The fight ended. It was far from his best performance, in fact, it was disappointing. He didn’t land as many punches as he needed or expected to.
But the fans inside the MGM applauded and cheered the visitor Manny Pacquiao as the winner. And they even booed the hometown champion Floyd Mayweather in an astonishing display of public disapproval.
The little, humble man Manny Pacquiao, who journeyed from the other side of the globe for this fight, may have lost the decision but he single-handedly has saved the sport of boxing.
Mayweather is the symbol and face of the sport, created, packaged, and some say protected by the establishment. But Manny Pacquiao was the unlikely sensation who somehow miraculously arose from the very bottom of poverty to become the most accomplished champion the sport has ever seen, with his historic eight world titles in eight different weight divisions.
The poorest of the poor and the wealthiest of kings and royalty and everyone in between love Manny Pacquiao. On Friday afternoon there was a homeless black woman sitting on the ground of the concrete walkover bridge at Flamingo Rd. and Las Vegas Boulevard. I passed by her twice in a couple of hours and both times she was there in the same spot repeating the exact same phrase over and over and over, “Manny Pacquiao is gonna kick that black boy’s ass…”
The funny thing is even Floyd Mayweather loves Manny Pacquiao… perhaps even more than he loves himself. Did you see the beautiful embrace Floyd gave Pac after the fight? And did you notice how humble and respectfully Mayweather has behaved and treated Pacquiao since the fight was signed?
Pacquiao has electrified and transcended the sport of boxing with his exciting style, fearless courage to fight bigger stronger men, but also his humility. It’s completely incongruous that a human being can be so good but so humble at the same time. And we can’t not mention Pacquiao’s generosity. Has any champion given and done more for humanity than Manny?
After he lost the decision unanimously on Saturday night, despite the cheers of crowd, there was a sense that Pacquiao was sad, for disappointing his millions of supporters. As one ringside witness told me, “It was heartbreaking when he said he thought he beat Mayweather because he threw so many punches… Then I saw him up close leaving the ring after most of the people already left. He was a defeated man. I felt bad for him.”
It’s always been hard to tell if Pacquiao really fights for money or even for ego or self satisfaction. Sometimes it actually seems he’s fighting entirely to please and entertain and inspire pride and joy in his people. And to give glory and honor to God and his Catholic religion. The money and ego part seems like such a distant priority.
It’s hard to imagine where the sport would be now if Manny Pacquiao never put on a boxing glove. Or where would Manny Pacquiao be without this crazy, corrupt, yet captivating business.
Books and movies have been made already about Manny Pacquiao and undoubtedly more will be too.
History may not remember or even realize it, but make no mistake about it… with his example, his honor, his unique character and spirit, Manny Pacquiao saved boxing.
