Chasing Pacquiao

PART 3

MACAU, CHINA — Finally we met. Or to be more precise, I finally saw him in the flesh. Clad in light blue sweatshirt and jogging pants and yellow undershirt, Manny Pacquiao ascended the stage for yesterday’s official weigh-in at the Cotai Arena inside the Venetian Hotel in Macau, to the thunderous greeting of the crowd, a sizeable one for a pre-fight activity.

Ever smiling and composed, the Philippines’ undisputed sports icon tipped the scales at an exact 145 pounds and looked more than ready to silence his opponent and critics on Sunday, and prove to the world that he is back.

His opponent, the Mexican-American Brandon Rios looked, in the words of veteran sportswriter Quinito Henson, “drained and tense” when he stepped on the scales. The brash 27-year-old former WBA lightweight champion, who has lost only once in 33 fights, weighed 146.5 pounds.

The weigh-in was fast and void of any theatrics. And after the traditional staredown and short interview by the iconic Michael Buffer, both protagonists headed back to their respective quarters.

Of course I want more. I want more drama, I want more action. I want them to throw sh_t at each other.

I wanted Manny to talk tough and tell the ebullient Rios that a loudmouth “punching bag” like him will not and will never be able to send him into retirement. I wanted Manny to bash Rios’ camp for shaming his trainer Freddie Roach. And most of all, I wanted Manny to KICK Alex Ariza’s balls so hard they will come rolling down the stage and be trampled upon by the equally infuriated crowd. Now that, would have really made my day.

But Manny is not like that. He said he’d rather let his fists do the talking. And when that happens, Rios better be careful or he’ll surely be snoring his way to the ER at around noon today. Now that will certainly make the day for millions of Filipinos back home and the hundreds who have been massing at the Venetian for the biggest spectacle in the history of Asian boxing.

NO BLACK ON FIGHT WEEK

Before he took the scales for the weigh-in, Manny was asked to wear a black WBO rescue and relief shirt to draw support for the millions of Filipinos ravaged by supertyphoon Yolanda. Knowing Manny, he would have wanted to do it. But he had to beg off because it is his practice not to wear anything black on fight week.

So who got the enviable task of displaying the shirt on stage? Cebuano boxing judge and my Holiday Inn roomate Salven Lagumbay. That scene was shown on world wide TV. Wow!

Another roommate, the amiable Edward Ligas carried on stage the special WBO belt that will be disputed by Pacquiao and Rios. Edward would later tell me that he was so honored by the task, he’s willing to hoist that belt for the next 24 hours. Hahaha!

Today, as Manny Pacquiao wages battle in Macau, let us all pray for his success. After all, he is not only fighting for himself but for an entire nation struggling to cope with the horrors of supertyphoon Yolanda.

GMA-7 is reportedly setting up free viewing stations in the hardest hit areas of Leyte. A Pacquiao victory will surely lift the spirits of our brothers there and give them hope that a merry and bountiful Christmas would still be theirs.