ELATED FANS. Hundreds of supporters inside the Bangkerohan Multi-purpose gym in Barangay 5-A, Davao City jump with joy as boxing champ Manny Pacquiao scores a unanimous decision over Jessie Vargas. Pacquaio, who is also a Senator, claims the World Boxing Organization welterweight title in Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 6. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Residents here are jubilant after boxing champ Manny Pacquiao clinched a rousing unanimous decision victory over Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas on Sunday, Nov. 6.
Pacquiao, 37, managed to bag a unanimous victory from 27-year-old Jessie Vargas, to become the third time World Boxing Organization welterweight division champion despite a few disadvantages like shorter height with Pacquiao’s height at 5’5″ and Vargas at 5’10”.
Close to a thousand supporters of the Filipino icon witnessed his game inside the Bangkerohan multi-purpose gym in Barangay 5-A here.
Jun Lumagod, 55, of Bangkerohan said the Pacquiao he saw on the ring was “different” and “younger” compared to his last appearance on the ring.
Lumagod said that he would like to see another round of Pacquiao fight against Mayweather. “He was different. He seemed much younger, his fighting style looks like it’s changing, not like the last time where his age was showing.”
Boxing fanatics like Arnel Villamor, 39, from Bangkerohan, also shared Pacquiao’s victory after he won a bet with a friend.
Villamor said he is happy that he can buy a sack of rice after Pacquiao won. Villamor also said he does not want to see the Philippine senator retire from boxing.
“I don’t want him to stop fighting just yet. Manny, don’t stop yet,” Villamor said.
Pacquiao announced his retirement after his last fight with Timothy Bradley on April this year and promised Filipinos a zero absentee record after receiving flak for his absences during his stint as Sarangani representative.
Meanwhile, Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte, in a statement Sunday, described the Pacquiao’s victory a “shining moment,” as the boxing icon “showed the tenacity of a Filipino fighting not only for himself but for the entire country.”
Duterte also congratulated Nonito Donaire, who lost his WBO junior featherweight title to Jessie Magdaleno in an under card match on the same day.
“Like a real Filipino, Donaire showed that being a champion is not only about winning battles but also about standing tall, proud, and strong for himself and for the country,” Duterte said. (davaotoday.com)
