Congressman Manny Pacquiao wins the WBC Super Welterweight Championship his eighth title. w him (Right ) is Governor Chavit Singson

Written by

Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Antonio Margarito may have given Manny Pacquiao the most challenging flurry of punches in the latter’s last five fights. But that was all it was. The small cut that opened up in the second round is now a gash in the right cheek of Margarito. What was just a small swelling in the opening rounds has now nearly closed both eyes, distorting the rugged looks of the ‘Tornado from Tijuana.’ The blinding speed of Pacquiao was just too much for him, letting loose 6 combo punches at a time before he could retaliate with even one punch. The result was literally written all over Margarito’s face.

Margarito was cut in the 4th rd, wc turned into a gash

Margarito was slowing down and getting hit like a punching bag by the 10^th round. By the 11^th round Manny for a second looked at the referee Emmanuel Ramos in exasperation, wondering why he wasn’t stopping the fight. Barry Tompkins, a long time HBO boxing analyst said, “The fight could’ve been stopped as early as the 10^th round, the ref didn’t do it, the corner didn’t do it, Margarito himself didn’t do it and they’re all wrong.” Colonel Bob Sheridan wondered, “Maybe they were waiting for that one punch from Margarito to turn it around? But from the 10^th round on he didn’t have it in him. There was no point in letting him get hit more. You want to avoid permanent damage here.” Sheridan was inducted in the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004, having covered over 900 matches as a sportscaster.

Big companies like SMART Communications advertised in the high profile fight

So when the bell rang in the 12^th round, Manny threw pawing punches deciding he didn’t want to hurt Margarito more than he had to. He didn’t hate him in spite of the tasteless video of Margarito’s impression of trainer Freddie Roach’s Parkinson’s disease that spread on YouTube. Before each fight Manny would kneel down his corner and cross himself. He prays not for certain victory but for the safety of both fighters going into the ring. He always prayed that neither he nor his opponent would get permanently damaged. More than any other fight this is the one that showed his true colors, his true “humanity and pure class” as commentator Mario Lopez called it.

After Michael Buffer had officially declared Pacquiao’s unanimous decision victory thereby earning his eighth world title in as many weight divisions, Lopez asked Manny about letting up in the 11^th and 12^th round. To this he had a short but clear answer, “I wanted the doctor to see if his eyes are OK. Boxing is not for killing each other. By the 12^th round I knew he was hurt and I wasn’t looking for the knock out.”

TalkNText is oe of many products Manny Pacquiao endorses

Each time Manny goes into the ring he manages to impress people. This time he did it not just with his athleticism, skill and talent. He did it with his compassion. Nick Tolentino a close family friend who watched the fight with us said, “He has given Filipinos another reason to be proud of him.”

Czarina Pasad sang Phil. National Anthem in a packed Dallas Cowboys stadium with an estimated 81,000 spectators. The crowd was the biggest indoor audience for a boxing match in the U.S. Jerry Jones also claimed that the cost of the giant video screens above the ring was more expensive than the construction of the stadium which has a total capacity of 108,000 people.

Princess Pacquiao watches her dad's fight at home in Phil.

Wife Jingkee Pacquiao was seen together with Dr. Vicki Belo watching the fight at ring side. His mom Dionisia Pacqiao or “Mommy D” fainted watching her son fight live for the first time (according to a Tweet by Belo).

With the victory Manny earned the vacant WBC Super Welterweight Championship of the World. The most recent title was the WBO Welterweight Division belt he won by defeating Miguel Cotto in 2009 and successfully defended against Joshua Clottey earlier this year. Margarito had all the physical advantages: Height (5’11”- 5’6”) and reach (72-66 inches) weight (160 lbs- 144.5 lbs). He nullified this by very quick footwork going in and out of range, hitting his opponent while not getting hit himself. Lopez noticed the “Pin point accuracy of punches and disciplined hand speed” of Pacquiao as the formula for his win. Sheridan explained, “Extraordinary speed picks power apart. I’ve never seen a bigger personality in his sport, Ali, Michael Jordan or Mickey Mantle.”

Margarito's face at the later rounds of the fight

During the fight Lopez also noted that “Mayweather is not as quick as Pacquiao laterally”. Still Floyd is the only opponent left remaining precisely because he dodged the fight with Manny. Lopez, also asked Pacquiao about his thoughts on Floyd Mayweather Jr. and he responded, “If the fight happens that’s OK, if not I don’t need him. I’m satisfied with everything I’ve accomplished. If it happens it will be great for everyone who loves boxing.”

Pacquiao has transcended boxing

Filipinos are so used to seeing their “People’s Champ” blast through his opponents and knocking them out in spectacular fashion. Not all of them may appreciate the significance of his victory, or the graciousness that he showed this time around. With his generosity of spirit Pacquiao has exemplified his greatness. The act transcends his achievement as an athlete but more as a true example of a leader that all Filipinos can and should be proud of.