DUBAI, UAE - Ten-time and 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao did not only underline to the world his stature as the best pound-for-pound king but he also cemented his distinction as the People's Champ, particularly of migrant Filipinos. Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates joined the celebration as Pacquiao successfully defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against 4-time world champion Shane Mosley.
They see in him a great source of inspiration who showed to the world that Filipinos are competent and resilient. As early as 5 a.m. Sunday, Filipinos who mostly took time off from work trooped to various Filipino bars and restaurants in the Emirates to watch the fight and cheer for their champion.
The fight was telecast live by TFC (The Filipino Channel), which had the exclusive rights from Top Rank Promotion to air the fight in the Middle East. Allan Crisostomo, club manager of Rocky's Café located at the Regent Palace Hotel in Bur Dubai, said that Pacquiao is a symbol of national unity.
"Whenever he fights, we are all united on his side and he uplifts our morale especially us who are working abroad," he said. Some Filipinos were spotted wearing yellow shirts in solidarity with Pacquiao wearing yellow gloves as a symbol of his advocacy to fight poverty in the Philippines. Pacquiao is Sarangani representative in Congress.
Although Pacquiao won via a lopsided unanimous decision, some fans were left wanting after his fight with Mosley. They were disappointed and sorely missed the hard-hitting action in his previous fights against Juan Manuel Marquez and Antonio Margarito. Michael de Guzman, who runs an online boxing forum among Filipinos in the UAE, blamed Mosley for not going toe-to-toe against Pacquaio. "After the third round, when Mosley was sent to the floor, Pacquiao could have ended the fight - at the most in the fourth round - but Pacquiao only chased Mosley most of the time," de Guzman said. He also criticized referee Kenny Bayless for giving Pacquiao a knockdown count when it was clear during television replays that Pacquiao had an off balance punch and was "pushed" by Mosley's right hand. "Mosley mostly played very clever. He knew he could not withstand the firepower of Pacquiao so his right arm was not used for punching but only to cover his face," observed Joel Cuestas, manager of Philippine House Restaurant in Al Nahda, Sharjah. However, he also lauded Mosley for being a true sportsman who did not engage in any trash talking and accepted his defeat gallantly. After Pacquiao's victory against Mosley, all his fans were unanimous in saying that his next bout should be against Floyd Mayweather. Then he can retire at the top of his boxing career and remain a legend.
