LOS ANGELES ? Fight week has started in Las Vegas and one thing is certain Filipino boxing fans are keeping an eye on the outcome of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Victor Ortiz match up this Saturday at the MGM Grand.
Filipinos are on the fence as to whether they should root for Mayweather to stay undefeated and hopefully face Filipino boxing champion and world pound-for-pound No. 1 Manny Pacquiao at a later date or do they root for him to lose and finally eat his ?arrogant? words by up-and-comer Ortiz.
?I am watching the fight for two reasons: one, to see if Mayweather can stay undefeated and two, how well Mayweather can perform at his current stage in his career,? said Fil-Am Brian Santiago, a 30-year-old account executive for a mortgage company in Orange County. ?And of course, I?m rooting for Mayweather because I ultimately want to see him fight Manny.??I?m not rooting for him,? said Fil-Am Ray Rufino, a Bay Area DJ. ?He?s so arrogant.?
But Rufino said, ?Even though I want to see Mayweather get knocked out, I want to see it done by Manny not Ortiz.?
Santiago and Rufino?s answer reflect what most of the Filipino community feel about the upcoming Mayweather fight. Though Mayweather?s attitude may turn off some members of the community, others believe the undefeated champion has the right to say and do what he wants because he?s earned it in his line of work.
But one thing is sure for most Filipino boxing fans, they want to ultimately see Mayweather face off against Pacquiao.
?They are the most entertaining and talented fighters around,? said Santiago. ?The term best ?pound for pound? champion is often associated with both fighters. Their fight will finally put all speculation at rest. I personally feel Pacquiao and Mayweather are equally matched with the exception of speed, where Pacquiao has a slight advantage. With that being said, if I were a betting man, I would put my money on the ?Pacman.??Even Pacquiao said he would be watching the Mayweather vs. Ortiz fight this Saturday from the Philippines.
?It?s going to be a good fight between Mayweather and Ortiz,? said Pacquiao during the Beverly Hills press conference announcing his Nov. 12 match against Juan Manuel Marquez. ?Ortiz has an advantage in power and Mayweather also has advantages. But Mayweather?s advantage is that he?s faster than Ortiz so it?ll be a good fight.?
Asked whom he was rooting for, Pacquiao grinned and said he just wants both fighters to have a good fight for the fans.
(www.asianjournal.com)
