Emotions ran high as Manny Pacquiao’s array of fans in Dubai took his defeat to Floyd Mayweather with a heavy heart but, in the end, they still cheered for their champ.
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“Manny was the aggressor throughout the fight while Floyd was just running all the time,” friends Catherine Macalinao, Princess Louranne Sta. Ana, and Rose Ann Evangelista, who watched the fight at Boracay Club, Asiana Hotel in Deira, told Sport360.
“As Manny said, ‘Floyd did not do anything’. In our hearts, Manny is still our unanimous and number one champion,” added the three, although the judges at the MGM Grand Arena scored the fight 118-110; 116-112; 116-112 all in favour of Mayweather.
Pacquiao fans trooped to Boracay Club, one of the venues which beamed the fight live from Las Vegas, as early as 5:00am. They even gleefully sang Pacquiao’s entrance song ‘Lalaban ako para sa Filipino’ (I will fight for the Filipinos) and were up on their feet every time Pacquiao cornered Mayweather.
But they jeered after Mayweather was announced the winner.
“Mayweather is not the best boxer but the best runner in the world,” said Greg Osorio and Lady Ivy de Luvio. “He did not deserve to win, he was always on the defensive.”
“Why is Mayweather proclaimed the best pound-for-pound boxer?,” asked Alvin Montilla. “He did not fight; he just kept hugging Pacquiao to score on points.”
“There should have been at least one judge from Asia to score the fight,” said Salve Aldeguer. “I think the judges favoured their countryman.”
Chants of ‘Manny, Manny…’ Ring out at Asiana while Mayweather is greeted by boos. #MayPac #360LIVE pic.twitter.com/kjWlxkVY1q
— Sport360° (@Sport360) May 3, 2015
Some Pacquiao fans, however, accepted the defeat.
“Manny can’t still handle a counter puncher,” said Allen Erestain. “He got beaten from those counter punches by Mayweather.
“I accepted the result although it was not an entirely convincing win for Mayweather,” added Jennifer Ringor. “It could have been a better match if Mayweather engaged Manny in a real fight.”
Others took to social media to express their disappointment.
“I don’t think the judges’ scores were accurate,” posted Ion Gonzaga. The disparity was so huge. Both of them are true champions – no doubt. One in boxing, one in marathon!”
“118 Mayweather -110 Pacman? I think the judge measured Mayweather’s running speed,” quipped Arnel Fernandez.
A very unhappy decision with fight fans at the Asiana as Floyd Mayweather wins with UD #MayPac #360LIVE https://t.co/EDjWCtQ0Iv
— Sport360° (@Sport360) May 3, 2015
“Mayweather may have played it intelligently. But if you choose to be a boxer and be part of an extremely contact sport as boxing, people expect more than just running. Otherwise, we would rather watch the grace and speed of Usain Bolt,” PR Executive Albert Alba posted on his Facebook account.
“With money being foremost in Mayweather’s mind, he is actually being a disgrace and doing an injustice to the sport and the fans by simply taking our money and literally running away with it.”
“One thing was clear though, it only showed how Mayweather was so scared of Pacquiao. Mayweather may have won the fight but Pacquiao surely earned everyone’s respect,” Alba added.
