TIWI, ALBAY—AN AVID FAN OF boxing idol Manny Pacquiao was knocked down by high blood pressure during the first round of Pacquiao’s fight against Mexican Hector Velasquez on Sunday (Manila time).
Dr. Bernardo Corral, 73, director of the St. Claire Medical Hospital in this town, died at about 2 p.m. Sunday due to cerebral hemorrhage.
Dr. Silverio Cope, attending physician, said Corral suffered a stroke due to high blood pressure.
Corral was a boxing enthusiast, said sister Vivencia Avellano.
Avellano said that at around 9 a.m., Corral and his son Bernardo Jr. were watching Pacquiao’s fight on the Internet to make sure that he would be the first to know the result of the boxing bout, which he planned to air over their radio station Radyo Natin here.
She said her brother was so excited and was so tense while watching the first round.
She said Bernardo Jr. was laughing at his father who kept performing jabs as if he were a boxer.
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time Velasquez would exchange strong punches with Pacquiao.
But at the end of the first round, Corral fell with closed fists.
Avellano said Corral complained of dizziness that prompted them to bring him to Tabaco City.
She said Corral probably got nervous because Velasquez showed his strength during the first salvo.
Corral was an avid fan of Pacquiao and never missed any fight of the boxing idol, the sister added.
It was the second time that Corral suffered from high blood pressure.
The first happened a few days after the fight of Pacquiao against Erik Morales.
Corral’s family also said they suspected that his high blood pressure could have also been triggered by lack of sleep.
As early as 7 a.m., Corral reportedly kept checking the Internet if the fight of Pacquiao had started.
If he had not died, Corral would have been very happy over the victory of Pacquiao, Corral’s daughter, Vice Mayor Ruth Corral said.
