MAFIA

Unbelievable loss!

I may not be able to express it the way Chino Trinidad has been mouthing it off. But last sunday, the whole nation was united. In support of a living national treasure. It has all been widely known that through Pacquiao, the Philippines is on the map again. Given an identity, not a haven of terrorists, but a land of champions, with Pacman representing us. Maybe even the better ex-Spanish port, but that's the indio stubborness in me talking. When Lani Misalucha sang the national anthem live, it was goosebumps all over.

The nation needed this moral victory! The nation needed Pacquiao to win! I know that this is too much to ask from the guy. I never even understood what that meant, that the nation needed the win, until he lost. Somebody would just say that the braodcaster mouths off too much nationalistic sentiments. But take a look at the common man and you will understand that a Pacquiao victory is a victory of every common Filipino. (Hard to explain but true).

Analysts said that Pacquiao was of the caliber of Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns. Our fighter can knock out the hell of that Morales phony. It is a sure win. Betting is in odds of Pacman.

What happens?

Pacquiao, arriving at the MGM grand, was walking nonchantly then suddenly the camera sees him smile.

Start of the fight. Instead of hunting the guy's head which he did in the past for an early knockout, he starts in cruise control. He raises his arms several as if saying hit me. Pac got hit and hit and hit.

Then in the middle of fight, Morales gives Pacquiao a headbutt. Pac suffers a 1-inch cut above the right eye. It seems Pac wanted to quit. But didn't. He maybe ate his pride, but not that much.

Morales feels he owns Pac. Shifts to southpaw to knock Pac out. This angered Manny, finally hunted El Terrible's head in the last round. Morales is another punch away from dreamland, 45 seconds to go. Yes, Manny could have done this in the first round. Guess what? Manny returns to cruise control, as if saying "You will win, but you won't KO me, you braggart SOB. Ano ka sineswerte?"

Great Ending. Unanimous decision for Morales. Pacquiao never quitted despite fighting with one eye and blood all over his face. Pac never loses face to his countrymen.



Manny took a beating. Literally. At expense of every common Filipino's hopes and dreams that would somehow erase the hardship he is suffering from right now.

But did Manny have choice? I don't think so.

After he KO'd Marco Antonio Barrera and floored Juan Manuel Marquez 3 times, Pacman should get another immediately. But didn't. He panicked.

Morales lost to Barrera in the hate fest last November 2004. If Morales loses again, he may not be able to sell fights again. He needed to win against the best to restore his damaged profile. He needed to win in his 10th Pay-Per-View or else no more MONEY will come in his bosses' purses.

My guess is Manny succumbed to pressure.

Can we blame him?

Maybe I'm just numbing myself. I will say NOW that we couldn't. Can Manny risk his life or his family's to that kind of pressure? But ask that to the common man. He can and will never accept that.

My Dad said he thought the MAFIA only works on the Heavyweight Fights. During the heydays of Muhammad Ali. Or even only in movies. He never thought it would go down to the lower weight class division. He was wrong.