CEBU CITY ? Sanicito Estremos began to get excited when Manny Pacquiao landed a right hand punch in Shane Mosley?s face late in the third round.
After Pacquiao?s left hook dropped the American boxer to the canvas, Estremos, 65, suddenly fell to the floor and found it difficult to breathe, Estremos?s granddaughter Joan Mae told the police.
Neighbors rushed him to the Cebu City Medical Center, but he was declared dead on arrival past 12 p.m. Sunday, said Police Officer (PO) 1 Alexis Alferez in a phone interview.
Alferez, desk officer of the Punta Princesa Police Station, was told by attending physicians that Estremos could have died of a heart attack.
But Joan Mae told him that her grandfather had no heart ailment.
Estremos watched the boxing match at his neighbor?s house in San Roque Homes in Barangay Quiot, Cebu City.
Joan Mae told Alferez that Estremos was a fan of Pacquiao and did not miss the Filipino boxer?s previous fights.
?Wa man siya atakeha kuno sa una (He did not suffer any heart attack before),? Alferez said.
Estremos didn?t know the result of Sunday?s fight, which Pacquiao won in a unanimous decision and allowed him to hold on to the WBO welterweight title.
While most Filipinos were jubilant about Pacquiao?s victory, the police force said they were also glad they were able to protect the people from criminals.
Cebu Provincial Police Office Acting Director Patrocinio Comendador and Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said no major untoward incidents occurred in the towns and Cebu City during the fight?s telecast.
Senior Superintendent Louie Oppus, Police Regional Office-Central Visayas deputy director for operations, said no hitches in peace and order were reported in Central Visayas.
?I hope with Pacman?s victory, magkahiusa ang Pilipinas para sa kalambuan (the Philippines will be united),? Oppus said in a text message.
As for Buenafe, he said in a text message that Pacquiao?s ?composure, good conduct and behavior? while fighting Mosley are ?inspiring.?
