Man faints while watching Pacquiao-Broner undercard fight in Tagum

DAVAO CITY — A man was rushed to a hospital after he collapsed while watching the undercard match of the Manny Pacquiao-Adrien Broner boxing fight at a gymnasium in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Sunday, witnesses said.

Thousands trooped to different venues in Davao del Norte as local officials and politicians sponsored free live viewing of the world welterweight bout between the Filipino senator-boxing champion and the American challenger.

Joseph Lakar, a resident of Barangay Visayan Village, suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed off his seat while watching the undercard fights on a huge screen with thousands others inside the 3,000-seater RDR Gym in Barangay Mankilam past 11 a.m., said Ruel Dagsangan, a Tagum-based radioman who was at the venue during the incident.

Dagsangan said paramedics from the Rescue 911 immediately rushed Lakar to the nearest hospital.

It was not immediately known what caused Lakar to faint.

The free viewing at RDR gym was sponsored by Gov. Antonio Rafael del Rosario and his slate under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party.

At the new Tagum City hall in Barangay Apokon, the city government also gave free snacks to the thousands who trooped to watch Pacquiao fight on a big screen set up at the city hall atrium, the city information office said.

In Carmen town, fans who turned up to watch the live telecast at the municipal gym were treated to free hot lugaw (porridge) from 2nd district Rep. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr. and Mayor Virgie Perandos, a staff from the local government said. /je