Philippines, 23 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PACQUIAO BACK IN MANILA: "I DID MY BEST UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES"


PhilBoxing.com




World Boxing Organization welterweight belt-holder Manny Pacquiao arrived in Manila November 21 convinced that he had successfully defended his 147-pound title against Mexican challenger Juan Manuel Marquez whom he bested via a majority decision more than a week ago in Las Vegas.

?Ang paniwala ko, bago pa a natapos ?yung 12 rounds ay lamang ako at panalo ako (I believe that even before the 12-round bout was over, I was ahead and had won).? Pacquiao said upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal II from Los Angeles with wife Jinkee and a few members of his team.

?Ang gusto ko lamang ipaalam sa mga kababayan natin na ginawa ko ang lahat ng magagawa ko under the circumstances na maidepensa ang aking korona at naging matagumapay naman ako (What I can only report to our countrymen is I did my best under the circumstances to defend my crown and I succeeded),? he told this writer later after attending mass at the Quiapo church.

?Bagay na hindi masasabi sa kalaban ko na walang ginawa sa loob ng 12 round kundi tumakbo, maghintay ng atake ko at mag-counterpunch (Factor which cannot be said of my opponent, who did nothing in the entire 12 rounds but to run away, wait for me to attack and counterpunch),? he said reaffirming his statements during the post-fight press conference at the media room of the MGM Grand.

?You cannot win a world championship that way. If you want to become champion, you have to fight for it, earn it and win it. You cannot get it on a silver platter,? he said rather philosophically.

When asked what his next plans are and who his next opponent, Pacquiao said there is no definite plan yet as to his next fight, adding he wants to enjoy being with his family first in the next several days before resuming his job as lawmaker representing his province Sarangani. ?Balik muna sa trabaho. Wala pang susunod na kalaban (Back to work. Nothing is definite yet as to who my next opponent is), he said.

Pacquiao admitted his win was not as convincing as what he and the boxing public expected. ?Medyo hindi kumbinsido ang naging panalo ko at inaamin jko ito. Pero walang makapagsasabi na hindi ako lumaban sa abot ng aking makakaya (My win was short of convincing, but no one could say that I did not give my best to win),? he added.

?Yung ini-expect ng tao na ibigay ko ay di nangyari (What the people expected me to deliver did not happen),? he said rather apologetic. ?Eh, talaga namang nangyayari ang ganun. Hindi sa lahat ng panahon ay pwede tayong manalo ng one-sided fight (Those things really happen. We cannot always win fights in one-sided fashion).?

?Besides, di naman pwedeng lahat ng kalaban bubugbugin. May kamay din yung kalaban. Dumating lang `ang pagkakataon na naging close `yung fight (You can?t always beat your opponent black and blue. It so happened that it was a close fight),? he continued.

The Sarangani congressman, the world?s pound-for-pound king and he only man to win eight world titles in as many divisions, thanked his countrymen who supported him and prayed for him so he can win the hotly contest bout, including a Catholic congregation called ?The Feast? whose 10,000 members offered prayers for him all weekends since he left Manila a month before the fight held at the MGM Grand Arena in the ?Sin City.?

?Salamat sa sambayanang Filipino sa kanilang suporta at panalangin. Sa awa ng Panginoon, nanalo tayo.Gaya ng dati, kung hindi sa inyong suporta at panalangin ay hindi ko magagawang talunin ang kalaban ko. Marami pong salamat (I want to thank or Filipino countrymen for their support and prayers without which I could have vanquished my opponent),? he added.

Pacquiao also took potshots to those who did not believe in the judges? decision and claim it was Marquez, known as the ?Dinamita,? who won the contest.

?Doon sa mga ibang tao na naniniwala na di tama yung desisyon eh, magpakatotoo ka?maging Filipino ka ( But to those who think the judges? decision was wrong, I?d say get real?be a Filipino),? said Pacquiao, was originally scheduled to arrive last Friday but extended his stay in the U.S. said.

Pacquiao and wife Jinkee were met at the airport by their children Jemuel, Michael, Mary Divine Grace, and Queen Elizabeth, and friends. He will be staying at the Midas Hotel (formerly Hyatt) along the Roxas Blvd. Strip, which the late former world heavyweicght champion Joe Frazier called home during his stay in the country during the ?Thrilla In Manila? trilogy with Mohammad Ali in 1975.

No definite plan yet, too, to call on President Aquino in Malacanang, a tradition every time he came home after a fight from abroad during the administration of former President and now Pampanga Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Photo: WBO world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao flashes the peace sign inside a church where he attends a mass on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011 in Manila, Philippines. Pacquiao won his last fight against Mexican challenger Juan Manuel Marquez weeks ago at Las Vegas and remained as a champion to the Filipino people. (AP Photo/Pat Roque)



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS DOUBLE MAIN EVENTS SET AS JULIUS “JUJU” BALLO SQAURES OFF AGAINST ROMAN REYES AT FRONTWAVE ARENA ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2026
    , Mon, 23 Mar 2026
  • "I'M A MAN OF MY WORD": GEORGE LIDDARD COMPLETES MATCHROOM BRENTWOOD HALF MARATHON FOR CHARITY – HOURS AFTER DENNY WIN
    , Mon, 23 Mar 2026
  • Lester Martinez Wins WBC Interim World Super Middleweight Championship with Unanimous Decision over Immanuwel Aleem
    , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • IBF Pan Pacific champion Vince Paras set to face unbeaten OPBF champion Aoi Yokoyama in Kyrgyzstan
    , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • King James sets NBA all-time record for most games played
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • Loaded boxing schedule
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 22 Mar 2026
  • WEIGHTS, IMAGES, RUNNING ORDER AND THE LAST WORDS AHEAD OF ADAMES VS. WILLIAMS IN ORLANDO
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • COPPER BOX ARENA FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS LIDDARD AND DENNY FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TIME
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • Weights From ‘Martinez vs. Aleem’ Event from the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino and Broadcast live on ProBoxTV
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • Jordan Orozco Training Camp Notes
    , Sat, 21 Mar 2026
  • Towns vs. Bordin for PAT Belt; De Barbo, Nancholas, Samiei in Supporting Bouts at Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Pattaya Beach, Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • YOENIS TELLEZ TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Lebron James ties the most game played in NBA history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Pichay supports GM Antonio's Australian chess circuit campaign
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • LIDDARD-DENNY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S COPPER BOX FIGHT NIGHT
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: The WBC Continues the Fight for the Good of the Sport
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • AMMO: ADAMES FIGHT WILL BE EXPLOSIVE
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Carlos De Leon Training Camp Notes
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • The Highly Anticipated  Box Fan Expo Invitational 2026 Returns with A  USA Boxing Amateur Show
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Placibe, Sales tops Sprint Challenge
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Lester Martinez vs. Immanuwel Aleem Los Angeles Media Day Quotes
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • MAPUA, PSKAI R-10 to play in Best of Best
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • IIEE Metro East dominates the 4th D’ Engineers’ Darts Cup 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • LIDDARD: WHY I'M RUNNING MATCHROOM HALF MARATHON AFTER TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST DENNY
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: DAZN and Top Rank Sign Multi-Year Rights Deal
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.