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Let’s get ready….

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…to rumble.

This weekend, Pacman is at it again!  No, I’m not talking about the vintage video game from the late 70’s, I’m talking about THE PacMan!  Manny Pacquiao.  Pacquiao is a champion boxer from General Santos City, Philippines.  Considered a hero here in the Philippines.  Certainly a source of great pride in this nation that needs a symbol of pride so very badly.

Manny Pacquiao’s fighting record stands at 48 Wins, 3 Losses and 2 Draws.  Those 48 wins include 36 knockouts.  In his last fight, Manny shamed Oscar de la Hoya, the Golden Boy.  Since then, Manny Pacquiao has been widely considered as the world’s #1 pound for pound boxer.  And, I am not talking of only a bunch of Filipinos claiming this for Manny, but serious sports analysts all over the world.

This weekend, Manny Pacquiao will be facing Ricky “Hitman” Hatton, a British fighter.  This is touted to be a very good fight, and is probalby Pacquiao’s most difficult challenge to date.  I am pulling for him, and I hope that he wins once again.

In addition to being a Philippine icon, Manny Pacquiao is a Mindanaoan, and he brings a lot of much needed goodwill to Mindanao.  In General Santos City, and also in Davao, when Pacman is fighting, the streets are empty.  There is no crime, because everybody is sitting in front of the TV.  If you happen to go out during the fight, you won’t see jeepneys on the streets, people in the malls, nothing.  It’s dead, except at places showing the fight on TV, especially if they have live Pay Per View.

In 2006, Manny Pacquiao ran for Congress in South Cotabato, but was roundly defeated.  Pacquiao’s camp has said that after this fight against Hatton, Manny will fight one more time and then retire, and will run for elective office again in 2010.  Personally, I hope that he abandons these plans, if they really exist.  Pacquiao is not a politician, and his run in 2006 proved that he is unlikely to do well if he runs again.  Other than politics, Pacquiao can do just about anything he would choose to do in the Philippines, he is such a popular figure.  Pacman has done a lot of good in General Santos and the area around GenSan, and it would be great to see him do charitable work in the Philippines, or something along those lines.

Whatever happens with Pacman in the future, I wish him good luck this weekend, and hope he comes away victorious.  I’m not a big boxing fan, but I am a big Manny Pacquiao fan.  I like him as a boxer, but more importantly, I like him as a person.

Good luck, Manny.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hi Bob
    I too am really looking forward to the fight on May 2nd. I am, as you know from the UK.So i shall be cheering on the Hitman for various reasons. He supports and regularly watches his and my beloved Manchester City Football Club when he is at home.
    He enters the ring to the strains of Blue Moon, the Man City anthem and he is a thoroughly nice guy with it. His stats are even more impressive than Mannys. He has only the one defeat by the now retired Floyd Mayweather to blot his previously perfect record.
    I do have a soft spot for Manny and would certainly like to see him prevail against any other opponent.
    I will be watching the fight live in the early hours here in the UK. May 2nd is my Birthday, So i'm hoping for a double celebration.
    Manny supporters….prepare to be disapointed.BLUE MOON!!!
    All the best to you Feyma and family.
    Dave.

  2. I really hope he wins, I got $20 on him with a Mexican friend of mine here in Vegas who's very anti-Manny (understandably so) 😀

    Btw Mr. Bob, you've caught me on facebook! It would seem you're a better Spy/intelligence gatherer than Mr. John Grant. 🙂

  4. Hi Jong – It is easy on the facebook thing… Whoever leaves a comment on any of my sites gets an automatic Facebook invitation from me! 😆

    I'll be hoping for you to win your bet, because I really like the Pacman!

  5. Hi Bob, here is my take on this:
    Tale of the Tape: London vs GenSan
    London has the fish and chips…GenSan has the tuna belly.
    London has its high tea… we have our own T(as in our communal tagay)
    They have their monarchy… we have our tribal royalties.
    They have their red bus…we have our Yellow Bus Line. (we really do!)
    They have their Buckingham… well…I don't know…help me out here guys.
    We have Manny… they have Ricky.

    GO GENSAN!!!

  6. Hi Bob – we are heading to Seattle and we are hoping my older brother is able to get the fight via PPV. There is some question as to whether his setup can pick it up. It should be a fun weekend with two of my sons, and my two brothers (first time all together in about 8 years). All Manny fans, of course!

  8. Hi Gerry – Sounds like you are ready! Are you having a party, or attending a Filipino party for the fight? I hear that there are huge Filipino parties whenever Manny fights! Lechon, anybody?

  9. Hi Randy – Enjoy your time at your brother's place! Hopefully he can get the fight, I feel certain that it will be a good one.

  11. Hi Bob, I am going to a British Pub here in Santa Monica and root for the PacMan… just kidding… I don't wanna be mugged by the hooligans. Yes, we will and we are having calderetang kambing and red vino. Enjoy the fight.

  12. Hey Gerry – You're not going to serve fish n chips with that kambing?

    If you make fish n chips with fresh tuna, who does that indicate that you are rooting for? Maybe you're a fence sitter then! 😆

    I do enjoy fish n chips… maybe I'll have to boycott it for a few days, though! 😉

  14. OK Bob.. that would do… plus… would you rather be in the company of the princess in the picture than be with the Queen? It is a no-brainer!

  16. pacman #1 with me i watch him beat the goldenboy yeah beat him bad i was the only one for him a lot of people didnt like me that much good thing i had ( 6 other friend with me all 6'6 to 7'4" steve was the biggest im only 6'5" ) they were for the goldenboy too bad for them but it was a good night anyway goooooo pacman

  18. Hi Bob I haven't followed boxing for years and had no idea who Manny was until the first time I came to see Josey. One evening we came over to visit and usually very friendly Uncles that would greet me and talk were just watching tv. I asked what was going on and Josey said I would not get any attention until Manny knocks someone out. Did not hurt my feeling at all but now I will be watching Manny as I am sure they will be deaf to all but the fight. Hope he kicks butt, because I hear this is almost my last chance.I read in paper Manny for president. I don't think so, I think your idea is better. He does not need the money. He can be a hero or I should say inspiration to the youth for many years to come. Much more so than if he just becomes part a a corrupt government.

  19. Hi Andy – According to Manny, he is not interested in running for President, but he loves politics, so it wouldn't surprise me if he went for it, if people called on him to do so. But, I would hate to see him get into that. For now, he should concentrate on his boxing, because this weekend's fight is going to be one of his toughest ever.

  20. Manny is not only a fantastic fighter but a class act, He always retains his respect for his opponent after he beats him. I liked Sugar Ray Leonard for that humility and graciousness and Manny is very much the same. I say its Manny in the 4th !!!

  22. Kamusta ka,

    I have to join the "PacMan" band wagon on this one, I believe he will win this fight with not "too" many problems.
    Not sure about the rest of the USA, but Manny has opened the eyes of Americans here in South Florida and has become quite popular(even with the big latin community we have here). Also, while all the publicity was going on about his fight with De la Hoya, there was a lot on the news about the Philippines, and an attraction to visit there. This is just my observation though…but this is good…is a reason to watch boxing again, because they will be good fights to see from him.
    I really don't know much about Manny personally, but I think he would be better suited doing the charitable contributions to the Philippines, instead of politics..but of course they said the same thing about Ronald Reagan..lol.

    Salamat kaayo,
    Danny

  23. Hi Bob- Being a Scotsman thats Hatton lost a point and Hatton being a Manchester City supporter and me supporting Manchester United thats him lost another point.
    Still as the saying goes let the best man win.
    Regards.
    Jim in Talakag.

  25. Hey Brian,

    I loved to see Sugar Ray Leonard fight, my father got a chance to meet him many years ago. I want to say after he came back from the olympics and was very successful, but can't remember for sure.
    One of my fathers old work partners from Andrews AFB was a neighbor of Sugar Rays mother, and my father was over his friends house helping him put a car back together. They were invited next door for a party/barbecue in Sugar Rays honor for winning whatever it was he did (sorry forget the whole story now). But my father said he was such a nice person, and his whole family were very gracious to them.
    Of course the rest is history, he became a very popular sports celebrity, and well deserved.

    Adios,
    Danny 🙂

  26. Oh course the Sun Star says there is now way he can lose in todays issue.

  27. Hi Bob
    Was just watching a good documentary of the fight. Did Pacman real name his daughter Queen Elizabeth? Anyway I'm not into PPV but I am going to try to watch on the computer. I mentioned on Facebook that there were people who want to try to stream it through Justin.tv I'm going to try to catch it that way.

  28. Hello Bob,

    Never watch boxing until Manny came…always watch him in pay preview…He has my support and pray for him… I hope he wins..

  29. I have been watching Pacquiao-Hatton 24/7 the last few days. It's really good to see his mother is going to be able to watch him fight for the very first time. I doubt I will be spending the money for PPV since we're not really boxing fans. But I am rooting for Manny.

    Good luck PacMan! Kick some major British butt!!!
    (No offense to our British readers.)

    🙂

  32. Hi Jim – I am not sure that I understand, what do you mean by "lost a point" and such? Is that good or bad? It seems we are having a little language barrier here. ❓

  36. Hi Dan – One of Manny's daughters is "Princess" and the other (most recently born) is indeed "Queen Elizabeth" Pacquiao. Ha ha…

  38. Hi Miss August – Don't be too humble… Yes, we can offend our British readers for now! 😯 We'll all be friends again after the weekend, but for now we have to pull for Manny! If we have to offend John Grant, so be it! 😆

    Just kidding all the brits!

  40. ok we got Bob's permission here… let's kick their BLOODY butt!!! Manny! Manny! Manny! 🙂

  41. Know what words I'm waiting from Manny before the fight?

    Hope he'll say… "I dedicate this fight to Queen Elizabeth…"

    Then all Brits go chant "Manny… Manny…" not knowing he's dedicating the fight to his daughter named Queen Elizabeth…. 🙂

  45. I wouldn't get too over excited just now with Manny's chances… yes he is the Favourite and probably the best boxer, but IF Ricky can slow him down with body shots in the early rounds… it could then be interesting. I honestly just want the best boxer on the night to win. Don't forget De la Hoya was over the hill when he fought Manny. This is Ricky's prime weight. I think Manny is more humble and of the 2 he is the one that I would prefer to sit down and chat to. My claim to fame is that I shared a lift (elevator for my US friends)with Manny in Cebu 🙂

  47. On Pacquiao – Hatton 24/7 they show how Ricky was training… OMG his trainer was hitting, throwing heavy things on his body. It looks so painful… it was unbelievable!

  48. Bob as a matter of interest what is the cost to watch it on your TV over there ? Here it's £15.

  49. standard training, when I used to train I would lay on the floor then 6 guys would take turns to walk on my stomach….. not as bad as it sounds 🙂

  50. Hi Bob- I remember that before the Bejing olympics the govt of the Philippines was offering somethinhig like 1,000,000 pesos for anyone to win a gold medal, as the Philippines has never won one.

    Bearing that in mind, Manny pacquiao has three world titles to his name , which is phenomenal by anyones standards, and makes him such a great inspiration to all Philippinos, especially as Manny is such a humble man.

    I,m totally supporting Manny! Go mate!

  52. Hi Gerry – To be honest, I don't know how much it is to order PPV on your TV here. There are lots of places around town where you can go for a buffet lunch for P500 or so and watch live coverage while you enjoy your meal.

  54. Bob

    At work I won 100.00 on PacMan vs Delahoya, it seems like no one at the Post Office had any confidence in PacMan. Suckers..

  56. nice story dan, SRL was an excellent role model for inner city youths at the time. Thomas Hearns was also we recieved ( Detroit boy ) albiet not as long of a career.

    ….Bob in regards to the queen….just rememebr…bucks or beer there are ugly women at 2 am !! ( bar close time in the States )

  59. Bob
    I will probably go to Foxwoods Casino to see if I can watch it. Im not much of a betting junkie but Delahoya was pretty much past his prime in the PacMan fight, two fools at work were talking trash and were eager to part with their money.
    Of course I gave the Wife her "Balatto"

  62. Yep Sir BoB my sentiments exactly,go Manny. If Manny is in fine shape I think the anthem Hatton will be singing will be "God Save The Hatton"!
    Be interesting to see how a Pino will stack up against the Scott? Shame on Hattons choice of football teams, though he would get more support of he was a Man United fan lol. Thats what Jimmy Cunningham was referring to.
    On Manny's future choice of recreational retirements goes, he is no Ronald Reagan, better off being a retired actor than a retired boxer for a pollie.
    Good luck to all the Manny supporters I hope they enjoy the fight.

  63. Hi Boss – Ah, I don't follow soccer at all, and know nothing about it. No wonder I didn't understand what Jim was talking about! 😆

  64. Time for some harmless trash talk: Pacman is going to butcher the Brit. Ha! And John Grant hasn't got anything to say about it.

    Go Manny!

  66. Hello again,

    Isn't "Quennie" a popular name in the Philippines, I have a friend named Quennie in Illigan City. Or did he purposely name his child after Queen Elizabeth?? Thats interesting …

  67. Hi Bob,

    I think what Jim C. is saying, is that Hatton has "lost a point" for either being a Scotsman or not being a Scotsman(not sure), also "lost a point" for being a supporter of Manchester City instead of being a fan of Manchester United..which are(futbol) soccer teams in England.

    adios,
    Danny

  70. Hi Danny – Yeah, the way that I read Jim's comment, Hatton is a Scotsman and so is Jim, so Hatton lost a point for that? It seems like Jim would like him more if they were both Scottish. But, I'm not sure, maybe Hatton isn't Scottish? I found it confusing anyway. Also, I didn't know that Manchester had two teams (maybe more?)….. Oh well, as I said, it seems that Jim and I are separated by a common language on that one!

  72. Hi Bob,

    I just heard a rumor that Manny's son died at their house in Manila this morning. Fell down some stairs and died from his injuries. I couldnt find anything on any of the usual web sites. So as of now its just a rumor. Has anybody heard this rumor?

  75. Manny has just ended another boxers career. The best boxer won by a mile. Freddie Roach was 100% correct about how the fight would go and Manny executed it to perfection. I would loved it to have gone another few rounds as it was a real fight…. but Manny was too sharp.

    Well done Manny

  78. hi bob

    Pacman wins! and he brought another boxer into retirement.

    Hatton is just another over-hyped boxer.

    Coach roach is a bit disappointed with manny, he predicted the fight would last for 3 rounds but manny did it in 2! (a second short)

    I hate manny!. he did not even let my popcorn to pop, he ended the fight too soon!. how can I enjoy my popcorn now?

    Congratulation Manny!.

  84. Hi Bob- Sorry for the confusion. Hatton is an English Man and I'm a Scotsman. Hatton supports Manchester City and I support Manchester United managed by a Scotsman so that was the two points I was talking about. And as proved Hatton was not in the same league as Manny so well done the little man from Sarangani.
    p.s.Hans visited me in Talakag on Saturday.
    Kind regards.
    Jim.

  85. Hi Jim – Ha ha.. thanks for clearing that all up. I know that you UK guys are really serious about your football, and I guess that could be a concern. I just didn't really understand before.

    I think Hatton just didn't understand what was going on earlier today! He certainly looked to be quite confused after a few of those Pacman punches hit him in the face, don't you think? It was a good fight, although too short, I think!

    Glad that you had a chance to meet Hans. He is a nice man.

  86. woohoo, the guys a badger ! Would love to see the happy smiles on the pinoys this week!!! Way to go Manny , easiest 6 million $$ a round you ever made!!!

  87. I got up at 4am here in the UK to watch the fight.
    The Pacman is the real deal. Hard to watch Ricky sprawled out on the canvas though !

  88. But he made money for the PPV people $49.95 here ..couldn't watch it ..cost to much for tv and the server was overloaded so I surf the net read bit by bit news has it happened …to quick for me I enjoy 12 rounds makes them earn their pay .at least there is something the filipinos can be proud of all over the world now ….Phil n Jess

  89. Hi brian – actually, it is my understanding that Manny got $12M, Hatton got $8M, and there will be more added to that from PPV and such. It is said that Manny stands to make as much as $20M from this fight! Nice bucks for 6 minutes! He deserves it though, he trained hard.

  92. Mabuhay, Pacman wins!
    Hi Bob, this is the first time that I'd commented on your page, I actually bookmarked this site a year ago under the pinoy bloggers folder, I'm browsing this occasionally but I don't have any reason to comment maybe because most(before) of the users here if not all are western expats asking about life and how to survive in the Philippines. 🙂
    This morning while browsing my pinoy bloggers folder, I click the Welcome to Virtual Mindanao hoping to find some news about "The Pacman"… that's why am landed here again writing my first comment. nwayz, sorry for the long comment. 🙂

    Cheers!
    Nad

  93. Hatton wasn't that bad a fighter, I thought he might have been a chump, its just that Manny was truly brilliant. Pinoys celebrate.

  95. Hi Bob… that was cold! 🙂 Ricky looks really hurt while lying in that ring for a couple of minutes…that shows the power and speed of Manny's punches. Hatton could not see the punches coming at him.

    It would be interesting to see how Mayweather fights Juan Manuel Marquez in July. Marquez was the boxer who gave Pacquaio his toughest fights.

  96. Good day doctor Bob 😉
    Was a great fight! Even though it only lasted 1.5 rounds there was more to watch than most fights that last 12 rounds. As for Manny running for public office I feel this would be great. A politicians real job is putting the right people in the right positions and we have all seen what the ruling class has done with this in the RP. So in my opinion Manny in office would be a good change.

  97. Hi Larry,
    Manny can be a congressman or a sports emissary in the future but no more than that. The corruption and gov't system failure in the Phil is so huge that it will take a brilliant and honest leader for the country to make it to the next level. A Mahathir or Lee Kuan Yew type of a leader…a benevolent dictator. My two cents…

    Gerry

  98. Outstanding, Awesome. That's all I can say about Manny. Hatton never saw it coming. I bet there will be a lot of talk coming from Mayweather Sr. that Hatton did not follow all his instructions that's why they lost. They been watching Manny's old fight for their training and forgot that Manny's kept improving his style of boxing through the guidance of Freddie Roach. Colin Hart was right when he said on British TV that Mayweather Sr. training of Hatton will not matter much as Hatton will revert to his old style of boxing once in the ring and he was right. Doesn't matter who his trainer is, Manny was too much for him. A great win for Manny and the Philippines.

  99. Yeah, I know! But back then I don't have a blog and as a newbie(on the net) am afraid to comment on everything. 🙂

    And now I remember why I bookmark this site, I think that in this blog I read a heartwarming story of an American Lady (may her soul rest in peace) that runs an orphanage somewhere in Mindanao, an American lady that is more Filipino than most of (us) Filipinos.

  101. I agree with Gerry. The Philippines needs a benevolent, incorruptible and nationalistic dictator.

  102. Hi Gerry – Didn't mean to be cold! 😀 Ricky did look hurt laying there for so long. I think that Manny has improved a lot since his Marquez battles.

  103. Hi Larry – Hmm… Dr. Bob? Not sure where that one came from! 😆

    It was sure a great fight. Personally, I don't see how Manny could gain anything by running for office. I am sure he will do it though.

  104. Hi Jun – That's for sure, Ricky didn't even see what was coming! Manny is too fast for any of the opponents he has faced recently.

  105. Hi nad – Yeah, that person that you are referring to is Louise Lynip, who started the Bethany Home for Children in Talakag, Bukidnon.

  106. Hi Miss August – He did it! A lot of people said he couldn't beat Hatton, but he laid that to rest, when Hatton went down for a rest!

  107. Eric
    Benevolent and incorruptible dictator, hope we can find one.
    You are right it would be a difficult situation for Manny but you need to try.