Davao City (23 November) — The Filipino people should be thankful to God for giving Manny Pacquiao as a gift to our country, since his historic eighth world boxing title caused another upsurge in the Filipino pride and spirit.
Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said Filipinos should be truly grateful for Manny as he did all his countrymen proud when he clinched the World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight belt in a lopsided decision victory over Mexico’s Antonio Margarito.
The governor marveled at the show of true sportsmanship, compassion and gentlemanly behavior of the Filipino boxing hero and now 8-division world champion during his clash with Margarito in Texas.
Pacquaio fought a perfect five rounds, rapidly throwing punches then carefully darting away just as Margarito lunged at him.
But in the last six rounds of the fight, Manny showed the world a different fighter as he redefined boxing from its sheer savagery to a form of art.
Del Rosario noted the Filipino icon knew that he could even knock out Margarito in the 11th round. In the 12th, it appeared he slowed down a bit and decided to finish the fight without knocking his opponent.
“Alam naman niya na panalo na siya as the fight is lopsided from the very beginning. Kung pabagsakin pa niya si Margarito, it will not speak well,” the governor said.
He said Manny’s behavior on the ring demonstrated that boxing is not just about hurting each other.
According to him, the Filipino ring icon revealed that more than his brute force and power, the boxer can show his true virtue as a sportsman by being compassionate and a gentleman on the ring.
“Now, that is an outstanding show of sportsmanship on the part of a real champion,” del Rosario said.
He also hopes that the next fight of Pacquiao is with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to end all the brouhaha, mainly from the latter’s camp.
“I hope he will reconsider and face up with our champion para patulogin na yan ni Manny, para matapos na ang lahat,” he said. (CIO Tagum) [top]
