MANILA—Filipino boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao successfully defended his WBC International Super Featherweight title on July 2 after crushing his Mexican challenger Oscar “Chololo” Larios in a 12-round battle at the historic Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines where the “Thrilla in Manila” took place 31 years ago.
Since the beginning, it was almost a flawless effort for the “People’s Champ,” who strutted his lightning-quick punches and moves destroying the tough Mexican at every round. Larios succumbed to Pacquiao after a grueling 12 rounds of boxing action via unanimous decision. The bout’s final tally was 117-110, 118-108 and 120-106 all for the defending champion, Pacquiao.
“Ang plano nila [ay] tapusin na agad pero ang nasa isip ko naman, hindi ako [dapat] magmadali, bawat round dapat lamang ako sa puntos,” said Pacquiao during the post-bout press conference.
Pacquiao unleashed his barrage beginning in the second round. Wearing white trunks streaked with slashes of flame-shape red, the southpaw from General Santos City gave three consecutive combinations of right and left punches.
At the beginning of the third, Larios, wearing blue trunks showed some sign of aggressiveness, landing on every punch he threw and which brought Pacquiao against the ropes. Sensing their hero was in trouble, the Filipino audience chanted “Manny! Manny!” Pacquiao recovered quickly and came back with his own combination, connecting with a left straight punch that bloodied Larios’ left eyebrow.
“During the third round, I thought I got him,” said Larios in Spanish, translated by Golden Boy Promotions Vice President Eric Gomez. Larios’ initial plan was to knock down Pacquiao after three rounds, a plan which obviously did not work.
The challenger from Guadalajara continued the battle with a different strategy in mind and ignored the gush of blood on the left side of his face.But Pacquiao’s onslaught continued round after round.
On the sixth, the jam-packed Araneta Coliseum roared as the Filipino boxer ravaged the Mexican with five combinations of left and right straight punches, opening a cut on Larios’ right cheek.
“I don’t think Manny [Pacquiao] started fighting until the sixth round because Manny might just be giving a show for his fans,” said Pacquiao’s American coach Freddie Roach. “He was coasting at the first half [of the fight].”
Pacquiao drove Larios onto the mat for the first time at the seventh round with a devastating left straight to the Mexican’s face. It was his first knockdown and the first time veteran referee Bruce McTavish halted the match.
Just before the final round began, a yellow butterfly flew above the ring, catching the attention of the whole Coliseum.
Pacquiao was relentless. He attacked Larios with punches to the latter’s wounded face. Larios went down on his knees for the second time after Pacquiao demolished him with a straight left.
When the final bell rang, Filipino pride was soaring.
Larios’ plan of spoiling a grand Filipino celebration came to an end. And except for his camp, everyone was in the mood for celebration, stoked by Pacquiao himself, whose face flashed repeatedly in a popular beer ad running during the fight breaks, as he, smiling broadly, invited viewers: “Sinong gusto ng SMB? Sagot ko! Magpapainom ako!”
Before the Pacquiao-Larios match, all four Filipino fighters prevailed over their Mexican rivals in the boxing spectacle dubbed “Mano a Mano: Filipinas Contra Mexico.” (See stories on Page 22)
Boholano pug Czar Amonsot, his hair dyed blonde, defeated Silverio Ortiz through a unanimous decision after 10 rounds.
Thirty three-year-old Gerry Pe?alosa won over Tomas Rojas through another unanimous decision after 10 rounds.
Philippine bantamweight champ Michael Domingo also shone with a seventh-round stoppage of Alejandro Felix Montiel.
Jimrex Jaca from Dumaguete won by points against Hector Marquez after a stoppage by referee Virgilio Abainza at the 2:08 mark of the seventh round due to profuse bleeding of Jaca’s cut on the left eyebrow. (ALFRED FOZ)
