We’ve already noted that it’s rare in the Philippines that roads are eerily quite — no traffic, not much people and crime rate is practically down to zero. No fighting in politics (but not the “politicking”). No war between the military and the rebels. The reason? Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is in the boxing ring in another big fight.
In the remote possibility that you, as a welcome guest to our country, don’t know it yet, every fight of Pacquiao is a big fight. If you’re annoyed by screams and shouts of encouragement for Pacquiao, don’t bother thinking that you’ll be better off in some other place — you’ll most likely encounter the same thing anywhere you go in the Philippines. We shout when Manny lands a huge punch and we won’t care who’s beside us. We say “yeah” when the opponent get’s bloodied. It’s sometimes difficult to understand why in a predominantly Catholic country, we’d pray for Pacquiao to beat the living daylight out of his opponent. But, hey, it’s just a sport.
Early this year, 2008, Manny finished whatever “Unfinished Business” he has with Juan Manuel Marquez, by defeating the latter. In June of this year, Pacquiao released lethal combinations to outpower and outclass the Dangerous David Diaz. From seeing the improvements of the Pacman in that fight, practically everybody acknowledged that he is, pound for pound, currently the best fighter.
This time, Manny will be going up his natural weight class to fight the Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya. The Golden Boy, who will be in his natural weight class, has a 4-inch height and 6-inch reach advantage. This led some to consider the match, dubbed as the “Dream Match” and scheduled on 6 December 2008 (in the US; that’s December 7, Sunday, 10 a.m. Philippine time), as a mismatch. They say Manny will lose this time, eh?
Update: The Pacquiao-de la Hoya Dream (mis)Match.
Comment by Kamao
Neknek nyo….asa pa kayo na matalo nyo ang Pambansang Kamao. Go Manny!
Comment by Jake
Siempre gusto ko manalo si Manny, pero feeling ko talo siya versus dela Hoya.
Comment by Tong
Naykupo…lapit na…