The whole country will be tuned in as Manny Pacquiao fights Mexico?s Oscar Larios in a 12-round bout in which there is no substitute for victory as he will be fighting in front of his countrymen who look at him as a national hero.
Manny Pacquiao is about to find out if there can be too much of a good thing.
The 27-year-old Philippine powerhouse reaped riches and national adulation when he won the WBC super featherweight title from Erik Morales in January, energizing young boxers around the country seeking to emulate his escape from early poverty.
While his power and speed are unquestioned, there are niggling questions about whether the non-stop commercials and public appearances have taken their toll as Pacquiao prepares for his first title defense against Mexico?s Oscar Larios on Sunday.
Pacquiao, bolstered by “Manny mania” as he prepares to feed off the frenzy of the home fans, is the overwhelming favorite. The common wisdom says the fighter known as Pac Man or The Destroyer will score a knockout fairly early in the scheduled 12-round fight, but analysts wonder if he might lack the stamina needed to go the distance if Larios can survive what is expected to be a furious tempo from the start.
Larios trained in Japan for two months. Pacquiao, meanwhile, was only in the gym about six weeks ? the shortest preparation for any of his fights ? partly as a result of his many outside commitments.
That puts more than a little pressure on Pacquiao to come out strong so he doesn?t have to worry about running out of gas.
“If you don?t get your man within the first half of the fight, you?ll begin to feel the rigors of the fight itself, and as the fight progresses and your opponent is still up there trading blows with you, you can have a problem there,” said Hermie Rivera, a Philippine boxing analyst.
At 29, Larios is a twotime former world champion. But coming off a loss to Israel Vasquez in his last fight in December that dropped his record to 56-41, he realizes that this is likely his last chance to line up big purses.
Pacquiao (41-3-2) has a little motivation too. A loss would take the shine off an expected third fight with Morales later this year and would devastate his devoted fans, who include President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her husband.
It wasn?t clear if Arroyo would be at ringside for the match, scheduled for 11 a.m., since she was arriving back from a trip to Italy and Spain on Sunday morning. But Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita urged the public to support its favorite son, while admitting there is huge pressure on Pacquiao to win.
The homecourt advantage is “going to be a big factor in his favor,” Rivera said. But Larios? promoter, Rafael Mendoza, shrugged off the impact of a hostile crowd.
“They love him, but they can?t throw punches for him,” Mendoza said. “There will only be two fighters in the ring.”
The son of a poor farmer, Pacquiao once worked as a baker and construction worker to survive in his southern home province. His rags-to-riches tale has sparked hope among many young Filipinos who aspire to use boxing as a ticket out of poverty, said Recah Trinidad, a prominent sports columnist.
He has fostered a sense of hope among many Filipinos, who are fed up with the country?s turbulent politics.
“He?s a knight in shining armor; the only credible reason why we?re happy now,” Rivera said. (Associated Press)
GMA to award Pacquiao with Order of Lakandula
MADRID (via PLDT) ? President Arroyo has expanded the distinguished Order of Lakandula to include a special rank for Filipinos who have excelled in sports and other physical activities.
The President yesterday said she has issued an executive order amending the Order of Lakandula with the rank of “Champion for Life” and would award the first one to Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.
“Nagtatag ako ng executive order na dun sa Order ng Lakandula nagtatag tayo ng ranggo ng kampyon habang buhay or champion for life para dun sa mga nagbibigay sa atin ng kaiba-ibang karangalan sa mga bagay ng sports at physical aspects (I set up executive order for the Order of Lakandula for people of champions for life who gave honor to our country in sports and other physical aspects),” she said in a pool interview with Manila-based reporters covering her week-long visit in Italy, the Vatican and Spain.
Mrs. Arroyo said the Order of Lakandula would be equal to the prestigious National Artists and National Scientists.
“Si Manny Pacquiao bibigyan natin win or lose dahil marami na syang binigay na karangalan sa atin. Siya ay bibigyan natin ng karangalan na ito (Manny Pacquiao will be given this honor because he has given pride to our country),” she said.
Arroyo said she would also confer the Order of Lakandula- Champion for life to beauty queen Lara Quigaman, the Filipino gold medalists of the Southeast Asian Games, and the mountaineers who reached the summit of Mt. Everest.
The President is scheduled to return to Manila this morning after a weeklong travel to Europe.
Asked if she will watch the Pacquiao-Larios boxing match at the Araneta Coliseum back home, Arroyo said she does not watch any boxing bouts but would vigorously cheer for Pacquiao.
Meanwhile, President Arroyo has issued Executive Order 535 extending the effectiveness of the grant of monthly allowances to 20 former Filipino medalists in the Olympics or the Asian Games and providing them with 50 percent of the cash incentives given to Filipino medalists in international sports competitions under Republic Act 9064 enacted in 2001.
“The Philippine Sports Commission shall continue to grant monthly incentives allowance to the twenty living former athletes granted such allowance in various board resolutions,” Mrs. Arroyo said in EO 535.
The 20 former Filipino medalists in the Olympics and the Asian Games were granted their monthly incentive allowances through Administrative Order No. 352 dated July 24, 1997.
Under EO 535, the 20 former Filipino medalists granted monthly incentive allowances through AO 352 will also be granted 50 percent of the cash incentives mandated by RA 9064 to be given to Filipino medalists in international sports competitions. (Genalyn Kabiling and David Cagahastian)
