Manny Pacquiao Stirs The Pride of the Philippines – Beating Juan Manuel Marquez on Split Decision
Roy Thomsitt
March 17, 2008
Whenever there is a Manny Pacquiao fight announced, it is followed by a steady build up of interest, media coverage and anticipation amongst Filipinos, both in the Philipinnes and around the world. As fight week approaches, the crescendo of everything Pacquiao is impossible to escape. In fight week itself, it is overwhelming.
Nobody minds. This is Pinoy Power showing its face to the world. This is the modern national hero of the Philippines. Manny Pacquiao is the heart and soul of Philippine pride. With each fight, the pulse of the nation rises and falls as punches are exchanged. The nation unites for a few hours as streets empty for the fight. Criminals would probably break into prison to get a good view of the fight.
Neither a boxing fan nor a Filipino, I first wrote about Manny in November 2006, when he fought Erik Morales. The Manny Pacquiao phenomenon grips the Philippines as much, if not more, than it did then.
This time around it was the much awaited rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez, for the WBC Super Featherweight title. Having endured a fight to commercial ratio of 1:5 (that´s 3 rounds per hour) in the previous Pacquiao fight, I made sure we had Pay Per View properly organized for this fight.
I am a great admirer of Pacquiao, and people of any nationality could learn a lot from his character. I woke up for the fight as excited as his most ardent boxing fan supporters. Even with Pay Per View, it seemed a long, long wait for the fight we were all waiting for to begin. I had seen excerpts from their previous encounter, so knew how tough Manny´s opponent would be.
As Marquez and Pacquiao spent the first 2 rounds checking each other out, it was a little subdued and tense in our sala. Not for long. As Manny knocked down Marquez in round 3, it was quiet no more. Manny Pacquiao had us ecstatic.
I was aware that Marquez went down 3 times in the previous fight, all in the first round, then came back to draw. Although elated by the knock down, I knew that the fight was far from over.
What followed was a magnificent fight, with Marquez coming back strongly for a few rounds, leaving Manny with a bloody eye that was clearly troubling him. Manny was half blind with blood for a while, and at great risk from the rejuvenated Marquez. Half blind meant the other half was not blind. It was enough for Manny to cling to and slowly fight back.
Then it was Marquez´s turn to suffer with a bloody cut by the eye. It was all even, and the last few rounds were fought out with either fighter capable of delivering the winning, killer blow.
In the end, though, it went the full 12 rounds of a full bloodied fight. Mexicans must have been proud of the way Marquez fought back. Filipinos will have been proud of the way Manny fought through the bloody battering he took on the eye.
After such a closely fought contest, with both fighters having spells being on top, it was no surprise that there was a split decision on the result. That is the nature of the scoring, and it reflects how well matched Marquez and Pacquiao were. Opinions have been flying around since about whether the judges got it right; that is to be expected.
What did Marquez no credit at all was his, and his camp´s, response in defeat and in effect blaming the judges and making wild accusations. Boxing is one of the most difficult sports in which to keep score, which is why at least 3 judges are needed to keep tally of the points. Maybe had there been 5 judges, Marquez would have got the decision, but that is conjecture and irrelevant. The rules are what they are. It was incredibly close, and Marquez lost.
One thing that is not conjecture, is to visualize how Manny Pacquiao would have reacted had the decision gone in favour of Marquez. He would have been respectful and gracious, and accepted the decision. Not because he knew he had lost, but because that is how he is.
And that is why, when a Manny Pacquiao fight is approaching, during the fight itself, and the days afterwards, Filipinos across the world are Proud Pinoys. For them, Manny Pacquiao is the pride of the Philippines.
Nobody minds. This is Pinoy Power showing its face to the world. This is the modern national hero of the Philippines. Manny Pacquiao is the heart and soul of Philippine pride. With each fight, the pulse of the nation rises and falls as punches are exchanged. The nation unites for a few hours as streets empty for the fight. Criminals would probably break into prison to get a good view of the fight.
Neither a boxing fan nor a Filipino, I first wrote about Manny in November 2006, when he fought Erik Morales. The Manny Pacquiao phenomenon grips the Philippines as much, if not more, than it did then.
This time around it was the much awaited rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez, for the WBC Super Featherweight title. Having endured a fight to commercial ratio of 1:5 (that´s 3 rounds per hour) in the previous Pacquiao fight, I made sure we had Pay Per View properly organized for this fight.
I am a great admirer of Pacquiao, and people of any nationality could learn a lot from his character. I woke up for the fight as excited as his most ardent boxing fan supporters. Even with Pay Per View, it seemed a long, long wait for the fight we were all waiting for to begin. I had seen excerpts from their previous encounter, so knew how tough Manny´s opponent would be.
As Marquez and Pacquiao spent the first 2 rounds checking each other out, it was a little subdued and tense in our sala. Not for long. As Manny knocked down Marquez in round 3, it was quiet no more. Manny Pacquiao had us ecstatic.
I was aware that Marquez went down 3 times in the previous fight, all in the first round, then came back to draw. Although elated by the knock down, I knew that the fight was far from over.
What followed was a magnificent fight, with Marquez coming back strongly for a few rounds, leaving Manny with a bloody eye that was clearly troubling him. Manny was half blind with blood for a while, and at great risk from the rejuvenated Marquez. Half blind meant the other half was not blind. It was enough for Manny to cling to and slowly fight back.
Then it was Marquez´s turn to suffer with a bloody cut by the eye. It was all even, and the last few rounds were fought out with either fighter capable of delivering the winning, killer blow.
In the end, though, it went the full 12 rounds of a full bloodied fight. Mexicans must have been proud of the way Marquez fought back. Filipinos will have been proud of the way Manny fought through the bloody battering he took on the eye.
After such a closely fought contest, with both fighters having spells being on top, it was no surprise that there was a split decision on the result. That is the nature of the scoring, and it reflects how well matched Marquez and Pacquiao were. Opinions have been flying around since about whether the judges got it right; that is to be expected.
What did Marquez no credit at all was his, and his camp´s, response in defeat and in effect blaming the judges and making wild accusations. Boxing is one of the most difficult sports in which to keep score, which is why at least 3 judges are needed to keep tally of the points. Maybe had there been 5 judges, Marquez would have got the decision, but that is conjecture and irrelevant. The rules are what they are. It was incredibly close, and Marquez lost.
One thing that is not conjecture, is to visualize how Manny Pacquiao would have reacted had the decision gone in favour of Marquez. He would have been respectful and gracious, and accepted the decision. Not because he knew he had lost, but because that is how he is.
And that is why, when a Manny Pacquiao fight is approaching, during the fight itself, and the days afterwards, Filipinos across the world are Proud Pinoys. For them, Manny Pacquiao is the pride of the Philippines.
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