MANILA -- Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao may have pulled off yet another victory, but boxing fans throughout the country were extremely disappointed at how he won his fight against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey on Sunday.
Though the 31-year-old Pacquiao kept his welterweight crown after dominating his challenger from Ghana, many said there was no drama behind the latest conquest of a fighter who had scored 38 knockouts in his career Sunday (Philippine time) at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Filipino fans in Caloocan cheer as they watch a free public viewing of a live satellite broadcast from Texas of Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey. (AP)
There was no knockout win this time, something Filipino fans are accustomed to every time Pacquiao climbs the ring to face tough opponents.
Thus, only few of the predominantly male crowd who watched the fight live on big screen at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Quezon City applauded when announcer Michael Buffer declared Pacquiao as the winner.
"We were expecting an eight-round knockout. But the fight turned out to be a little flat and boring," said an aficionado.
Manny Pacquiao celebrates after defeating Joshua Clottey with a unanimous decision during their WBO boxing welterweight title fight in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
Others said “bitin ang laban,” as they expected exchange of blows from the two boxers and for Pacquiao to knock Clottey down to the floor.
For Davao City Councilor Peter T. Laviña, who watched the fight at Barangay 38-D in Davao with village officials, the match Sunday disappointed several boxing fans that “(Manny) failed to open and break Clottey's defense, which I described as The Great Wall of Ghana."
"The biggest cheers were made when Manny threw a two-hand punch on both ears of Clottey, but he was given a warning for the shot," said Laviña.
Even social networking site Facebook had shout outs of disappointments.
A no-contest and a mismatch, the Facebook users said.
At the Casino Filipino inside the Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City, fans who came as early as 7 a.m. just to watch the fight live on big screens were also utterly dissatisfied with the result.
"It was a boring fight, no doubt about it. I was expecting a big victory for Manny Pacquiao, a knockout to be exact but it didn't came," one elderly man said as he was leaving his seat at the end of the bout.
"I'm still happy, though, that Manny Pacquiao won," he added.
There are others who even lost some cash as they placed bets for Pacquiao to win by a knockout within six rounds.
"Kiss my money goodbye," another elderly man said.
In the City of San Fernando in Pampanga, hundreds of boxing fans, glued on their television sets or huddled along free live pay-per-view in some congested venues, said the Pacquiao-Clottey fight was boring.
Folks who huddled in television sets set up by their neighbors in garages and porches said they were "quite disappointed" on how the fight turned out.
Filipino fans in Caloocan shield their eyes from the sun as they watch a free public viewing of Manny Pacquiao’s fight against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey. (AP)
Victory for the country
While many boxing fans were dissatisfied with the result of the match dubbed “The Event,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded Pacquiao for his continued display of "unselfish patriotism and unyielding perseverance."
The President, in a statement released by Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo, said the nation again rejoices with and congratulates Pacquiao for forging another victory for the country.
"We take heart in Manny's proven formula of unselfish patriotism and unyielding perseverance. Sa pagkakaisa at pagsisikap, nagwaging muli si Manny para sa bayan. Ito rin ang ating landas tungo sa tagumpay ng sambayanan," Arroyo said.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said Malacañang joins the jubilation of Pacquiao’s latest conquest as he again proved to the world that the Filipino’s talent and determination set us apart from the rest of the world.
Nacionalista Party standard bearer Senator Manny Villar, meanwhile, said Pacquiao’s victory is a testament of a person who overcame obstacles to be successful.
Personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and their dependents and civilian employees also witnessed the live coverage of the Pacquiao-Clottey fight at AFP Wellness Center and at the general headquarters grandstand.
More than 2,000 spectators viewed the fight in projectors and electronic billboards installed in the areas.
The Pacquiao-Clottey fight was also aired live at the Philippine Army gymnasium, the Bonifacio Naval Station at Fort Bonifacio, and at the Philippine Air Force gymnasium at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
“We are happy because his (Pacquiao) win was obvious. It was obvious that he was not going to lose. To me and to the soldiers, what he showed will be another inspiration for us,” said AFP chief General Delfin Bangit.
Generally peaceful
The military and police said the situation throughout the country was “generally peaceful and orderly” during the duration of Sunday’s bout.
“Please be informed that per monitoring of all regions, [the] situation is generally peaceful and orderly," Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said in a text message.
Police Superintendent Julius Suriben of the Regional Intelligence Division in San Fernando City, La Union also said no crime incident was reported from the four police provincial offices (PPO) morning until the time the Pacquiao-Clottey fight ended.
Suriben was in constant communication with the intelligence branches of the province’s four PPOs the whole morning until after the fight.
In Pampanga, the same situation was reported, with police officials saying no crime incidents were reported at various community police assistance centers.
The scene of light pedestrian and vehicular traffic was also noticeable, as with half-filled supermarkets and restaurants that are normally teeming with people on a Sunday.
Suriben said police forces “worked and patrolled nationwide to ensure crimes will be prevented."
The police always report low crime incidence whenever Pacquiao enters the ring because every Filipino is glued to their television sets.
Pacquiao, before the fight with Clottey on Sunday, had annihilated the best fighters in the world. He made Oscar dela Hoya quit in his tool after the eighth round, stopped Ricky Hatton with a single punch in the second round, and scored a 12th round TKO over Miguel Cotto in November last year.
Politics next
Now with his latest victory, Pacquiao is expected to face his next big bout -- a second try in politics as congressman of Sarangani province in Mindanao.
“Dapat atupagin na ni Manny ang mismong fight niya sa kanyang hometown, sapagkat mukhang mabigat din ang kanyang kalaban, mukhang heavyweight ang kanyang kalaban dun,” seasoned broadcaster and Lakas-Kampi-CMD senatorial bet Rey Langit said.
Pacquiao will run against Roy Chiongbian, a top executive of Eastern Shipping Lines for the lone district of Sarangani.
The Chiongbian family earlier said in interviews that Pacquiao’s immense popularity in boxing would not be enough to bring him to victory in 2010.
In 2007, Pacquiao lost to Darlene Antonino-Custodio when he ran for congressman in the first district of South Cotabato by a margin of 37,000 votes. (CRAM/Virgil Lopez/JMR/VR/IOF/JTD/LCMY/Sun.Star Davao/Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)