Cheers turn to shock after Pacquiao loss

CEBU CITY—Charlie Barte, 54, decided to sing his blues away after the loss of his idol, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

Barte, who used to be an overseas Filipino worker, sang “Beer” by the band Itchyworms while drinking beer because he was dismayed by the decision.

“I showed my disappointment by singing,” said Barte, a resident of Barangay (village) Mambaling.

Barte installed a pay-per-view connection to his 55-inch television set which he placed in his garage with two large speakers so his neighbors could also see the fight.

He said he was disappointed by the results of the bout.

In the Visayas, cheers and jubilation turned to shock, disgust and anger after Pacquiao lost by unanimous decision to American Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Most of Pacquiao’s supporters could not comprehend how Mayweather won the match despite evading Pacquiao in most of the 12 rounds.

Alvin Traya, 32, a pedicab driver also in Barangay Mambaling in Cebu City, said the match was “fixed.”

“Pacquiao was at a disadvantage because he’s not fighting in his own country,” Traya said.

At the convention hall of JSU PSU Mariners Court Cebu, fans booed when Mayweather was proclaimed winner. Most of them remained in their seats after the fight in disbelief.

At the auditorium of the Armed Forces Central Command (Centcom) at Camp Lapu-Lapu in Cebu City, soldiers and families were all quiet in disbelief, according to Centcom spokesperson Lt. Commander Jim Aris Alagao.

He said they believed Pacquiao should have won the match.

Even the Cebuano contingent who watched the match in Las Vegas were shocked with the outcome.

Restaurateur Joel Rama del Prado who was with Cebu businessmen at the MGM Grand said he predicted before the fight that Pacquiao must knockout Mayweather for the Filipino boxer to win.

“Our spirits are down. We can’t believe Mayweather to be running and win the fight. But as I have said, I predicted it right,” he said.

In Iloilo City, hundreds of Pacquiao supporters who were earlier shouting “attack” and “sige” (go) when Pacquiao relentlessly pursued Mayweather in the ring, jeered and booed when Mayweather was announced the winner.

“Pacquiao should have won the fight because we all saw how his punches landed,” said Tony Jallares, one of the hundreds who watched the match at the SM City cinemas.

Joel Ramirez also believed Mayweather won because the judges were partisan.

In Tacloban City, jubilation from about 5,000 fans who packed the Tacloban Convention Center turned into silence.

“I was really shocked when it was announced that Manny lost to Mayweather. I thought all along he will be the one to be declared winner. He hit Mayweather several times,” Sara Vergara, 45, of Barangay 88 in San Jose district, said.

In Bacolod City, gloom fell over the packed Bacolod Arts and Youth Center as Mayweather was declared the winner. Carmel Loise Matus, Jhunnex Napallacan, Jani Arnaiz, Joey Gabieta, Nestor Burgos Jr. and Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas

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