THERE were two kinds of Manny Pacquiaos Cebuanos saw this year, and the Pacman got a not so subtle reminder as to which one Cebuanos, or most of his fans, prefer.
The boxer who stops a nation during his fights got the surprise of his life when he got a smattering of boos when he graced the Moment of Truth card at the Cebu City Sports Center.
During that chilly February night, Pacquiao, who was hoping to unseat Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio from the first district of South Cotabato, got a not so gentle reminder from a fan who brought a placard that read, ?Manny, go back to the gym.?
At that time, some 91 percent of 13,879 voters in an online poll at Mannypacquiao.ph disapproved of his political plans.
Manny still ran, and lost but it seems, all?s well that ends well.
By June, when Manny?s political career hit dead end, his boxing career got a much-needed boost after his two warring promoters, Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank Inc. finally kissed and made up and a rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera was finally on the table.
However, in the run up to his training for the Barrera fight, Pacquiao redefined the meaning of confusion.
His departure to LA to start his training for the Barrera rematch was delayed numerous times, he sued a journalist for libel for describing him ?a compulsive gambler and is known to bet hundred of thousands of pesos in casinos, cockfighting and billiards.
Such was the confusion with Pacquiao?s travel that at one point, two national dailies ran conflicting stories. One screamed that Pacquiao has finally left for LA, while another reported about another of Pacquiao?s cancelled fight.
And when Pacquiao finally left, a boxing website left no room for error, it ran, ?Pacquiao now on the plane for LA.?
However, three days after starting his workout for the Barrera fight, Pacquiao returned to the Philippines.
And the Cebuanos got to meet the Manny Pacquiao they all want: Pacquiao the boxer.
?This has all been my plan. I want to train here in Cebu and I am very glad that I am very welcome here,? Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao chose the Rex Wakee Salud Gym as his training camp and fans from all walks of lives crammed the gym. So chaotic and crowded was the gym (a scribe said not a few of those assigned to keep people out, kept letting friends in) that Freddie Roach threatened to leave camp.
Fortunately, the threat worked and order was restored in the Pacquiao camp.
As Pacquiao got into his training, his routine during his day off got Roach?s beef. Downed by a fever, Pacquiao sneaked off to play basketball with local media, saying that even in LA, he always played basketball during his dayoff.
Fortunately, the basketball games ended when he was deep in training.
After the six weeks, Pacquiao left and went on to pummel Barrera in 12 rounds, surviving a cheap shot in the 11th for his win.
The Barrera fight was Pacquiao?s second this year. Last April, Pacquiao fought Jorge Solis and was introduced by Michael Buffer as ?congressional candidate Manny Pacquiao.?
Next year, Pacquiao is off to fight another familiar foe, Juan Manuel ?Dinamita? Marquez, and though he is all set to train in the US for the fight, his mind might change again and Cebuanos will get to see how Pacquiao trains for a fight. (ML with EKA)
