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Monday, September 12, 2005
RP pugs Pacquiao, Viloria, Bautista KO foes in LA
THE Philippine flag flew high in Los Angeles Saturday night (close to Sunday noon in Manila). Real, real high. Not one, not two, but three Filipino boxers spearheaded by Manny Pacquiao scored sensational knockout victories at the Staples Center in one of the biggest nights of RP boxing in history.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo grabbed the opportunity to announce good news by going on TV Sunday to congratulate the three boxers for their stunning victories in the United States.
Bantamweight Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista set the tone for the Philippine onslaught as he KO'd Felix Flores with a right hand at 1:12 in third round.
The hard-hitting Baustista had Flores in dire straits in the second round before finishing him the following round with that right.
Bautista raised his record to 15-0 with 12 KOs.
Viloria followed that up with a spectacular 1st round KO of erstwhile World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight titlist Eric Ortiz of Mexico to become the division's new champion.
Viloria, known as the "Hawaiian Punch", dropped Ortiz with a jarring right hand as both fighters were mixing it up late in the round.
Ortiz fell flat on his back from the impact but tried to stand up to beat the count. Upon getting up, he stumbled back to the canvass prompting the referee to stop the bout.
When his victory was officially announced, Viloria took a Philippine flag and declared: "Mabuhay ang Pilipinas", drawing cheers from the Filipino crowd.
With the win, Viloria's record improved to 18-0 with 12 KOs.
Then late in the night Pacquiao, the biggest name in Philippine boxing today, didn't disappoint, scoring a sixth round KO of Mexican Hector Velazquez.
Pacquiao took the WBC international super featherweight title and more importantly regained some lost pride and cemented his name back in the world stage after losing to Erik Morales in March.
Arroyo said she personally called Pacquiao to express her happiness for his victory.
"The whole nation is celebrating Manny Pacquiao's victory," a beaming Arroyo said. "God heard my prayers for his victory because his fight was the fight of all Filipinos."
The 26-year-old Pacquiao trapped Velazquez against the ropes three times in the sixth round, finally bringing him to his knees in the final second.
Velazquez slowly stood as the referee began the count but could not continue and the fight was stopped.
Pacquiao won the final three rounds on all three judges' scorecards.
When the fight was stopped he was ahead 49-46, 48-47 and 49-46.
He improved to 40-3-2 with 31 knockouts.
Velazquez, 28, of Tijuana, Mexico, dropped to 42-11-2 with 31 knockouts.
Both fighters weighed 130 pounds. (Sun.Star Davao/With a report from AP)
(September 12, 2005 issue)
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