Pacquiao was robbed, say boxing fans

SINGAPORE — Filipino Manny Pacquiao’s loss to undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr in their welterweight boxing showdown in Las Vegas was met with tears, anger and accusations of foul play in his homeland, as well as in Singapore, yesterday.

People in the Philippines flocked to stadiums and cinemas nationwide to watch the bout live shortly before noon local time and went home disappointed after the result was announced in favour of Mayweather.

In Singapore, many locals and foreigners, who watched the bout at home, and who turned out in droves at pubs along Boat Quay and Orchard Road areas, were also disappointed with the result. They felt the decision was unfair, with some even calling for a rematch.

Mayweather’s defensive tactics did not go down well with Singaporean Stephanie Tang, who believed the judges favoured the American because he was fighting on home soil.

Said the 19-year-old: “I can’t believe Mayweather won. He was afraid to fight Manny and yet the decision went his way. They should have a rematch to fight each other fair and square because I don’t think Mayweather deserved to win yesterday.”

Agreeing, Mr John Luel, 19, said the Filipino clearly delivered more of the punches and could not accept this did not convince the judges. “The fight should have gone Manny’s way. Floyd was tactically running away from Manny’s combos, but I guess the result of the judges is what matters.”

Filipinos working and living here were also out in force to cheer on their hero on live television.

Engineer Harold Tago, 53, who has been living in Singapore for 20 years, said: “I think Pacquiao fought well. Mayweather just kept running and running around — how was Pacquiao supposed to box him? But at the end, I don’t care whether Pacquiao lost or won, I just wasn’t satisfied with the way he lost.”

Pubs did a roaring business after opening their doors as early as 7am, with Shanghai Dolly at River Valley Road selling out the 450 tickets it put up for grabs.

“It was like a very happy United Nations,” said Mr Gordon Foo, the club’s managing director. “There was one-third American Mayweather supporters, one-third Filipino supporters and one-third Singaporeans. We had a very good and fun atmosphere, with everyone cheering and booing at different times. They were supporting different sides, but were all very friendly and just having some good fun.”

The mood was far from a happy one in Pacquiao’s homeland, where even the chief of the Philippine armed forces thought the Filipino icon had won.

“Manny was more aggressive; he was hitting Floyd,” General Gregorio Pio Catapang said in Manila. “He made us all proud, he gave his best. Unfortunately, his opponent kept on running and going around in circles.”

The American weathered Pacquiao’s early assault and seemed to get stronger as the fight wore on, finishing ahead on all three judges’ scorecards.

Pacquiao revealed after the fight that a right shoulder injury prevented him from fighting at his best.

He said Nevada officials also denied his request to take an anti-inflammatory shot in his dressing room before the fight, but the chairman of the Nevada Athletic Commission said the ruling was Pacquiao’s fault for not mentioning his injury sooner.

“It’s part of the game,” Pacquiao said. “I don’t want to make (excuses) or complain or anything ... (but) it’s hard to fight one-handed.”

While many fans vehemently disagreed with the result, some agreed Mayweather had come out on top.

“I am sad; let’s accept the decision,” Mr Isidro Santos, a shopping mall guard, said. “Manny will remain my idol, he lost to a better fighter, a clever boxer.”

Filipino analysts thought Mayweather was better defensively and landed the more accurate punches, and while Pacquiao was the more aggressive they said he won only three or four rounds.

The fight left streets deserted and brought the country to a virtual standstill as Filipinos packed into cinemas, hotels and parks to watch on big screens, while army bases across the Philippines also showed the fight for the troops.

Pacquiao, 36, grew up in poverty in General Santos City, the main town of South Cotabato province, and used to fight for a purse of 150 pesos (S$4.50).

He has capitalised on his status as a national hero by launching a political career, currently holding a seat in Congress.

Filipinos reserve Sunday mornings for Pacquiao whenever he fights, with roads, shopping malls and churches almost empty, and the crime rate dropping.

Sixty-nine per cent of adult Filipinos closely followed the news about the richest bout in history, making it the third-most-followed story among a list of 13 events, a survey by the Social Weather Stations showed.

“It will definitely be one of the most discussed topics tomorrow at the bourse,” said Mr Astro del Castillo, managing director at Manila-based First Grade Finance.

The Philippine Stock Exchange will ask Pacquiao to ring the opening bell when he returns home, bourse president Hans Sicat told reporters on Saturday.

President Benigno Aquino thanked Pacquiao for inspiring his countrymen to strive for better lives.

“He fought for respect, not points,” Mr Edwin Lacierda, the President’s spokesman, said. “He won the hearts of the world.”

The post-fight disclosure of Pacquiao’s injury adds a legitimate angle to discussion of a rematch.

Pacquiao, trainer Freddie Roach and promoter Bob Arum were vague on the details of the injury, but confirmed that they considered postponing the bout a few weeks ago.

Pacquiao got hurt some time after mid-March and Mr Arum said the injury was the same as the one NBA basketballer Kobe Bryant had in January — a torn rotator cuff — ending his season with the Los Angeles Lakers.