2009 11/18-11/24

MANILA MAIL COMMUNITY

7TH HEAVEN. Manny 'Pacman' Pacquaio admires his 7th title belt/win in 7th weight division classes after defeating via TKO, Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto last Saturday night in Las Vegas. Pacquaio's 7th title win is unprecedented in boxing history. Photo by A. Chris Fernandez.

FIGHTING FOR LIFE. Manny 'Pacman' Pacquaio lands a powerful left punch onPuerto Rican Miguel Cotto which knocked Cotto down early in the 3rd round of their Las Vegas fight last Saturday, Nov 14th. Pacquiao TKO'd Cotto in the 12th round, winning his 7th title in 7 different weight divisions, a record no other mortal holds. Pacquiao always fight as if he is fighting for his life, his countrymen and his country. LA TIMES says it's another epic performance by Pacquiao. "The Pride of the Philippines has now become the pride of all boxing." Photo by A.Chris Fernandez.

THE TIGER. Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao lands a powerful right blow, his series of attacks on the Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, on the 4th round of their 12-round TKO Pacquaio win last Saturday, Nov 14th in Las Vegas. The Mexican Boxing Media is dubbing Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao as 'The Tiger Woods of Boxing." To which, a sportswriter at MGM Media Center objected, corrected and retorted, "Tiger Woods is the Manny Pacquiao of Boxing!" Pacquaio's 7th title win is unprecedented in boxing history. Photo by A. Chris Fernandez.

Pacquiao Hammers Cotto

TKO, 55 seconds before the 12^th Round Ended

By Bradford Adkins

A record of more than 40,000 seated boxing fans witnessed how our almost-a-national hero and Boxing World’s Number 1 pound-for-pound fighter, Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, ,more popularly known as Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquaio of General Santos City, hammered 29-year old Miguel Cotto of Caguas, Puerto Rico, permanently etching his way to history-making greatness, as he captures his 7^th title in seventh weight division, a feat achieved by no mortal ever before, last Saturday night at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas. Pacquaio won by technical knockout as the fight has to be stopped 55 seconds before the final and 12^th round bell ring, by referee Kenny Bayless, who was then already fearful of Cotto’s escalating injuries.

Manila Mail Newspaper was again in the center of it all capturing the momentous Pacquaio fever (more felt than the deadly H1N1 fever!) as the predominantly Filipino crowd from all over the world, trooped again en masse to the 16,000-seater MGM Grand Arena (officially, approximately $9 million in ticket revenues were generated from the gates alone, according to Power Promoter Bob Arum), to be a part of the celebration right from the get-go. In addition, quoted Arum again, 15,335 seats were officially sold in the closed-circuit TV halls owned by the MGM Group of Companies, from their other hotels (Mandalay Bay, The Hotel, Bellagio, etc). The rest of the estimates are from the non-MGM viewing places around the Las Vegas strip.

‘Mind over matter’ triumphant again, is Pacquiao, as he defeated the visibly heavier, bigger, younger and stronger Cotto, with his smarts inside the ring.

“This is one of the most difficult fights of my boxing career,” wearing a round dark-brown hat, the still-swollen and heavily-bandaged-on-the-right ear, 30-year old Pacquiao (he’s turning 31 on December 17th) said in an international media conference held at the MGM Grand’s Media Center minutes after his win, as he gamely faced and personally thanked the press for writing and supporting the event. Relying perhaps on its historical impact in the boxing world, the Cotto event was one of his most written about fights in his career. Cotto was hospitalized at the nearby University Medical Center (UMC) and therefore, was unable to face the reporters.

Most arena boxing fans were already bracing themselves for a Hatton-ending – meaning, an early finish, when Pacquaio gave Cotto a solid right punch that almost knocked Cotto out 2:10 just into the third round. But the Puerto Rican 3-time world champion was able to recover and lasted up to 12 rounds, well almost.

“I thought I can finish it in the 4th,” said Pacquiao. “He is brave and he punches strong, too.” Pacquiao admitted that Cotto was able to hurt him several times during the fight but he endured it all, for himself, for his family, for his countrymen and for his country.

“I stayed focused on our strategy, that is why I did not attack him during the early rounds. I tried to take a good estimation on how strong his punches will be.” explained Pacquiao. He now holds a 50-3-2, 38 KO record.

As soon as Pacquiao got a good grip of Cotto’s strength, he didn’t waste any more time, exchanging powerful blows with Cotto, to the loud cheering, entertaining fans and giving them their money’s worth, from the 6^th to the 8^th rounds. Pacquaio’s legendary left and right combinations were in full display that night. Cotto was outnumbered 3:1 in the exchange of jabs.

After the ninth round, only a knockout could save Cotto as Pacquiao dominated the points, as most of Pacquiao’s powerful combinations landed and destroyed his now heavily bleeding face.

By the 10th, Cotto’s face appeared bloodier (34-2, 27KO) from a cut on the lower right side of his cheek and left eyebrow. Cotto now became evasive, running around the 24 X 24 bigger ring, as Pacquiao pursued him intently. At one point, Pacquaio smiled a bit, raised both arms, as if silently saying ‘come on, bring it on!’.

It appears that Cotto stopped responding with jabs at all in the 11^th and Pacquiao thought the fight was going to be over. More so when Pacquaio cornered and showered him with more combination blows - his blood oozed all over his nose and face.

“I thought we will stop on the 11th round, because he was really bloodied,” said Pacquiao.

When the final bell rang, crowd claps and cheers became louder (smelling their own betting victory, perhaps) when during the last 55 seconds of the fight, Pacquiao gave Cotto again a barrage of almost endless left-right combinations (a la Fernando Poe). Fearing for Cotto’s life, referree Kenny Bayless rushed in the middle of the 2 champions and stopped the fight.

Pacquaio admitted that he initially wanted to knockout Cotto during the 3^rd round..

“Yes, I want to knock him out on the 3^rd, but I was extra careful because I know he was looking for that big-shot as well for him to maybe take this fight,” furthered Pacquiao.

Pacquaio now is the current World Boxing Organization’s (WBO) Welterweight Champion, previously holding 6 other weight titles, namely Super Lightweight, Flyweight, Super Bantamweight, Super Featherweight, Lightweight and Light Welterweight.

Now considered a legend, Pacquaio was reported in the international press conference, to be being dubbed by Mexican Boxing Press as ‘The Tiger Woodsof Boxing.” To which, a fan sports reporter responded with ‘Correction, Tiger Woods is the Manny Pacquaio of Golf!.” And that kinda says it all.

This writer and Manila Mail Newspaper President Ruben Bunag (who is running for a District Councilor seat in Tondo, Manila in 2010) thank Andy Olson of Magna Media International for the Media Credentials thereby allowing Manila Mail Newspaper to seat in front /center of it all and report this history-making fight.

Another epic performance by Pacquiao, according to LA Times. Opponent,Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto says after his loss, 'I have fought all the greatest welterweights, and Manny is the best!" Photo by A. Chris Fernandez

JUST DO IT. This Nike ad featuring Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao also appearing in several billboards in Hollywood and downtown San Francisco's famous Union Square shopping mecca, was also very visible on top of Vegas taxis plying the busy entertainment capital during fight week, a testament that indeed that Pacquiao has achieved international celebrity status. Pacquaio's 7th title win last Saturday, Nov. 14h against Cotto, in 7 different weight divisions, is unprecedented in boxing history. Photo by Richard Lao

Brian Kenny, left of ESPN post-interviews the People's Champ, Manny Pacquiaoduring MGM Media Center press conference. Photo by Richard Lao

SEEN at the Pacquiao-Cotto Vegas fight are (L-R) Daly City's Statewide Realty's Ms. Alice Atienza and long-time Bay Area resident, Mr. Sid Protacio, shown here with photographer Richard Lao.

MOMMY DIONISIA, ang Pambansang Mommy, center, as she is fondly called by Pacquiao supporters told this writer, Bradford Adkins left, that she wants the Cotto fight to be her son Manny Pacquiao's last fight as she can't anymore stand the sight of her dear son getting beat up in the ring, all gauzed up, bruised in the face, with fluid in his swelling right ears. To her right is her idol, the sentimental songstress, Imelda Papin who will sing duets with her on a concert to be held on December 19that the PICC in Manila. Photo by Richard Lao

GMA-7'S Executive Vice President & COO Gilberto 'Jimmy' R. Duavit, Jr. attended the Pacquaio post-fight victory party concert, (where the greatest boxer of all time, Pacquiao, still had energy left to perform 8 songs with Martin Nievera, Lito Camo, La Diva, et al) held at the nearby Mandalay Bay Events Center with wife, Rosanna. Photo by Richard Lao

LA Daily News's Sportswriter for 15 years, Robert Morales, left, predicted an early Pacquaio win, hours before the fight proper began. Morales has nothing but good praises to Pacquiao's speed, smarts and strategies that are going to make him win easily. Photo by Richard Lao

The Philippine Flag side by side with Pacquiao's giant poster proudly hang conspicuously in almost all the walls of the MGM Grand's Media Center for all the sportswriters of the world to see. Photo by Richard Lao

Our Champion, Our Pride, Our Hero, Manny Pacquaio of General Santos City, badly beaten and still swollen, gamely answers all the post-fight questions fielded by reporters coming from all parts of the globe, unendlessly grateful to the press for 'making' him the international celebrity that he is today. So unlike a certain local show in Las Vegas who specifically instructed security to ban ALL media, except for one, to enter the event...tsk..tsk..tsk..small ideas, small minds. Photo by Richard Lao

Wowowillie LIVE in Las Vegas held an Orleans Arena show after the Pacquiao Saturday fight, led by its host, Willie Revillame (who repeatedly announced the show as canceled on his own TV show, due to issues with its producers, only to recant it a few days before the actual show). Needless to say, due to conflicting information, the audience attendance suffered. Photo by Richard Lao

The Almost-Complete Pacquiao Coverage

In celebration of what LA Times calls ‘an epic performance’ by our national pride and joy, Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao, this column is deviating from its regular format and instead devoting this week’s issue solely to his Saturday night, November 14^thboxing triumph against Miguel Cotto, of Caguas, Puerto Rico (World Boxing Organization, interestingly, was founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico). Pacquiao earned his record 7^th title (WBO Welterweight Champion) in his 7^th weight division/class at the MGM Grand Arena, where 16,000 witnessed how he badly beaten to a bloody finish, his opponent who now in the end admitted that he had fought all the greatest welterweights and “Manny is the best."

I have already written the details of the fight proper, with photo(s), appearing on the front pages of this paper and here forth are the interesting side notes that I have gathered:

The atmosphere in Vegas is dominantly pro-Pacquiao, hey, even the casino betting stations are on his side. Huge tarpaulins bearing Pacquiao’s likeness are all around – also atop taxis, the Casino huge plasma TVs, outdoor neon screens, T-shirts, mugs, jackets, almost anything and everything marketable.

Although, comparing this fight with last May’s Pacquiao-Hatton event, I can say that nobody, nobody but the British people are far better in the cheering department with several ‘theme songs’ to boot! Last Saturday’s main event had almost the same level of energy as far as the boxing audiences in the arena is concerned, but I kinda miss the drunk boisterousness of the British fans, all present during the fight week that crescendo’d during the fight night. The British Hatton might have lost the fight, but in my mind, the Britons hold the record as the Best Cheerleaders of all.

I have observed that the Puerto Ricans are almost like the Filipino boxing fans in the sense that they don’t drink much during the fight, unlike the Britons. Both camps have almost the same level of vocal passion expressed during the fight week and in the fight night. I have met several Puerto Ricans though, who actually placed their bet on Pacquiao, not on Cotto. But I have not met a single Filipino who placed bet on Cotto!

After the fight, the media were ushered in to an exclusive press conference, moderated by Mega Boxing Promoter Bob Arum, who officially proclaimed that the event was a huge success in HBO Pay-per-Views, so huge the numbers tallying can’t be finished until Tuesday or even Wednesday. He reported though, that the MGM Grand Arena gate is sold-out completely, with 16,000 seats! Additional closed-circuit TV functions rooms also sold extra 15,335 seats, which includes the huge Mandalay Bay Events Center. The Vegas hotels were very happy with the huge gambler turnout who flooded also the restaurants, the specialty shops (spotted in the same Chanel store were Manny’s legal wife, Jinkee Pacquiao and his current rumored girl friend Krista Ranillo, coincidentally shopping on the same day at the same time, as reports have it. What are the odds?), among others. Even the restrooms are filled to capacity. Arum also reported that Miguel Cotto won’t be able to face the international press. Instead, an official statement was read expressing Cotto’s appreciation to the media for helping promote the event, making it a huge financial success that it was. He was being examined closely for any damage to his physicality, in addition to the treatments being done to his badly impaired face, nose, eyes and chin.

The Champion again, for the 7^th time, Pacquiao arrived, his face swollen and heavily gauzed up around his right ear (he can’t hear well that night) at the Media Center at around 11:05 p.m. followed by Coach Freddie Roach, friend Chavit Singson, assistant Buboy Fernandez and his other entourage (no, I don’t think they number to over 50 as rumored..I can count well).

There were more impressive questions coming from the press this time around, than during the Hatton fight. Most of the questions zero in, though, on the impending Mayweather match which is being predicted this early, as the mega-fight to watch next.

Watching Pacquiao spar question and answer game with the roomful of a huge conference center of international sports writers and cameramen furthered my admiration with the man. He is not arrogant, beaming with smile always (considering what hell he has to endure against to get to that room), overflowing with confidence and humility at the same time, notwithstanding his groping for words and asking for repeats everytime he can’t hear the question very well due to his ear injury. When he announced that he is singing 8 songs at a Mandalay Bay Event Center concert after the press conference and he obliged to sing a sample song (he sang ‘Sometimes When We Touch’ to the delight of the media) that ended the almost two hours of press conference, that night, in my personal opinion, he had reached another level he so deserve – Darling of the International Press. So I expect him to dominate all the major sports magazine awards next season.

In maintaining my civility with the show line producer(s) who are my friends also, I rather not write about the Mandalay Bay Concert. Yes, I was there, heard Pacquaio sing, but simply said, the concert was so disorganized from all aspects and I did not enjoy it. Period.

The following day at the Wowowee LIVE in Las Vegas at The Orleans Arena, Pacquaio was a no-show. ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo was there at the dressing room, armed (but not dangerous) with her camera and crew in tow. The Champion was apparently invited by host Willie Revillame, to sing one song, to return a favor when the host joined his limo ride to MGM Grand Arena and watched his fight in support.

One last side note – American Idol runner-up David Archuleta called Charice (she put him on speaker phone) on her personal cellphone, when she was in her dressing room. They talk like teenagers hanging out. All these captured on camera by The Filipino Channel’s spunky Miss Bev Llorente of Las Vegas.

See you again on the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight!

PERSONAL NOTES

Happy Birthday to Joseph Michael Paloma and good luck also for he is going to serve his country on another level by joining the United States Navy. He already passed the recruitment and background procedures and is just waiting for the official call to start for boot camp training soon! Thank you for making us proud of you, Joe!

Quote of the Week – " If a girl ever steals your man, there is no better revenge than letting her keep him because no good man can ever be stolen. " – Charina Vergara Carrera of Los Angeles. No, she wasn’t talking to Jinkee Pacquiao then. It was only Charina’s most recent FaceBook status posting. She is also helping organize the Pacquiao official victory party Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

This column also appears online athttp://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/

Do you have any personal or community events you want announced or published? Just email them to bradford_adkins@yahoo.com