Monday, July 10, 2006
Pacquiao's win gets mix reviews from town mates
By Bong S. Sarmiento
TOWN mates of Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao here and abroad drew mix reviews on his win Sunday over Mexican boxer Oscar Larios.
Still, they celebrated his victory with a fiesta mood.
Pacquiao could have floored his opponent in earlier rounds but his business savvy prevailed on, Avel Manansala, a City Hall consultant said.
"Obviously, Larios was dog food to Manny. Pacman held the fight on to give his countrymen and sponsors a good time," Manansala said.
A government employee, now in a study tour in Los Angeles, Californa, said over a telephone interview that Filipino communities erupted in cheers as the winner of the Manila fight was announced.
"The Mexican crowd in the neighborhood looks solemn because of the defeat of their countryman. On the other hand, Filipinos are dancing, eating and drinking," said Julius Valmores, head of the Philippine Information Agency here.
Valmores said Filipinos abroad gathered and viewed the fight in pay-per-view TV.
"It is expected," said one relative of Pacquiao's wife Jinky, on the boxer's victory.
Bronx Hebrona, a consultant of a local mining firm, however saluted the Mexican fighter.
"Pacquiao underestimated Larios's preparation. The latter was a brave and a strong boxer but Manny's punches are more powerful," Hebrona said.
Prior to the fight, the streets of this city were almost deserted as people are either in their homes or in carinderias, restaurants and other commercial establishments waiting for the fight of their hometown hero.
Vehicular traffic resumed moments after live broadcast of the fight ended.
Meantime, Rey Golingan, local president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, was not satisfied with the performance of Pacquiao.
"Manny was not on his best boxing form. I predicted that Larios would not last the distance and be floored between the sixth to eight rounds," said Golingan, also a close friend of Pacquiao.
"It's a different Manny that I saw in the ring fighting. He was not his old boxing self like when he fought Erik Morales," Golingan, who have followed Pacquiao's career since the latter was still an amateur.
For Bisaya stories from General Santos.Click here. (This section is updated every Monday)
(July 10, 2006 issue)
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