makers made Pacquiao the slight 6-5 favorite. Top Philippine officials, led by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo were on hand to witness Pacquiao??s defeat.
Analysts said Pacquiao was a victim of his own hype. ??A failed game plan made worse by a nasty cut from an accidental head-butt. A proud and wily opponent who obviously studied the style of his foe in detail. And too many off-the-ring Distractions," said a sports editor.
The way the pre-publicity to the fight was being built up, there seemed to be no way the pride of General Santos City would lose. The odds had enough basis owing to the outcome of the fights that Pacquiao and Morales had with a common rival: Marco Antonio Barrera.
Boxing fans still remember PacMan??s 11-round demolition of the Mexican ??Baby-Faced Assassin?? at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, in November 2003. On the other hand, Morales lost a close split decision and his World Boxing Council super featherweight title to Barrera in their explosive third meeting late last year.
Boxing fans, aficionados and even Web sites all over the world are clamoring for an encore of the March 19 showdown between two of the planet??s best fighters - Pacquiao and Morales- who fashioned out a bloody, 12-round unanimous decision over the Filipino ring gladiator.
And it looks like the promoters are heeding everyone??s call.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promoted the fight with Murad Muhammad, said that Pacquiao won the hearts of boxing fans all over the world with his gallant stand and said the performance of the flamboyant Filipino earned him the right to a rematch, probably in September.
??I??m ready for a rematch, anytime, anywhere,? said Pacquiao in an interview with a local TV channel.
In that fateful match with Morales, Pacquiao started off well and took the opening round with some stiff jabs and a couple of combinations. But Morales quickly evened the score by taking the second round using his reach to advantage.
The Filipino charged back to take the third round when a head-butt opened a gash over his right eye, which began to bother him even more as the fight wore on.
Morales, finding the range and moving well, caught Pacquiao with a solid uppercut and snapped his head back in the fifth round with a right and began to take charge but the ?Pac-Man? grit his teeth and weathered the storm to launch his own counterattack to seize the initiative in Round 9, when he hurt Morales with a couple of stinging body shots.
With the Mexican in seeming control of the fight in Rounds 10 and 11, Pacquiao?s only hope was a knockout.
Realizing he was behind on points, Pacquiao launched a furious attack and had Morales reeling backwards and obviously hurt.
For one moment in time, President Arroyo, armed insurgents and common street folk found unity March 20 (March 19 in Las Vegas) when they cheered for Pacquiao then collectively grieved over his loss to Morales.
All three judges declared Morales the winner after the nontitle super featherweight showdown fought before a sellout crowd that included Mrs. Arroyo??s husband and dozens of Filipino lawmakers at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
??I praise Manny Pacquiao??s bravery, ability and fighting spirit,? Mrs. Arroyo said. ??I am sure he will bounce back from his loss.? ??We cheer Manny as an outstanding Filipino. He sets an example of the toughness we need to surmount our trials and in fighting our way to become a strong Philippines," she said.
Mike Arroyo, who was in Las Vegas to watch the fight, said, ??We are all very sad. We are licking our wounds.?
In their hinterland strongholds, communist and Muslim separatists took time out to monitor the bout over the radio.
??It??s sad because most of us expected he would win by knocking out his foe,?? said Eid Kabalu, spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a Muslim rebel group that has been fighting for a separate homeland in Mindanao. Pacquiao hails from General Santos City.
The communist rebel spokesman Gregorio Rosal said Pacquiao fought valiantly but lost, and if there were doubts about his defeat, Filipinos could seek a rematch.
In Metro Manila??s streets, it was evident when Pacquiao landed a good punch by the howl of the crowd, which yelled his name as they gathered around TVs and radios.
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