THE renowned television commentating duo of Col. Bob Sheridan and Dave Bontempo, who worked the Mano-A-Mano main event for a worldwide pay-per-view audience in the ABS-CBN coverage of the fights highlighted by the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios showdown, said the Filipino ring icon is very special.
?It was a thrill for us to come to the Philippines to do the Pacquiao-Larios fight. To see a fight like this and especially to come back to Manila after so many years is very, very exciting,? said Sheridan, who was in Manila for the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier ?Thrilla in Manila? on Oct. 1, 1975, also at the Araneta Coliseum.
Although Pacquiao failed to score a knockout over the game and gallant Larios despite decking him in the seventh and 12th rounds, the consensus was that it was an entertaining fight and the Pacman showed he had matured as a fighter and the best is yet to come.
Relly de Leon, a member of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, claimed Pacquiao had confided in him that he didn?t want to knock Larios out because he was ?a nice guy, very decent and he didn?t want to hurt him also because he was a kind guest.?
Pacquiao apparently appreciated the manner in which Team Larios did their share in helping promote the fight, and by his behavior and his performance in the ring which won the hearts of many Filipinos.
