Rains did not stop fans from watching Pacquiao-Mosley match in Bicol gymnasiums

LEGAZPI CITY—Despite the stormy weather that prevailed Sunday in the Bicol region, thousands of Manny Pacquiao fans still trooped to government-run gymnasiums in the cities of Legazpi in Albay and Naga in Camarines Sur and in Lucena in Quezon to watch his title defense bout with Shane Mosley.

They yelled and cheered for Pacquiao’s triumph and temporarily forgot the heavy downpour and strong winds outside the gyms.

In Naga City, however, the euphoria over Pacquiao’s win against Mosley turned into anxiety as they realized they were stranded by the waist-deep floodwater that surrounded the Naga Coliseum.

In Legazpi City, about 2,000 Pacquio fans braved the rain and strong winds to watch for free the Pacquiao-Mosley fight at the Albay Astrodome sponsored by the provincial government.

But unlike those in Naga, those at the Albay Astrodome were able to go home safely after the fight, albeit amid a heavy downpour.

In Lucena City, a mass of Pacquiao fans, most of them with their own umbrellas, braved the cold and the rains to watch the Filipino champion demolish Mosley on a giant screen in front of the Quezon provincial capitol building.—<strong><em>With a report from Delfin Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon</em></strong>