DOCTORS gave newly crowned World Boxing Council super welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao a clean bill of health Monday after a Magnetic Resonance Imaging check showed no serious damage to the Filipino ring sensation.
Pacquiao had a checkup at the Downey Regional Medical Center in Los Angeles after feeling pain in his right rib cage, and after absorbing a left hook from Mexican Antonio Margarito in the 6th round of their 12-round world super welterweight encounter on Nov. 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Pacquiao later on said the blow hurt him, but his excellent conditioning helped him recover and eventually score a lopsided decision to claim the vacant WBC super welterweight crown.
Pacquiao mauled Margarito, who was 17 pounds heavier, but he had his share of aches and pains after their clash.
He complained of swelling in his fists and begged off from signing autographs during the post-fight press conference. He also had difficulty walking, and had had to be assisted by his wife Jinkee during a Thanskgiving Mass after the fight.
But all is well now. The boxer is on his way to the airport to fly to Lake Tahoe for a concert.
He is due to fly back to Manila on Saturday and to arrive early Monday in Manila.
Pacquiao?s convincing win earned praise not only from critics but also from his Mexican opponent himself, who released an official statement to the media.
?I gave it all I had, but unfortunately I was not able to get the victory over the best fighter in the world today,? Margarito said.
Margarito is scheduled for surgery at the Dallas Methodist Hospital to repair a fractured right eye socket. Pacquiao?s blows shut both his eyes, and by the 11th round they had been mere slits.
Pacquiao, out of pity, held back his punches in the 12th round as he ?carried? Margarito to the end of it.
