by: Shirley Enerio-Camacho
If you are one of the many unhappy and disappointed viewers of “The Event,” the much-touted exciting boxing bout that turned out to be a dud and a dull, had one saving grace. The fight had its big-time boxing debut at the huge and magnificent Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas drawing the biggest crowd ever of 50,994, more than double of attendees in previous fights held in Las Vegas.
As Filipinos we can also look at the brighter side of the fight. By unanimous decision, the Philippine’s greatest and biggest boxing darling sensation, Manny “Pacman” Pacquaio was obviously declared the winner on the March 13, 2010 Pacquaio-Clottey match. Many thought the latter did not put up a good and tough fight even as it lasted twelve rounds sans any sensational knock out or bleeding to make the fight more smashing and fierce. It was very much unlike Pacman’s previous fights.
They blamed it on Joshua Clottey, the challenger from Ghana, whose big dream and size could have been the best things up his sleeves until the fight’s disappointing end. He was a defensive opponent who was not ferocious and daring enough to go for the kill even as he frequently guarded his face (like he wore his gloves up his cheek) from the dynamite punches of the once bad boy of Dadiangas.
Never in boxing history and the first time ever the Wave Phenomenon happened, rudely interrupting the undercard bout of Soto-Diaz, the last match of the night before the main fight.
While the undercard boxers were doing their thing, the crowd could not wait for the Pacquaio-Clottey fight to commence as several massive eruption of cheers and roars took place where the entire audience beginning in one section following another section, the audience would stand up roaring and waving up both arms on the air to create a wave effect all around the huge circular stadium.
Stadium owner Jerry Jones, true to his promise, mounted a 72 foot-by-160 foot high definition television screen to make the ring closer to everyone seated in the stadium regardless of one’s location inside the multi-giant stadium. It even gave the lowest-ticket price holder seem so comfortable and so close to the ring. This was a big plus during the fight.
But the stellar attraction of the night is no less than Manny Pacquaio who retained his WBO welterweight title where we can safely assume that out of the 50,994 people inside the stadium, about sixty-percent of them were Filipinos from all over North America, Canada, Australia, Philippines and other countries or continents who are avid boxing enthusiasts or die-hard fans of the best pound-by-pound boxer in the world. Curious folks like this writer, like many others enjoyed our first ever viewing a live boxing match experience.
The excitement and the intensity were so contagious it made me more nervous before the fight and as it progressed through the long night! Surprisingly, both Americans and Mexicans alike in the audience were also rooting for Pacquaio which made sportswriters and boxing analysts conclude that there was a partisan crowd during the fight – no doubt about it. It must be one reason Joshua Clottey felt intimidated by the noise of the roaring partisan crowd who never got tired of chanting “Manny, Manny, Manny,” throughout the fight.
No wonder Clottey seemed to be not in his best element Saturday night even though he continues to keep his record of never been knocked down by his opponent in his entire professional boxing career.
But true to form Mr. Pacman gave Clottey his big punches including a quick, two-handed slap to both of his opponent’s ears which drew a warning from the referee but a wild cheer of approval from the adoring audience.
This seemed to make Pacqauio more endearing to his worldwide fans while keeping the title among his many titles, the best boxer of the world in this generation.
I was privileged to meet and talk to Pacman’s chief of staff, Mr. Jayke Joson of Nueva Ecija, the good-looking guy you would always notice to be beside the champ in the ring (after the bout). Hours before the fight we were hanging around at the Gaylord Hotel & Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas where Pacquiao and his 230 member-entourage were billeted.
Everybody there was hoping to get a glimpse of the champ. Jayke, a close buddy of my cousin in Manila, intimated to me that Manny was in his presidential suite listening to his IPOD to calm and to relax him before the big fight.
No doubt if Manny were not a boxer, he could very well pursue a singing career. Earlier in the day there was also a Holy Mass to pray for the safety of both boxers and of course, a victory for Manny and for the Filipinos. Then, a couple of hours before Manny left the hotel, his prayer warriors were also in deep prayer, which shows the faith and the humility of Manny was beyond question. Immediately after his Sunday morning thanksgiving mass, they flew back to Los Angeles and will be in Hawaii shortly for a concert before flying back to the Philippines where he will be given another hero’s welcome.
And yes, Manny will temporarily hang up his gloves and cease to be a boxer as he will roll up his sleeves and start a grueling campaign for a congressional seat in Sarangani. This is one big fight Manny will have to prove to himself that he can also be a public servant or an elected public official in due time.
Hopefully if he wins this time around he will be an effective and efficient representative dedicated and committed to serve the people of Sarangani.
We wish Manny good luck in his political bid just as we had wished him well in all his boxing bouts. We trust also that Manny fully understands that the political arena could also be deadlier and more disastrous than boxing where his political opponents and even his political supporters or friends now could devour or devastate him, sooner than later.
Unlike boxing, politics is a treacherous field where there are no permanent friends only permanent interests. But for now, let me congratulate Manny for making himself twice bigger than the huge Cowboy Stadium. And thank you once more for making me proud to be a Filipino!
Bohol’s Pride Magazine reprints series / John Enerio – Publisher / Shirley E. Camacho – Exec. Editor
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