JAM-PACKED. Davao City’s Bankerohan covered court is packed with boxing fanatics who eagerly watched the Pacquiao-Bradley fight for free courtesy of a local FM station, Sunday. To their dismay, Manny Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight title over Timothy Bradley via a split decision. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani)
While there are those who can’t believe with the decision, there are also who agreed with it.
By JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA & MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — It was a decision that stunned boxing fanatics, Davaoeños included, from around the globe.
In the city’s Barangay 5A’s covered court in Bankerohan, from rounds one to 12, people were cheering for the Filipino boxing icon as he released his numerous powerful punches against his American opponent.
But the judges’ decision in favor of the opponent was beyond expectation. It literally shocked the rowdy crowd of the city’s biggest public market.
For those who’ve seen the fight, they can’t believe it, including sports broadcasters Quinito Henson and Anthony Suntay.
“I’m flabbergasted, I couldn’t believe it,” was Henson’s reaction aired on television. Meanwhile, his co-broadcaster Suntay said, “Shocking, I’m speechless. Manny was never hurt in this fight. Bradley was.”
Yes, the eight time pound-for-pound champion Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquaio lost over the undefeated American orthodox boxer Timothy ‘Desert Storm’ Bradley in a fight in Las Vegas, Nevada in USA, June 9 (June 10 in the Philippines). Bradley now holds the WBO welterweight belt.
Judge Jerry Roth scored 115-113 in favor of Pacquiao while Judge CJ Ross and Duane Fore scored 115-113 each, in favor of Bradley.
Pacquiao, 33, has now a boxing record of 54-4-2 with 30 knockouts; while Bradley, 28, has a record of 29-0 with 12 knockouts.
Davaoeños from other parts of the globe were also stunned with Sunday’s boxing match.
“It was downright highway robbery. Pacquiao deserves a rematch,” boxing fanatic Omar Bantayan said, adding that, “still, congratulations to Rep. Pacquiao! He won that match, hands down.”
Bantayan who’s now based in Washington, USA had to bring his laptop at work in Texas to watch the Pacquaio-Bradley fight.
“I can’t focus on my work today. I still can’t believe over the decision. I think I may never take boxing seriously again after that horrible decision against Pacman. The whole world knows he won the game,” was how Michelle Romero, an employee of a shipping company in Bahrain, reacted.
While there are those who can’t believe with the decision, there are also who agreed with it.
A nurse in Abu Dhabi, Jan Paul Sarce said, “It’s just right. The judges corrected the wrong decision on (Juan Manuel) Marquez. Marquez clearly dominated that fight but he lost.”
In November last year, Pacquiao defeated the Mexican counterpuncher Marquez in their third rematch. It was a controversial decision in favor of Pacquaio.
“Win or lose, Manny still earned a lot from this fight,” Mario Apellido, a radiology nurse in Manila, said. “It doesn’t matter if he lost, I’m still waiting for his match with Floyd Mayweather,” he added.
Pacquaio who was interviewed in the ring had accepted the decision like any good sport. “The decision is already done. Let’s give the credit to him (Bradley),” he said.
Perhaps, he could focus now on his work as a lawmaker. As what Adiw Tiangco, a labor advocate, posted on his Facebook account, “Manny should be fighting for (the PHP 125) wage increase. If he’ll do that, he’ll surely be the workers’ champion.”
And as for Bantayan, also a labor advocate, “Let Pacquiao’s loss reminds us of how the people are also robbed of what is due to us. We are being robbed, raped and ravished everyday by a government which does not really care. Majority of the people may not have the benefit of a ‘rematch’ like Manny does, but we do still have a lot of fight left in us. It is now time to stand together and show the powers-that-be what the people got.” (John Rizle Saligumba & Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan/davaotoday.com
