ShareThisPinoy boxing icon earns P1.3 billion
vs Mosley; Mexico’s Marquez next?
LAS VEGAS/MANILA — Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao remains on top of the world by scoring a unanimous decision over American champion Shane Mosley in their 12-round bout for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown at the MGM Grand Garden in La Vegas, Nevada last May 7.
Pacquiao, now the highest paid athlete in the world, earned $15 million from the fight plus several millions of dollars more the fight and television and commercial rights to a total expected to be a record P1.3 billion. Mosley, on the other hand, earned $5 million, his highest paycheck in boxing.
Pacquiao floored Mosley in the third round in what many expected as a start of a knockout, but the American boxer who was heavier and taller fought on. Many boxing observers were surprised and turned off with a reserved and defensive Mosley who never was very aggressive in the fight.
Pacquiao, who now holds a record of 53 professional fights with three losses and two draws with 38 knockouts, was given a 119-108, 120-108, 120-107 scorecard in his favor by the three judges assigned for the fight. As announced, he used a yellow boxing glove in the fight to symbolize his call for unity among Filipinos in the fight against poverty, which delighted Malacanang.
President Benigno S. Aquino III, who was in Jakarta, led officials in congratulating the Pinoy boxing superstar amidst celebration by a joyous nation, calling him a hero. Malacanang is expected to roll the red carpet to conggratulate Pacquiao upon his arrival from the United States.
“There’s no doubt he is a real hero,” Aquino said, heaping praise on the champion who wore yellow gloves as part of his call for unity for the campaign to fight poverty in the Philippines.
“Kasama ko ang sambayanang Pilipino na taos-pusong bumabati kay Manny Pacquiao sa kanyang panibagong tagumpay laban kay “Sugar” Shane Mosley sa Las Vegas, Nevada, USA,” the President said. “Sa kaniyang pagdepensa sa WBO world welterweight belt, hindi lamang ang likas na tatag, lakas at tapang ng mga Pinoy ang muling ibinandila ng ating Pambansang Kamao sa buong mundo. Bagkus, ipinamalas din niya ang disiplina, determinasyon at tunay na galing ng mga Pilipino.”
Aquino added: “Higit pa itong pinatingkad nang pinili niyang magsuot ng dilaw na boxing gloves, na sumasagisag sa pakikiisa ni Manny sa ating laban kontra kahirapan. Sa kabila ng kaniyang tagumpay, hindi kinakalimutan ni Manny na lumingon at ibangon ang mga kababayan niyang pinabagsak ng mga suliranin. Mulat siyang may mga laban na hindi natatapos sa loob ng ring — na may obligasyon siya para sa Inang bayan, kung saan malasakit at mahusay na serbisyo sa kapwa ang pangunahin niyang sandata.
“Walang dudang isang bayani si Manny Pacquiao: ang pound- for-pound King na patuloy na naghahatid ng papuri sa bansang Pilipinas, at bumubuhay sa diwa at dangal ng lahing Pilipino,” he said.
Vice President Jejomar Binay Jr. said:: “I would like to congratulate Congressman Manny Pacquaio for defeating Shane Mosley and winning his record eighth boxing title. I, along with the entire Filipino nation, join Manny in celebrating this glorious victory.
Once again, the PacMan (the Filipino boxer’s monicker) has shown that he is indeed, pound for pound, the best boxer in the world.”
He added the boxer-lawmaker’s triumph “showcases the resilience of the Filipino athlete and is a testament to Manny’s hard work and sacrifice.”
Members of the upper chamber were also jubilant at Pacquiao’s newest feat.
“For the nth time, Manny Pacquiao had exemplified the most admirable of all Filipino traits — never surrender. He had not lost his spirit and will to win despite his questionable knockdown in the 10th round. He succeeded not only in defending his WBO welterweight title but also the title of being indeed the Filipino People’s Champ. His latest victory showed that we Filipinos can achieve anything only if we put our minds and hearts being to our goal. Pacquiao is undeniably an inspiration to our countrymen,” Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr.
Sen. Loren Legarda said “Manny Pacquiao’s quickness and lightning blows in the boxing ring is superlative. Despite his dominance inside the ring, he is, outside the ring, a true gentleman who always remembers his humble beginnings.”
She said “Pacquiao is truly a national treasure who not only gives pride to the Filipino but more importantly unites his people from all walks of life.”
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. also praised Pacquiao for his win over Mosley.
“Manny is the only boxer in the world who is already an 8-division world champion, the first boxer in history to earn 10 world titles in 8 different weight divisions, and the first boxer in history to win the lineal championship in 4 different weight classes,” he said.
“His defense of the WBO welterweight championship title again today only strengthens his grip as the world’s pound-for-pound king of boxing. It is an overwhelming achievement which he holds not just for himself but for every Filipino,” he added.
“I join all our countrymen over all social classes in congratulating Congressman Manny Pacquiao for another victory and for continuing to keep the hope and inspiration alive in the hearts of every Filipino here and abroad – especially of our youth who emulate him for his discipline, faith and determination,” Belmonte said.
“It’s a great victory for the Filipino people and the Filipino nation,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Oban, who watched the fight with about 5,000 military officials and their families at the AFP gymnasium at Camp Aguinaldo. Pacquiao is an Army reserved soldier.
Oban said he would be coordinating with the Army as to what recognition or award that will be given to Pacquiao upon his return to the Philippines. Pacquiao maybe conferred senior master sargeant rank.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma asked Filipinos to heed the call of Pacquiao for unity. This was symbolized by Pacquiao wearing yellow boxing gloves during his bout with Mosley. Yellow is the President‘s campaign color when he vied for the presidency last May. It is also the same color used by his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, when she ran and defeated the strongman Ferdinand Marcos.
“Ang panawagan ni Manny sa ating mga kababayan ay iyung magkaisa po tayo at ito ay dapat nating sundin, Ang buong bansa po ay nakikiisa sa kanya at sana pagkatapos nitong laban ay magkakaisa din tayo doon sa mas malaking laban para tapusin ang kahirapan sa ating bansa,” Coloma said.
The people’s champion is expected to receive a warm reception from the Filipino people when he arrives from the U.S., like what Filipinos did during his previous ring successes.
Pacquiao is the only boxer in history who earned 10 world titles in eight different weight classes. Aside from being a global boxing icon, he is also a well known figure in Philippine politics after winning a seat in the Philippine House of Representatives representing Sarangani province.
Pacquiao’s success story is extraordinary, rising from poverty towards becoming one of the richest celebrity athletes in the world.
Top Rank’s Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach said they expect Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez to Pacquiao’s next opponent in November, if former world’s pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. still would refuse to fight him.
Mayweather’s uncle and trainer Roger Mayweather said he wants a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.
The mega fight had been scheduled twice with an expected record $50 million prize, but the American fighter backed out. Before the Filipino’s fight with Mosley, Mayweather hit Pacquiao, saying he takes on “leftovers.”
Arum and Roach said the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch would be sellable, considering that like Filipinos, Mexicans love boxing and would suppor their countrymen.
Marquez has twice fought Pacquiao, recovering from three knockdowns in the opening round to earn a draw when they first clashed in May 2004 before losing his WBC super-featherweight title to the Filipino in a controversial split decision in March 2008.
“They have history and those were two great fights,” Roach told Reuters after Pacquiao’s 14th consecutive win since his loss to Erik Morales in Las Vegas in March 2005.
“I hate it when he (Marquez) says that he was robbed because there was no robbery in either fight. They were very close fights and could have gone either way. So I would love to fight him one more time just to shut him up, I really would,” he said.
Pacquiao and Mosley circled and measured each other in the first round, but Pacquiao was more aggressive as he connected to the body of Mosley with more jabs while the latter landed only one left hook.
In the second round, Pacquiao continued to push on with hits on Mosley’s chest and body, notwithstanding the longer seven-inch reach and height advantage of the Afro-American boxer from Pomona, California.
Third round was clearly Pacquiao’s round when he landed a straight left on his opponent which wobbled and shook Mosley who had to embrace him for support.
Pacquiao became more aggressive throwing hits here and there that hurt Mosley and caused him to slip on the canvass. His left cheek was starting to swell while Pacman remained unscathed.
Fifth round was even-steven and Mosley was found back-pedalling to avoid getting smashed, but by the sixth round, it was noticeable that his knees were getting weak though he tried to show he was recovering from the pain inflicted on him.
Unable to stop the eight-world division Filipino champion, Mosley started thrash-talking which Pacman ignored. As actress Model Paris Hilton’s face was focused, Mosley showed he was getting tired and disoriented in the seventh round.
Pacquiao was getting impatient in the eighth round and relentlessly attacking Mosley. The crowd of 16,412 paying patrons roared angrily against Mosley who said in a pre-fight that he would knock out the smaller Pacman. The swelling on his cheek was more pronounced as Pacquiao connected with sharp combos matched with speed.
Pacman was still at it while Mosley was just defending himself to avoid defeat and keep his pride intact as the only boxer the world’s pound-for-pound king did not fall down on him.
Round 11 was given to Mosley when he pushed Pacman, causing his opponent to slip, which was counted by referee Kenny Bayless as a knockdown. Pacquiao quickly, angrily rose up, kissed his gloves and rushed to Mosley to give him unanswered beatings.
The fight lasted in full route but the judges did not believe in Mosley’s latent moves and skills. They all gave their individual nod to Pacman who had the crowd shouting his name as the bout ended.
The only consolation Mosley had was he did not have to kiss the canvass and his ambition to death. His earnings of US$ 5 million is the biggest paycheck he ever had in life since 1993 when he started his boxing career.
Thanks to Pacman, Mosley can ask for other stellar bouts to earn some more. The question is would he be willing to be pounded again by Pacquiao in a fiery rematch come November?