2010 03/17-03/23

MANILA MAIL COMMUNITY

Pacquiao lands a right power punch, one of the 1,231 he threw against Ghana's Clottey's very strong defensive position face. The Filipinoboxing phenomenon won by a 12-round unanimous decision. Photo by ChrisFarina of Top Rank.

Pacquiao Wins Big in Dallas

While Clottey ‘Dances’ the Night Away

By Bradford Adkins

The Law of Large Numbers worked and proved to be effective Coach Freddie Roach strategy last Saturday, March 13^th, 2010 as the Philippines ’ Manny ‘PacMan’ Pacquiao won over Ghana ’s Joshua Clottey through a 12-round unanimous decision from all 3 judges’ score cards, thereby successfully defending his WBO Welterweight Title.

A record ‘beyond-the-wildest-expectation-of-owner-Jerry-Jones’ crowd of 50,994 fight fans (a very little percentage of which were Filipinos) drove to the ($50 per vehicle parking fee) $1.2 Billion cost venue (it has a six-digit monthly utility bill) that resembles, from afar, a giant steely UFO from one of your favorite Star Trek franchise movies and personally witnessed the PacMan Cometh conquer Dallas.

It was the biggest crowd that ever gathered in boxing in 17 years, the 2^nd largest in Texas and the 3^rd largest in all of boxing history, according to Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s Top Rank promoter during his opening speech in the post-fight media conference. And they all come not to see Clottey.

Fans’ cheers resonated inside the Dome and it was louder when ‘Are You Ready To Rumble?’ boxing announcerMichael Buffer (he reportedly earns $400 Million a year from his patented distinct style of hosting) introduced the Pride of the Philippines, Manny ‘PacMan’ Pacquiao who entered the venue Texas-style with pyros and to the tune of Survivor’s ‘Eye of Tiger’, theme song of the very successful ‘Karate Kid’ boxing movie franchise, while theDallas Cowboys Cheerleaders lined up.

Apart from the much-talked about venue, Pacquiao was the star of the night, who worked the room, a very big room and gave fans the entertainment values they paid for their tickets. Laughs were the loudest when in Round 7, Pacquiao gave a surprise double-punch to both Clottey’s left and right ears, in extreme frustration when Clottey won’t even open up his face to throw back a punch.

Successfully overturning what the pundits are saying a ‘lose-lose situation’ into a win-win and solidifying his higher stature now as one of the world’s biggest sports figures, Pacquiao dominated the main event by unleashing 1,231 punches at the heavily-guarded-by-both-fists Clottey, who according to one of his brothers, Nuru, (interviewed by this writer the day after the fight at their official residence, the also- huge Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, TX – both fighters stayed on the hotel’s separate 7^th Floor suites), was so afraid to getting knocked-out by Pacquiao the moment he opens up his solid protection wall of braced arms and fists. It takes a ‘willing’ opponent to be knocked-out by Pacquiao and Clottey is visibly not, the whole night.

And here are the final punch statistics provided by CompuBox (Every Punch Counts):

PACQUIAO CLOTTEY

Total Punches Thrown 1,231 399

Total Punches Connect 246 108

Percentage 20% 27%

Jabs Thrown 549 162

Jabs Connect 14 26

Percentage 3% 16%

Power Punches Thrown 682 237

Power Punches Connect 232 82

Percentage 34% 35%

All 3 judges scored for Pacquiao – Duane Ford 108-120; Levi Martinez 109-119 and Nelson Vasquez 109-119.

Clottey won only one round – the 3^rd , on both Martinez and Vasquez’s score cards.

So what’s next with Pacquiao? Floyd Mayweather Jr’s name, like a nightmare that won’t go away, is always being mentioned by the boxing world to be the only logical next opponent. That is, if Mayweather wins his semi-final bout against Mosley in May 1^st this year. Pacquiao just won his. Big time.

What this fight night proved is clear – that Pacquiao can draw crowds, huge crowds, no matter where he fights, no matter who he fights. And that is an amazing achievement coming from a fighter who used to live in cardboard boxes before.

This is another one of those Pacquiao legends the parents can tell their children.

Amen.

Cowboys Stadium the right fit for fight

Marco Antonio Barrera, one of the greatest Mexican boxers ever defeated by Pacquiao, is seated infront this columnist and rooted for Pacquiao win last Saturday, March 13th. He also attended Pacquiao's pre-fight mass that morning and a constant fixture at lobby of the Gaylord Texan Resort, mingling with Filipino sportswriters.

Joshua Clottey of Ghana arrives like a rockstar, a couple of hours before his 10pm bout with Pacquiao last Saturday night, March 13th at the huge Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Bert Randolph Sugar, left, noted boxing historian who authored '100 Greatest Boxers of All Time" was seated behind me (Row 6) at the Cowboys Stadium floor area during the Pacquiaovs Clottey held last Saturday, March 13th when Pacquiao successfully defended his WBO Welterweight title.

Las Vegas-based Top Rank Mega-Promoter,Bob Arum, left, shown here with San Jose's Jocelyn Tabora, declared "The Event" featuringPacquiao vs. Clottey held last Saturday night, March 13th in Dallas Cowboys Stadium, a "success beyond all expectations".

Pacquiao's Coach Freddie Roach, left, gamely obliges for a souvenir photo with Pleasanton's Juan Carlo Salazar in the Atrium of the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, the morning before the now a traditional pre-fight mass.

The best pound-for-pound boxer in the world,Manny 'PacMan' Pacquiao speaks to thank supporters who joined him in the post-fightThanksgiving mass tendered for his triumph against Clottey last Saturday night, March 13th in Dallas, TX.

Flanked by the only two people largely responsible for bringing 'The Event' in Texas, Dallas Cowboy Stadium owner, Jerry Jones, right and Top Rank Mega-Promoter, Bob Arum, Manny 'PacMan' Pacquiao gamely poses for international media, at the post-fight press conference held at the Bell Helicopter Parking Area of the venue. Pacquiao won over Clottey by decision Saturday night, March 13th.

The Champ eats his victory breakfast (at hisGaylord Texan 7th floor suite,) the morning after beating Ghana's Clottey by unanimous decision , with wife Jinkee and the rest of his entourage.

PacMan's beloved Coach Freddie Roach, left, followed by Team Pacquiao's Stamina Guru, Alex Lariza, also attended the pre-fight mass held at the Gaylord Texan last Saturday morning, March 13th, fight day.

Manny 'PacMan' Pacquiao never skipped in years and hears a pre-fight mass held at the Exhibition Hall F of the Gaylord Texan Resort andConvention Center in Arlington, TX last Saturday morning, March 13th. He won the fight that night.

Pacquiao Packs ‘Em in Dallas

Proof-positive that Pinoy Boxing Hero is Now Embraced by Mainstream Fight Fans

Pacquiao is the lone star in Dallas Saturday night, March 13th at the world’s biggest dome (located in the country’s largest state) that is the Cowboys Stadium. Yes, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’s prized and most expensive toy (built at a cost of $1.2 Billion), the Cowboys Stadium is the star of the night, but Pacquiao is the scene-stealer of the night as he elicited cheers and endearing laughs almost every round of the 12, as he flurry with an average of 123 punches per round the non-responsive Clottey, who consistently braced both his arms against his face in extreme defensive position. Pacquiao last Saturday night successfully was able to paint the face of fear on Clottey and on every boxer’s wanting to fight him in the ring where he is the King. The fear of being knocked-out.

There were almost 51,000 mainstream fight fans who came and they all came (from all four corners of the world), well, almost all, to see Pacquiao and no one else. “The guy is worth every penny!” exclaimed one sportswriter seated right behind me as Pacquiao double-punches in both ears, Clottey in Round 7, after frustratingly, Clottey won’t return any of his jabs and punches. He won’t even open up his closed arms heavily guarding his face. He has a very good defense but he must attack too to be able to win. He never did. And therefore, he lost.

Juan Carlo Salazar, a nurse who flew to Dallas from Pleasanton, CA, skipping several days’ worth of paycheck, liked the overall experience and summarizes it well when he said in one of several fight fans brainstorming sessions I listened to: “The significance of 51,000 people today in attendance, in these days when boxing is dead and there is economic recession, is comparable to holding today a disco party when disco is dead and yet, people came! And then Pacquiao events like this brings families together from all races, from their youngest to their grandfathers; they exchange Pacquiao fight stories and they bond and they go home happy and laughing. That’s what’s good about this whole fight experience!”

From among the crowd, spotted watching on the floor are: Hollywood actor Robert Duvall (he attended both the fight and post-fight media conference), former foes and Pacquiao BFFs – Miguel Cotto, Marco Antonio Barrera, Antonio Margarito, a sprinkling of Filipino groups here and there, among others. One question comes to mind though – did Floyd Mayweather, Jr. watch the fight, too? He reportedly doesn’t watch anything but his boxing events.

Let me end this story by stating that in my years of writing about Pacquiao fights, I have never seated so close to the ring; never had felt more VIP; never had felt more privileged and never had felt a prouder Pinoy…until last Saturday. I love you, Dallas!

SEEN IN THE CITY

“Miss You Like Crazy” To Hit Screens In 8 U.S. Cities

(Blockbuster John Lloyd-Bea film to be shown in San Francisco, San Diego, LA-Cerritos, Las Vegas, Honolulu,Seattle, Jersey City and Chicago)

Hot on the heels of a record-setting box-office triumph in the Philippines , Star Cinema’s Miss You Like Crazy - starring the country’s number one love team, John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo - will embark on its U.S. theatrical run in San Francisco , San Diego , Los Angeles-Cerritos, Las Vegas , Honolulu , Seattle , Jersey City and Chicago .

Box Office Mojo’s tally for March 3-7, 2010 shows than in just two weeks, Miss You Like Crazy has grossed over P114 million, the first Philippine movie to surpass the P100 million bracket for this year.

This success means new feathers in the caps of John Lloyd and the film’s director Cathy Garcia-Molina who, together with Sarah Geronimo, scored huge with You Changed My Life – the top-grossing Tagalog language film in the Philippines in 2009 - and Bea whose And I Love You So was the Filipino box-office champion here in the U.S. among all films screened last year by ABS-CBN International’s Starry Starry Store. Since 2007, John Lloyd hasn’t starred in a film that grossed less than P100 million – a continuing phenomenal winning streak.

Starry Starry Store held last week special advanced screenings of Miss You Like Crazy in Los Angeles-Glendale and Honolulu . U.S.-based Philippine Star correspondent Raymond Lo (brother of top entertainment columnist Ricky Lo) had this to say: “John Lloyd and Bea are amazing. They have grown as actors and Bea is now a mature and confident performer. But applause, applause for JLC! He is undoubtedly the best actor of his generation. Cathy Garcia has fashioned a commendable romantic drama. Her restrained direction was able to pull the movie away from becoming unintentionally melodramatic.”

In Miss You Like Crazy, John Lloyd plays the role of Allan, a man on top of his game professionally and enjoying a stable relationship with his dream girl, Daphne (played by rising star Maricar Reyes). Bea breathes life to the character of Mia, a Filipina front desk officer working in Kuala Lumpur who is looking for a change in what seems to be a forlorn life. Two individuals with seemingly predestined lives suddenly find their paths crossing on a ferry boat ride that will change the course of their journeys forever.

Without giving away the plot as Miss You Like Crazy will keep you guessing till the end of the film, there are two scenes that are resonating highly among moviegoers who have seen it. In one scene where Allan was separated from Mia and seemed lost in the midst of the throng of shoppers in busy Divisoria market district, Mia said a quotable when they found each other: “Bakit ka ba nagpa-panic? Kahit nga hindi mo ako hinahanap nagkikita pa rin tayo? (Why are you panicking? We always run into each other even if you’re not looking for me.) When Allan bumps into Mia in Malaysia even when she was trying to avoid him, it was his turn to deliver a memorable line: “I can’t take away the pain that I’ve caused you. But if you just let me, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

“We’re very pleased with the feedback that we got from viewers at the special advanced screenings,” said Kerwin Du, ABS-CBN International’s Head of Theatricals. “The John Lloyd-Bea love team is alive and kicking overseas and with true quality movies like Miss You Like Crazy, it’s a cinematic tandem that promises more years of excellent entertainment.”

Catch Miss You Like Crazy in the following cities:

From March 19-25, 2010:

SAN FRANCISCO

UA Stonestown Twin

501 Buckingham Way

San Francisco, CA 94132

SAN DIEGO

UA Horton Plaza

475 Horton Plaza

San Diego, CA 92101

LOS ANGELES-CERRITOS

Cerritos Stadium Cinema

12761 Towne Center Drive

Cerritos, CA 90701

LAS VEGAS

Regal Village Square Stadium

9400 W. Sahara Ave.

Las Vegas, NV 89058

HONOLULU

Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18

735 Iwilei Road #B

Honolulu, HI 96817

JERSEY CITY

AMC Loews Newport Center

30 Mall Drive West

Jersey City, NJ 07310

From April 2-8, 2010:

CHICAGO

The Pickwick Theatre 1

5 South Prospect Ave.

Park Ridge, IL 60068

For more information, please visit www.abs-cbnglobalmovies.com or call 1.800.227.9676.

TO-BE-SEEN IN THE CITY

Politicians and Government Officials to Attend March 20^th Matrix Fillmore Event

The City of Daly City will present a Certificate of Recognition to one of its residents, for years of proactive service to the community of people with developmental disabilities – Marlon K. Navarro at a glittering gala VIP Red Carpet Benefit Event scheduledthis coming Saturday, March 20^th at the Matrix Fillmore.

Hoping to make a positive difference, he is an advocate for the welfare of this unique group of people. He desires to boost morale of Caregivers thru trainings and seminars, desires to help people with developmental disabilities live in the most 'normal' and therapeutic environment and that they can practice and develop their skills. A QMRP Consultant since 2003 and an ARF Administrator since 2005, he provides in-service trainings for staff working with developmental disabilities. He is also a First Aid/CPR Instructor, Residential Service Specialist Trainor, PNSA President, Region XI Davao, 200-2003, Leadership in Nursing Member: SSF Lions Club Member of the Board of Directors; CA Caregivers Alliance Member, among others. Congratulations and keep up the good work, Marlon!

PERSONAL NOTES

Happy Birthday greetings to West Covina ’s Dee Barrameda (Monday, 3/15); Fremont ’s Brittany Hampton (Tuesday, 3/16); Daly City ’s Mike Guingona (Wednesday, 3/17) and Marlon K. Navarro (Saturday, 3/20).

Also, a very special ‘Hi’ to reader Dennis Camat of San Jose , CA !

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Fighters today fight with no pride... I’d rather swallow my blood than swallow my pride.” by Side El Harrak, an East London native and a Welterweight prospect, who recently relocated from Las Vegas to Texas, who used to speak very highly of Clottey. An avid fan of Clottey, he thinks before that the guy is underrated and never got the credit he deserved. But after his fight night performance showing against Pacquiao, when statistically, Clottey was out-punched and out-classed, he doesn’t think he can defend Clottey anymore.

This column also appears online atwww.FilipinoVillage.com andhttp://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/with readership in 63 countries now, according to the latest Google Analytics report.

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