The deed is done. With last Sunday's win, Pacquiao validated his title as Mexico's "Republica Enemy no. 1". Pacquiao dethroned Juan Manual Marquez via split decision to be the new WBC Super Featherweight champion. Judge Duane Ford favored Pacquiao 115-112 and Jerry Roth called it 115-112 for Marquez, while Tom Miller gave a 114-113 edge to Pacquiao.
In a scintillating display of will & boxing ability, both fighters showed the world how a fight should be fought. The whole bout kept everybody at the edge of their seats as both boxers fought gallantly with each having their moments. Marquez with his vast array of counters & often varying his style in between rounds to befuddle Pacquiao, and with Pacquiao displaying his usual frenetic pace & unmatched speed and power. It was so close it could've gone the other way. And when Michael Buffer uttered the words "And new....", jubilation, pandemonium followed all over the archipelago. You don't need to hear the words after that to know Pacquiao won. It turned out that the 3rd round knockdown of Marquez was the difference.
It took four years to make, and boy, was it worth the wait. When Ciara Sotto sang the Lupang Hinirang, it was one of those moments that the National Anthem was that, the National Anthem. I felt a surge of Filipino pride in my veins. I wanted to shout "Pinoy Ako!" But boy, what about those earrings Ciara wore? Those are big rocks aren't they? And it's quite distracting. But in fairness, she sang the Anthem well. And as Pacquiao made his way to the ring with the Black Eyed Peas' "Bebot" in the background, I can feel the hair rise at the back of my legs. This is it! The moment has arrived.
As Chabs know it, my favorite part of a fight is the fighter introduction. And no one can do it better than Michael Buffer. When Pacquiao was introduced, everybody who has Filipino blood on them in the Thomas & Mack Center shouted their lungs out. And so did the Mexicans when their bet was introduced.
After the fighters were introduced, they touched gloves and the fight is on. Marquez controlled the opening two rounds with his pinpoint counterpunching & Manny probing & trying to find his distance. I was getting sad already as the first two rounds confimed my biggest fear, that Marquez will bore Manny to death with this waiting game & Manny getting impatient & barreling recklessly. But before I sink to further depression, in the 3rd round, Pacquiao drops Marquez like a bad habit with a short, compact left. It awakened me from my stupor. With a blink of an eye, Marquez was on his back, sprawled on the canvas & Pacquiao's back in the game. Marquez got right back up trying to shake the cobwebs and surprisingly traded, with him getting the worst of it. In fact, he almost went down again if not for the ropes & the round ending. The round ended with some comic relief as Marquez, visibly still out of it, staggers towards Manny's corner perhaps thinking it was his corner. Haha
In the fourth round, much to my dismay, Marquez was able to recover some of his wits and managed not to get knocked down again. But he's never the same again as Manny has that newfound confidence & starting to dart in and out with his flurries.
I thought the fight was in the bag when suddenly, a cut opened on Manny's right eye on the 8th round. Or was it the 7th? I swear, I heard every Filipino worth his salt shrieked in horror as Manny repeatedly got tagged by Marquez's accurate straights. So when the round ended, as a testament to his reputation as the world's best cutman, Joe Chavez, weaved his magic & closed the cut. And lo and behold, the cut never bothered Manny again.
The fight ended like it began. With Marquez countering every Pacquiao punch. And when the final bell sounded, both men raised their arms in triumph. They deserved to. They fought an even fight & there was no clear winner. While the scorecards were being tallied, in a display of class, Manny approached Marquez to congratulate him for the good fight while Marquez will have none of it as he dismissed him. At this point in time, I was preparing myself for the verdict. I feared for the worst while expecting a draw. The conspiracy theorist in me can't shake this thought that the powers that be will finally reward Marquez. And when Michael Buffer proclaimed Pacquiao the victor, I couldn't believe it. Wow! That was a pleasant surprise. A visibly surprised Pacquiao was in near tears and celebrated like he never did before. All that hard work & sacrifice has bore fruit as he became a champion again & made history as the first Asian to ever become world champion in three weight divisions.
Predictably, during the post-fight presser, Marquez thought he was robbed. And so did his trainier, Nacho Beristain, and his promoter Golden Boy Promotions. While Bob Arum, Pacquiao's trainer vehemently fought off their accusations. And so a war of words ensued. Pacquiao & Freddie Roach, his trainer, were their usual conciliatory selves & were one to declare that there will be no third fight in the near future. It was revealed that Manny will move up in weight & fight WBC Lightweight champion David Diaz (who won earlier over Ramon Montano) at the same venue on June 28 if he heals on time.
Whew! This sure is a long post. I'm glad Manny won. In a country lacking real heroes, we sure need one. And a former "panadero" from Gen. Santos City is up to the task. Till the next fight. Goodnight & good fight.
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