Millions of boxing fans around the world have witnessed for many years how Manny Pacquiao dismantled his opponents in the ring with brutality, leading to devastating knockout wins against the best fighters in the sport. But the Filipino boxing superstar seems to have lost some of his passionate fans because of the sudden change in his fighting style. Pacquiao’s knockout drought started right after he scored a last round TKO against the durable Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico. Since then he had struggled in the KO department and even suffered two consecutive losses. Pacquiao’s “good guy attitude” against his opponents started when he fought Joshua Clottey in 2010 followed by Antonio Margarito in the same year, scoring a unanimous decision in both fights. In his sensational fight against Margarito, he was seen motioning or asking the referee to stop the fight to keep Margarito from further punishment. It was a sincere gesture of concern from the Filipino star and the crowd noticed it.
In 2011, Pacquiao scored another unanimous decision against Shane Mosley and a Majority decision against Juan Manuel Marquez later in the year. Pacquiao could have knocked down Marquez in that fight if he wanted to. In the case of Mosley, fans have criticized Pacquiao as being too friendly and accommodating. Boxing fans have theorized that Pacquiao may have been influenced by the teachings of his religious mentors in his new-found faith. Pacquiao was a devout Catholic before he joined a Bible sharing group where he is now a leading preacher. His mother Dionisia, has been opposed to his decision to leave the Catholic Church and even criticized the group that recruited her son. His mother attributes his loss to Juan Manuel Marquez to lack of sleep days before the fight as he usually stays with the Bible-sharing group until late at night onto early mornings. Pacquiao also stopped wearing his rosary and has also dispensed with his usual Sign of the Cross as he normally does at the beginning and end of his fights. ?Since the Protestant pastors came into his life, he has not focused on his boxing,? Mommy D said. ?They always pray, with Manny losing sleep.? Mommy Dionisia as she is popularly known, refers to the Bible sharing group as Protestants but they are just referred to by members as Christians. Barely a week before fight night, Roach could not hide his misgivings about distractions brought about by pastors getting in the way of his training. ?I think the biggest problem right now is these pastors keep coming around at odd hours to have him (Pacquiao) pray. When he is sleeping, you have to leave him alone. I do,? Roach told Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated ?When he is sleeping, you have to leave him alone. I wait hours for the guy if he is sleeping. If he is sleeping, he must need it,? he added
