YOU really want to know the secret why Bobby Pacquiao won that close, rugged fight against the favored Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez in Las Vegas on Sunday?
It’s not actually a secret. It’s also not very simple.
In fact, many fans who felt Bobby Pacquiao had been the beneficiary of dubious scoring may disagree with this observation.
Here: The younger brother of Manny Pacquiao was declared the winner by split decision because he happens to own a heart that’s a lot bigger than his punches.
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Ooops. Sorry about that. The big, heroic heart is genuine. But this should mark the last time we would be principally addressing Bobby as the younger brod of Manny Pacquiao.
Bobby, by virtue of that unclear but gutsy win over the grizzled, highly favored Hernandez, has definitely become his own man.
OK. Manny, the more fabulous of the fighting Pacquiao brothers, was indeed there to holler out instructions, mainly in the fiery finishing rounds, to inspire and keep poor, battered Bobby on his feet.
Manny may have indeed worked the magic from the corner.
But it was Bobby who had to absorb and digest all the murderous blows to the body that only the bravest and toughest in the boxing business could’ve survived.
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Doesn’t he (Bobby) have a name of his own? wondered a lovely girl around the MegaMall Artwalk area Monday evening.
The maiden was with a fellow who introduced himself as Roland Guevarra, an Inquirer fan and a guest in Sonny Y?iguez’s art show opening at the Heritage Gallery.
Despite the sweet intention, the question stung like a sharp jab.
It was just too bad that, the morning after the brave but close-points victory in dazzling Las Vegas, most, if not all, sports section banner heads failed to honor Bobby by referring to him in his baptismal name. He was called Manny’s younger brod.
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Naturally, we had to offer our apologies, thereby assuring her that Bobby Pacquiao will henceforth get his due — win or lose.
Meanwhile, this should be one rare time when we could savor this hilarious side of boxing that had victimized enough Filipino campaigners abroad.
A lot of Pinoy tears had also been spilled over this thing notoriously called hometown decision.
Friends and fans of Famoso may’ve indeed felt robbed, jilted.
But, in Bobby’s case, it cannot be said that he did not fight good and strong enough to gain the nod of the two judges.
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Several critics and one of the three judges could be right.
Famoso may’ve landed more punches.
But how did he look after the final bell?
Exactly like the big loser, as he sported lumps as big as apples over his eyebrows.
Bobby Pacquiao, hail him, did not only land the bigger blows.
He definitely was intact. He did not look a bit the loser when the final bell rang.
He also happens to own a heart bigger than all of General Santos City.
