Manny Pacquiao - An Inspiration for the Filipinos

While we, in Bicol, where the typhoon belt lies in this region is being beaten up by "Typhoon Dante" that brought flood to some low lying areas and left agricultural damages particularly in Camarines Sur, the rest of the world was all eyes on the Battle of the East and West and ecstatic on the emphatic win of the Philippines' National Fist, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao over Briton Ricky "Hitman" Hatton today, Sunday, 03 May 2009 (Philippines time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, USA. This day marks a historic triumph for the Philippines as millions of Filipinos danced in the streets and motorists tooting their horns and shouting out of the windows in jubilation after the superb winning performance of Pacquiao and dubbed as the "world's best boxer."

Pacquiao who has been escorted into the ring by WWE wrestling champ Batista as part of his entourage, captured the IBO light welterweight title after sending Hatton (the 140-pound IBF light welterweight champion from Manchester, United Kingdom) a few more combinations with a right hook to the chin that knocked the Hitman down midway in the opening round and finished off Hatton in the second round with an awesome array of punches at a dazzling speed and ferocious solid left hook that flattened his back and thrown at the center of the ring. With the Filipino crowd on its feet, British fans were in disbelief and looked on in consternation as Hatton was struggling to regain his consciousness.

A powerful blinding left hook landed into Hatton's chin

Hatton flattened on his back and stayed motionless after he received a devastating left hand as
Referee Kenny Bayless knelt over and halted the fight

Jennifer Dolley (Hatton's fiancee) in tears, is being comforted by a friend after Hatton was felled by Pacquiao's powerful speedy left punch

Pacquiao showed and proved once again why he is the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world as he executed the game plan with perfection as Coach Freddie Roach predicted Pacquiao would score a knock out in the third round but he settled for the second. He is undeniably the sport's top gun. Coach Roach said during the conference that "Manny is unbelievable" and he declared that "I'm the best trainer in the world because I have the best fighter in the world." And so with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who proclaimed Pacquiao as the "greatest fighter to have ever lived."

The win launches Pacquiao in the boxing history books as he becomes the first Asian to capture six world titles in six different weight divisions - flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, and now he has junior welterweight titles too.

There is only one Manny Pacquiao, a humble and a man with great faith as he is. A world's ring icon and best of all a true pride of the Philippines.

Triumphant prizefighter Manny Pacquiao on a victory ride

Congratulations Pacman!