Was It Ever A Doubt?

I remember writing about the Pacquiao-Cotto fight last March as being the event when I became a Pacman fan. Why it had to be the 7th Belt Championship we will never know but "Better Late Than Never" I always say. (I took pictures on my phone but there's something wrong with my transfer system again, so those will have to wait til next blog. LitB)

As the days leading up to this bout with Margarito neared, I was regretful that I would not be able to watch the fight live, as I was supposed to go to Malaybalay with a group of tour guides for a familiarity tour. Up until yesterday at 4:00 pm, my mindset was still on the tour and my greatest worry was how I was going to react when I heard of the outcome (whatever it would be) when I got back. One thing I was sure of though, there was never a doubt in my mind that Manny would win.

Anyway, by 5:00 pm yesterday, it was clear the God was reading my mind. I did not pray that the tour be cancelled but it just so happened that only three people texted to confirm their attendance (1) and absence (2) so I decided that it would be easier on all of us to just cancel the whole thing. So it was only last night when I got home that I realized what it all meant -- I would be watching the Pacquiao-Margarito Fight LIVE at the new St. Jude Parish Convent Conference Room!

The tickets cost P500 with free lunch. Of course we could have watched it for cheaper (it was shown at the Phillips Social Hall for only P10, no lunch) but we agreed that it made a good fundraiser for the unfinished Convent.

There were 12 rounds, but it was clear from the start that Manny had the upper hand (uppercut?). It was never a doubt that he wouldn't come out of this victorious.. except in the 9th (or was it 10th) round when he looked kinda tired or groggy. But I guess that's also Manny's style. Like what he did during the Cotto fight, he really went out of his way to make the show entertaining. And it also seemed that he didn't want Margarito to go down in a knock-out, because after he loaded the Mexican with punches, he let him make some sort of comeback in the next round, and then jabbed the air in front of Margarito's face to make it look like he was boxing in the last round.

So what happens next? I heard that Manny was thinking of retiring after this. His mother has declared that she will prohibit him from accepting another fight. And his wife always looks like she'll die if anything happens to him because of boxing. Just after the 9th round, when Margarito had pinned Pacquiao to the ropes, it occurred to me that getting knocked out in this fight would not only look bad on his record, but also it would be embarrassing because of all his championship matches, Margarito was certainly not his strongest opponent. Obviously Someone was listening to my silent ramblings.

Well, whatever happens, whatever the future holds for Manny Pacquiao -- be it in boxing or in the world of politics -- there will be no doubt in my mind that he will win the next fight.

God Bless you, Manny! And God Bless the Philippines which you so proudly represent!