World's eighth wonder: Pacquiao clobbers Margarito for 8th crown

World's eighth wonder: Pacquiao clobbers Margarito for 8th crown
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 15, 2010 12:00 AM

DALLAS – Manny Pacquiao reached yet another revered place in boxing history with a methodical destruction of Mexican Antonio Margarito for the WBC super-welterweight crown at the Cowboys Stadium Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

The Filipino icon simply dominated the bigger, taller and heavier former three-time world champion right from the opening bell to earn an unprecedented eighth world title in as many weight divisions with a unanimous decision win.

Pacquiao carried the fight to the game Margarito who was seeking a victory for his own ring redemption with all the deadly tools in his arsenal - hand speed, power and ring savvy - in a bout watched by 41,734 fans at the cavernous stadium and millions more around the world.

So dominant was Pacquiao in the contest, leaving Margarito nearly half-blind with swollen right eye that at one point in the 11th round the Filipino fighter virtually implored referee Laurence Cole to stop the carnage.

Margarito hung on to finish the 12-round bout but was so beaten up he was rushed to the hospital afterwards for an MRI and other precautionary measures.

As early as the fourth round, his right eye started to swell and soon after it started to bleed.

A couple of times late in the fight, the referee had to check on his eyes if he could still see. The doctor also kept his eyes on Margarito in the closing rounds.

If not for his heart the size of the massive stadium, or his braveness and determination to keep on fighting, Margarito could have easily gone down, early, or could have signaled anyone among his cornermen to simply throw in the towel. But he did not, and for that he was also applauded in the end.

Margarito was always there in front of Pacquiao, marching toward the Filipino, and walking through some of the biggest punches the reigning pound-for-pound champion, also a congressman back home, had thrown in his entire career. It could have felled any lesser opponent, but not this 32-year-old Mexican former three-time world champ.

Pacquiao had marks all over his face as well. He did get hit a good number of times, but only when he opted to, either by standing in front of Margarito or trading blows with the heavier boxer or when he tried to test the power of his opponent, as he had wrongfully done in some of his previous fights.

Pacquiao showed up at the post-fight press conference with swollen hands, and apologized to everybody because he said he couldn’t sign any autographs.

Prior to the fight, there were talks about Pacquiao’s retirement from the ring, so he could focus on his new job as congressman of the lone district in Sarangani province back home.

But an hour after the fight, Pacquiao said retirement is not part of his immediate plans.

“Yes. I am still strong. I will continue fighting,” he said while trying to evade a question whether Floyd Mayweather Jr. will be his next opponent. He said it’s the job of his promoter to set up the fight.

It was freezing cold outside the $1.2 billion stadium while Pacquiao was carving out the victory, and as he was carving out an even bigger place in boxing history. Once again, right after the fight, his promoter, Bob Arum, hailed him as “the best fighter” he’d ever seen in his more than 40 years in the sport.

Pacquiao, who won the first of his eight world titles as a flyweight (112 lb) almost 12 years ago, tipped the scales in Friday’s official weigh-in at 144.6 lb, and climbed the ring at 148 lb, just almost the same weight he carried in his fights against bigger men like Oscar dela Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey.

Margarito, five inches taller at 5-feet-11, barely made the catchweight of 150 lb, and added up a grand total of 15 lb overnight. On the HBO scales, he was at 165 lb by the time he came out of the dressing room to face Pacquiao, in the hope that the difference in height and heft would spell the difference.

As seen by millions from around the globe, it did not.

“Manny was very fast. We were doing good until I got cut and that’s when all the problems started coming in. He’s very fast. But there was no way (for him to quit). I’m a Mexican, and will fight till the end,” Margarito told fight commentators on top of the ring.

“He’s the best fighter in the world. He’s just too fast,” said Margarito’s trainer, Robert Garcia, who held on to his fighter as they walked away from the ring, a white towel almost covering the boxer’s head.

Garcia said he never thought of stopping the fight because he said “Tony (Margarito) is a warrior.”

Until the final bell, Margarito was there hoping to land the punch that can turn things around, and give him the victory that can erase the stigma of the incident involving the illegal handwraps for his fight with Shane Mosley in January last year. That led to a one-year suspension for the native of Tijuana.

The ring doctor said his only concern late in the fight was that if Margarito could still see. He knew the damage to those eyes were getting worse, but each time he consulted the Mexican corner, he was told that yes, Margarito can still see.

Cole, who refereed Pacquiao’s 2003 showdown with Marco Antonio Barrera in San Antonio, Texas, said stopping the fight had crossed his mind somewhere in the late rounds.

“I was looking for a chance to stop the fight but Margarito kept fighting back,” he said.

True enough, Margarito did fight back. But Pacquiao fought back even harder each time he got hit by the Mexican. Yet, he failed to put the Mexican away, and score a knockout which his trainer, Freddie Roach, had promised or had hoped would come.

“I can’t believe it. He was really strong. I really did my best to win. He was strong and I got hurt, too. I was hurt in the body and the face because of his uppercuts,” said Pacquiao.

Judge Juergen Langos of Germany had it all for Pacquiao (120-108), while Glen Crocker gave the sixth and eighth rounds to Margarito (118-110), and Oren Shellenberger also had the Mexican taking the sixth round (119-109).

Yet another unanimous victory, indeed, for Pacquiao.

House of Pacquiao's sister raided for illegal gambling

House of Pacquiao's sister raided for illegal gambling | Sun.Star Network Online:

"GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The house of the sister of Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao was raided by the authorities in General Santos City for suspicion of illegal gambling activity.

Raided was the residence of Isidra Pacquiao-Paglinawan, older sister of Pacquiao. The subject was, however, not in the house when police operatives arrived.

At least 10 people suspected to be ushers of 'Last Two' were arrested along with several gambling paraphernalia and cash.

Representative Pacquiao, who arrived in the area just as the authorities were conducting the raid, was meanwhile surprised by the incident.

In a television interview, the boxing champ said if proven by court that his sister is indeed involved in the illegal activity then he will not tolerate her misdeeds.

"Kung may kasalanan sya dito eh di parusahan. Ganun naman ako, walang pinipili," Pacquiao said.

Rumors on the involvement of the Pacquiaos in the illegal gambling activity in General Santos City and Sarangani have been going around for some time now.

Unconfirmed reports have it that Pacquiao's brother and Apopong barangay chief Roel Pacquiao is the one handling the illegal gambling activity in the said areas.

Several "outlets" were said to have been maintained by the Pacquiaos and is said to be raking in at least P1.5 million a day in earnings.

Back when Pacquiao was training in the United States for his fight with Ghana's Joshua Clottey last March, the earnings from the illegal gambling activity were allegedly used to fund Pacquiao's campaign for the congressional race in Sarangani.

The issue of Pacquiao's involvement in illegal gambling cropped up as authorities intensified the hunt for illegal gambling operators.

Intelligence operatives said some police officials are receiving millions of pesos in protection fees from big time gambling lords.

Some high-ranking officials in the region are allegedly getting about P500,000 per week while lower ranked police officials get a weekly stipend of P50,000.

Police authorities, however, denied the allegations.

The organized crime group headed by Rex Salud operating in Cebu was said to be helping the Pacquiaos in running their illegal gambling business.

A report by the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) about organized crime in the Philippines identified the Rex "Wacky" Salud Group with 30 members operating in Cebu as being engaged in illegal gambling. The said report was presented by the PCTC in a gathering in Tokyo, Japan on January 2003. (Ben O. Tesiorna)


Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on August 1, 2010.

Boxing champ Pacquiao discharged from hospital

Boxing champ Pacquiao discharged from hospital - Yahoo! Philippines News: "MANILA (AFP) - – World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao left hospital on Tuesday following treatment for an ulcer possibly brought on by his campaign for a seat in parliament.

Pacquiao, 31, who was taken to a hospital for stomach pains on Sunday, said he was suffering from an ulcer which may have been caused by irregular eating habits during his recent political campaign."

"I must be disciplined and not miss meals during the proper time," he said in an interview with ABS-CBN television.

The 31-year-old fighter, who was elected on May 10 to represent the impoverished southern province of Sarangani, has been preparing to take up his post in the Philippine parliament.


Boxing promoters are also working to arrange a bout between Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather in November, to settle once and for all the fighters' claim to be the best fighter, pound-for-pound, of their generation.

Asked about the fight, Pacquiao replied: "Wait to see if (the fight with) Mayweather will push through. It is hard to say. Mostly, we hear a lot of talking."

Negotiations for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight fell through earlier this year when the American insisted on Olympic-style random drug testing, which the Filipino rejected as too intrusive before a bout.

Boxing victories as well as his commercial endorsements last year made Pacquiao the world's sixth-highest paid athlete, with earnings of 40 million US dollars, according to Forbes magazine.

Philippine boxing champ Pacquiao taken to hospital

Philippine boxing champ Pacquiao taken to hospital - Yahoo! Philippines News: "MANILA (AFP) - – World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was taken to a hospital on Sunday for a stomach ailment, but his lawyer said it was not serious and that he would likely be out the next day.

Pacquiao, who was recently elected as a legislator, was taken to a suburban hospital in Manila after feeling pains in his stomach, said lawyer Jesus Gacal."

"It was just his usual acid reflux. The doctor told me there is nothing to worry about," Gacal told AFP.

"There was even no need for him to be confined but he wanted to take a rest after the (election) campaign," the lawyer added.

He said Pacquiao had suffered from this stomach problem before.

The 31-year-old fighter, who was elected on May 10 to represent the impoverished southern province of Sarangani, has been preparing to take up his post in the Philippine parliament.

Boxing promoters are also working to arrange a bout between Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather in November, to settle once and for all the fighters' claim to be the best fighter, pound-for-pound, of his generation.

Pacquiao has said he can handle the simultaneous burdens of being a legislator and training for a major fight, remarking that this required only proper "time management."

Boxing victories as well as his commercial endorsements last year made Pacquiao the world's sixth-highest paid athlete, with earnings of 40 million US dollars, according to Forbes magazine.

Pacquiao Batters Cotto for TKO Win

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao staked his claim atop boxing’s mythical throne as the pound-for-pound best, using his lightning hand speed to beat and batter Miguel Cotto into submission Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao knocked Cotto down once in the third round and again in the fourth, pummeled him repeatedly and easily lifted the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt from the Puerto Rican with a 12th-round stoppage. The time was 55 seconds into the final round, as referee Kenny Bayless leaped between the fighters to save Cotto a more savage beating and ignominious end.

Cotto came out strong and landed some hard punches, but Cotto couldn’t deal with the speed. Pacquiao was landing three shots for every two Cotto did early. After the knockdown in the fourth, Cotto’s offense was nonexistent as he spent most of the last two thirds of the fight fending off Pacquiao’s onslaught.

Cotto landed in single digits in power shots in every round from the fifth forward.
Pacquiao nearly had the stoppage after the 11th when Cotto trainer Joe Santiago walked onto the ring apron and waved his hand at Bayless.

It appeared he was going to stop the fight, but then Bayless and ringside physician James Game spoke and allowed it to continue. It was only extending the misery as Pacquiao poured it on in the 12th.

When the fight ended, the crowd began to chant, “We want Floyd!” It was a reference to Floyd Mayweather Jr., the other man with a claim to the top of the boxing pound-for-pound list.

Pacquiao, who has won championship belts in five divisions and beat the linear champion in two others, can no longer be knocked as a small man who was beating washed up fighters.

In Cotto, he took on an elite and powerful welterweight whose only loss came under suspicious circumstances to Antonio Margarito last year. There is suspicion that Margarito’s gloves were loaded for that fight, though it has never been proven.

But Pacquiao proved he was able to not only take a welterweight punch, but rock him repeatedly. It was a magnificent performance and will create public demand for a fight with Mayweather.

“I want to see him fight Mayweather,” Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said.

Santiago said Pacquiao hit harder and was stronger than expected. Cotto injured his left shoulder in the eighth.

Pacquiao stuns Hatton with second-round KO!

May 3, 2009, LAS VEGAS - Manny Pacquiao was dominating. Ricky Hatton was left helpless. Pacquiao cemented his claim to being the best pound-for-pound boxer Saturday night with a spectacular performance that ended with Hatton sprawled out on the canvas after a devastating left hand to the head late in the second round. Coming off an overwhelming win over Oscar De La Hoya, Pacquiao was even better against Hatton, knocking him down two times in the first round before finally stopping him with a vicious left hand that dropped Hatton for good in the 140-pound title bout.

Referee Kenny Bayless took one look at Hatton and declared the fight over at 2:59 of the round.

"I didn't have to count," Bayless said.

Pacquiao needed less than half a round to figure out the onrushing Hatton, hitting him with a flurry of punches midway through the first round before putting him down for the first time with a right hook to the head. Hatton got up at the count of eight but Pacquiao landed another flurry and dropped him again just before the end of the round.

Hatton attempted to carry the fight to Pacquiao in the second round but was mostly ineffective as Pacquiao sized him up for a big punch. It finally came at the end of the round when he landed a left cross that flattened the English fighter.

"I'm surprised the fight was so easy," Pacquiao said. "He was wide open for the right hook. I knew he would be looking for my left."

Pacquiao was a 2-1 favorite, but few thought Hatton would go easily. His only loss came when he was stopped in the 10th round by Floyd Mayweather Jr., and he built a career and a reputation as a tough and aggressive fighter who wore his opponents down.

But he stood no chance against Pacquiao, whose punches came straight down the middle and landed with increasing frequency as the fight went on.

"I was just doing my job," said Pacquiao, who is a national hero in the Philippines and is fast becoming a hero among boxing fans. "I always try to do my best in the ring."

Pacquiao's best on this night quickly quieted a boisterous crowd of 16,262 at the MGM Grand arena, many of them who came over from England to sing and chant Hatton's praises. They didn't even get a chance to warm up, though, before Hatton was on the canvas for the first time of the night.

"The fight was no surprise to me," Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, said. "We know he always pumps his hands before he throws a punch. He's a sucker for the right hook."

Hatton finally rose from the canvas after several minutes as doctors tended to him and Pacquiao's corner celebrated. He walked from the ring with a wry grin on his face, while his fans serenaded him with one last verse of "Winter Wonderland."

"That's boxing," said Floyd Mayweather Sr., Hatton's trainer.

On the same day Mayweather announced his return to the ring with a July 18 fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao stole the undefeated former champion's thunder with a performance that was so lopsided it looked like a sparring session. The southpaw easily got away from Hatton's wild advances and just as easily hit him with punches that shouldn't come from a fighter who was fighting above 130 pounds for only the third time.

Pacquiao weighed 138 pounds for the fight to 140 for Hatton, and was fighting a bigger man for the second time in a row. But nothing seems to bother the boxer who is so popular at home that there is talk of him running for president some day.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 knockouts) earned $12 million for the fight, while Hatton (45-2) was paid $8 million.

On the undercard, Mexico's Humberto Soto knocked Benoit Gaudet of Canada down early in the ninth round and then stopped him with a flurry of punches to retain his 130-pound super featherweight title. It was the second defense of the title for Soto, who improved to 48-7-2 with 31 knockouts, while Gaudet fell to 20-2.

Source: Philippines Sports News By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Boxing Writer AP - Sunday, May 3