Pacman adds punch to Filipino weekend

By Patrick Michael – Even Sly Stallone would have been impressed with the fan following enjoyed by the much loved Filipino Rambo who punched his way to a WBO welterweight title victory at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas.

The echo of those jabs and hooks from Pacman (Manny Pacquiao)) from the strip resonated here in Dubai as over 800 men and women began arriving at Rocky’s Cafe at Regents Hotel in Karama as early as 4am for the 6am bell.

The cult-like devotion of his fans was obvious in the room where they had gathered. ‘I went to the hotel at 5am to cheer my hero Manny Pacquiao,’ said A. Wolde, rubbing sleep from his eyes. ‘He is indeed the best boxer, the finest fighter and a fantastic athlete. He has done the Philippines proud.’

The atmosphere was so tense and noisy you would have thought the bout was Live rather than a telecast on ESPN.

Screaming Filipino fans shadow boxed and egged on their hero through the bloody 12 rounds, often standing on chairs and splitting the air with fists and whistles, which turned into catcalls every time the Puerto Rican challenger Miguel Cotto managed to get a punch in.

Ruby Ann Alvarado never went to bed. She was far to excited to even think of a power nap before heading to Rocky’s Cafe to watch Manny. She was there at 4am and loved every minute of the action packed title fight.

‘No one can really knock him down right now. He is the undefeated champion and he is my idol,’ said Ruby as she punched the air when Manny was declared the winner.

Eight large TV screens brought the action up front and personal and the nearer Manny ‘The Destroyer’ (as he is also know in the Philippines) got to his goal the more berserk went the fans. Manny knocked his opponent down to the canvass and pummelled him against the ropes before the referee ended the fight.

For sure, it was Manny all the way, slowing down his feisty opponent with each round, until, like a tiring bull in a ring, Cotto went down for the count in the twelfth, succumbing to the surgical like skill of Manny the matador.

It was a dominating performance with Pacman knocking down Cotto twice in the first four rounds and turning his face into a bloody mess before stopping him 55 seconds into the 12th round.

As he crashed onto the canvas under the glare of the ring lights it was much to the delirious ecstasy of the crowd to whom Manny is a national hero revered even more than film stars.

His screaming fans jumped up and down, punched the air, hugged each other and danced for Pacman had punched his way to the top.

They would be late to work but it was worth it. He is, after all, the country’s biggest star. He offers hope to the thousands of loyal fans across the Philippines.

‘Coach Freddie Roach’s strategy really works. Manny is in superb condition and he is an excellent fighter and with this win he is a legend,’ said Jay Lucot.

‘I am so happy. Even though I came here at 4.30am I am not in the least bit tired taking orders and serving breakfast to all the fans because Manny has taken away all the pain with his win,’ said Joy Soliman, the hotel waitress who was kept on her toes throughout the duration of the bout that saw Cotto battered and bloodied.

Indeed, as is expected, Manny, whose real name is Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, might well hang up his gloves one day and enter politics where the fans say he will win every political bout with only one punch. No one can stand against him. Though, it must be said he did stand for elections in February 2007. And lost. But if can put that one single defeat behind him and run again, he will win on the tidal wave of popularity that he is now riding on.

In the Philippines, the streets emptied out when Manny entered the ring. Thousands gathered in front of giant television screens to watch the highly anticipated historic title fight. In Pac Man’s home town of General Santos City, tickets for the fight sold like hot cakes and 6,000 fans packed themselves in the specially erected arena to root for the hero.

From its teeming slums to its strife-torn southern region, the boxing-crazy Philippines erupted in a frenzy of joy after Manny Pacquiao won a technical stoppage of Puerto Rican champion Miguel Cotto in a history-making bout

In Dubai, and elsewhere in the UAE, wherever die-hard Filipino boxing fans could gather, they did so. Work was the last thing on their mind. All they wanted to do was watch one of boxing’s finest exponent and superb puncher making short work of Cotto.

And Manny, the punch wrecking machine, obliged.

His remarkable display of speed and strength had the crowd going. The Dubai fans were delirious.

Jeck de la Cruz, was also there just before the crack of dawn to salute the country’s greatest boxing talent. ‘Sleep was the last thing on my mind. It was worth sacrificing my sleep to watch Pacquiao. He is the greatest fighter of all time and there is no doubt about it,’ he said.

Source: khaleejtimes.com