As in previous fights, city streets were once again empty, rebels and criminals took a break, and everyone was glued to the TV set as boxing champion Manny Pacquiao faced Oscar de la Hoya yesterday in Las Vegas. Because the odds were heavily against Pacquiao, the cheers were louder when his victory by technical knockout was officially proclaimed.
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In a nation drowning in bad news, Pacquiao’s victory is particularly appreciated. Everybody loves a good fight, and though winning isn’t everything, victory is still the preferred outcome rather than defeat. The public reaction to the Pacquiao fight should spur sports officials to intensify efforts to make the nation’s athletes achieve similar victories in other sporting events.

Pacquiao’s victory eases the nation’s disappointment over the performance of Team Philippines at the Olympic Games in Beijing last August. The team, small as it was, failed to bring home a single medal in what sports watchers described as one of the worst performances by a Philippine Olympic contingent.

That dismal performance led to a lot of handwringing and calls for a review of the country’s sports program. There is no certainty that the Philippine contingent in the next major foreign sporting event will do better. The lamentations and recriminations over the Olympics have died down, and those in charge of the country’s sports program may again see no urgency in doing better at their jobs. Instead they are content to watch from the sidelines as someone like Pacquiao – using his own resources, driven by his dedication to his sport – strives to be at the top of his game.

In Las Vegas Pacquiao said he was dedicating his fight to the Filipino people. The nation will appreciate having more athletes like him. But the typical Filipino athlete has an acute lack of resources for training. If the nation wants more of its athletes to win in other sports, it should be ready to make the necessary investment. And the training must start now, long before the next big bout or competition. Manny Pacquiao has shown that Filipinos can be the best in boxing. Now let’s excel in other sports. (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines celebrates after defeating Oscar de la Hoya of US during their welterweights showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 6, 2008. Filipino boxing icon Pacquiao stopped Oscar de la Hoya after eight rounds, defying a disadvantage in size with a brutally dominant performance in their welterweight showdown. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

The ‘Panbansang Kamao’ Manny Pacquiao continued to validate his status as the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter when he defied the odds in knocking out boxing icon Oscar “Golden Boy” De La Hoya in their welterweight Dream Match at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas Saturday night (Sunday in Manila).

There was no knockdown but a relentless Pacquiao gave De la Hoya all that he could handle, before the “Golden Boy” called it quits at the end of the eighth round, prompting referee Tony Weeks to declare the Filipino the winner by technical knockout.

In facing boxing’s acknowledged icon, Pacquiao had to move up two weight divisions — from lightweight to welterweight. He gave up four inches in height and six inches in reach, massive numbers for even the most skilled boxer to overcome.

But the Filipino icon leaned on his speed, all-action style, and brilliant ring movement to score the upset in what was billed as the fight of the year.

“I think I did well tonight,” Pacquiao said. “I controlled [the] fight. We worked on my speed in the gym and I think that was the key in this fight.”

“Thank you God for giving me the strength. I don’t think he would last long. I was still careful even though I was in control,” he said.

The stoppage came after a late flurry from Pacquiao in the eighth round, where De la Hoya started to show some signs of life after getting overwhelmed in the first eight rounds. At the time of the stoppage, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net, had Pacquiao ahead, 80-72, winning all the rounds.

Pacquiao got off to a solid start, dumbfounding De la Hoya with his ring movement and sneaking his pet left, snapping the Mexican-American’s head several times.

By the time De la Hoya utilized his vaunted left jab in the third round, Pacquiao was firmly in control.

De la Hoya came alive in the fourth round, but Pacquiao came up with a whirlwind finish to steal it. De la Hoya landed a solid right to Pacquiao’s face early in the round, his first big punch of the match.

Pacquiao shifted into high gear in the seventh, unleashing a run of combinations which staggered De la Hoya, sending the Golden Boy on the ropes for most of the round. But De la Hoya still managed to stay on his feet. Refusing to take further punishment, De la Hoya threw in the towel at the end of the eighth round.

The 29-year-old Filipino, who won his ninth fight in a row, has improved to 20-1 since 1999, his lone loss a 2005 decision to Mexican Erik Morales. He raised his record to 48 wins, including 35 knockouts, three losses and two draws.

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