Editor’s Note: Manny Pacquiao’s narrow victory over Juan Manuel M?rquez ended the battle in the ring. But on the pages of Spanish-language and Filipino newspapers, the war of words rages.
SAN FRANCISCO — A week after the historic boxing match in Las Vegas, Filipinos still want Manny Pacquiao to run for president and Mexicans still say Juan Manuel M?rquez won.
Since Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao took the World Boxing Council Super Featherweight Title away from Mexican Juan Manuel M?rquez in a split decision Saturday, March 15, the fight has continued in the Hispanic media ? where the Mexican former world champion is telling all who will listen that he won the fight and wants a rematch. His fans say the boxer?s title was ?stolen? from him.
But non-Mexicans were rooting for the Filipino, according to a report by La Opini?n, so it was an ?everyone against Mexico? feeling that swept across the coliseum when a mariachi sounded the battle cry for M?rquez as he walked into the ring. (Pacquiao, meanwhile, was greeted by hip-hop music.)
The judges split the decision: Tom Miller (115-112) for M?rquez, Duane Ford (115-112) for Pacquiao and Jerry Roth (114-113) for Pacquiao.
In an article entitled ?Juan Manuel M?rquez Was Robbed of the WBC Featherweight Title in Las Vegas,? Mexico City?s La Jornada newspaper reports that M?rquez and his manager, Ignacio Berist?in, believe the fighter was robbed of his crown when the judges? split decision (341-340) narrowly favored Filipino Manny Pacquiao.
?I know I won,? M?rquez told La Jornada, ?because not only did don Nacho tell me that, but also the people in Las Vegas and in Mexico.?
Readers of La Jornada?s online forum agreed, calling the judges? verdict a ?robbery,? saying that Marquez was the better fighter and even Pacquiao was surprised by the judges? decision.
When AOL Latino blogger Mariano Cauteriz called Marquez a ?cry baby?, his fans protested. Readers posted comments in defense of Marqu?z, arguing that he was robbed of his title and is right to complain.
Even before the controversial boxing match last weekend in Las Vegas, the fight between the Mexican and Filipino boxers had taken on a life of its own in the Filipino and Hispanic media.
Filipinos say the ?People?s Champ? has managed to unify a politically fractured nation. With his triumph over Marquez in Saturday?s rematch, Manny Pacquiao is the first Filipino and Asian to win three world titles in three different weight classes.
For the past five years, the entire Philippines stops during his fights ?- the usual bumper-to-bumper traffic in Manila?s congested streets and highways is miraculously absent; even churches and worship places are said to be noticeably empty.
ABS-CBN reported a day before the fight that the Philippine Army declared a seven-hour truce with insurgents, allowing both sides to watch the broadcast of the match.
?Pacquiao won carrying the Philippines on his shoulder,? proclaimed an article by Pasckie Pascua in the Philippine News.
Dubbed ?The Pacman? by his fans, Manny Pacquiao told Philippine TV sportscaster Chino Trinidad: ?The power and the heart made the difference. This fight was not only for my family but for the Filipino people as well. I said I was willing to risk my life for the sake of our country.?
Many of Manny?s fans on both sides of the Pacific have called on Pacquiao to run for president in the Philippines. Pacquiao lost his bid for a seat in the Philippines? Congress last May in his hometown in the Southern Philippines.
Pacquiao will return to a hero?s welcome in Manila soon, but many wonder if it will again be marred by politicking as officials attempt to bask in his limelight.
On Inquirer.net, Christine Avendano of the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has once again called Pacquiao a ?hero who can unite us even in times of divisiveness and a national inspiration for winning the battles ahead.? Arroyo?s critics, however, Inquirer.net reports, are admonishing her to ?learn from his (Pacquiao?s) gutsy performance against Marquez and not use Pacquiao?s latest victory to prop her record low popularity.?
Meanwhile, in an interview with La Jornada, M?rquez attempted to bring his opponent down from the heroic stature he has taken on in the media. M?rquez told La Jornada: “Pacquiao is not the killer of Mexicans, because he wasn?t able to do that with me, nor is he the superstar that some people with their pens try to make him out to be.”
Pacquiao says he is open to a rematch fight with Marquez, but only in a higher weight division. M?rquez is calling for a rematch and says he will fight Pacquiao at any weight.
