In the Philippines, the fight was supposed to lift national spirits suffering from a typhoon that ravaged the southern part of the country days earlier. And why not? The nontitle fight would feature Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao ? the Philippines? biggest sports hero and eight-division world boxing champion ? against Jose Manuel M?rquez, the Mexican counter-puncher whom the Filipino had already beaten twice in their first three meetings. More In Manny Pacquiao Video: Has Pacquiao Reached the Peak? Photos: Pacquiao vs. M?rquez Manny Pacquiao Hits Out Against Contraception Filipino Fans Go Nuts Over Pacquiao Defeat Video: Manny Pacquiao Prepared for Bradley Fight
And up until the last second of the fateful sixth round in Las Vegas, Filipinos the world over were ready to celebrate. Their champion had broken M?rquez?s nose, sending blood streaming down his face. Never mind that in the third round, Pacquiao had been floored by a wicked right punch ? the first time in 39 rounds in their four fights that the Pacman had been knocked down.
Then shock. M?rquez, backing down from Pacquiao?s signature relentless attack, again unleashed his right fist. It found a home on Pacquiao?s kisser, sending the Filipino to the canvas face-down And for what seemed to be an eternity, Pacquiao didn?t move. He eventually sat up, as M?rquez savored his victory.
All the major Manila newspapers headlined Pacquiao?s loss, accompanied with pictures of fans stunned by their icon?s knockout, dislodging the story that had dominated for the past week of Typhoon Bopha and hundreds of lost lives. Radio stations played a Pacquiao song ?Bilog ang Mundo???The World is Round??? with lyrics telling someone down on his luck not to cry over his misfortune as it might just be a test of faith. Has Pacquiao Reached the Peak of His Career? 6:22
Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao was defeated by Mexican fighter Juan Manuel M?rquez. Sports journalist Ted Lerner talks about the reaction in the Philippines and how Pacquiao was knocked out in the sixth round.
Ronnie Nathanielsz, a boxing analyst who has followed Pacquiao?s career and even called the televised fight when the then-scrawny 17-year-old boxer suffered his first loss in 1996, ascribed Pacquiao?s loss to a change in his strength and conditioning regimen compared with M?rquez, who focused on building his muscles over four months.
?The pain of the loss is that it came at a time Pacquiao had M?rquez on the verge of being taken out with a bloodied face and a broken nose and was leading on the scorecards of all three judges,? said Mr. Nathanielsz.
Boxing promoter Michael Aldeguer said Pacquiao, an elected congressman of Saranggani province, should consider hanging up his gloves. ?If you were to ask me, Manny should retire for health reasons as he has nothing more to prove. He has done so much for our country and his loss yesterday will not tarnish his legacy.?
Mr. Aldeguer and many other Filipinos opined that the call for the future boxing hall of famer to retire isn?t likely to be heeded.
?That?s the game,?? Pacquiao said in a post-fight interview. ?Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I got over-confident. I never expected that punch. After a few months of rest, I?ll be back training, back to fight.?
Pacquiao?s wife, Jinkee, and mother, Dionisia, both have said in television interviews that they want Pacquiao to call it a day. But international boxing promoter Bob Arum would also have a big influence on the decision. Mr. Arum?s outfit still has a two-year contract to promote Pacquiao?s fights, which the boxer himself said means at least four more ring appearances.
Asked whether there could be a fifth Pacquiao-M?rquez bout, Arum replied: ?Why not??
