ALL roads led to city hall, here on Sunday.
Entire families, bikers, motorela drivers rubber-necked with the rest of local boxing fans to see Sen. Emmanuel Pacquiao slug it out with Jessie Vargas in a pay-per-view screening for free at city hall.
Sunday’s bout was Pacquiao’s return to the ring after announcing his retirement seven months ago and a hopeful bid to reclaim the World Boxing Organization welterweight title for the third time.
Compared to his last fight which city hall also offered free viewing, however, gathered a distinctly fewer crowd.
“Medyo gamay rani ang mga tao karon.Pero lahi man gyud tuang fight nila ni(Floyd) May-weather,” RhoelCondeza, one of the organizers of the free viewing said.
Local boxing fans were also surprised when Mayor Oscar Moreno snaked into the crowd in the middle of NonitoDonaire’s bout against Jesus Gabriel Magdaleno. This, while most of the local chief executives across the country went to Wynn Las Vegas to see the fight.
“(It’s) best to watch the fight here — right where the people are. We also want to encourage young (boxing) prospects here,” said Moreno.
When asked to comment about Pacquiao’s return to the ring despite his self-imposed retirement, Moreno replied: “Manny still has the will and the skill. Let him be.”
Moreno turned out to be right. Pacquiao snatched back the WBO welterweight championship belt via unanimous decision. Donaire, unfortunately, lost to Magdaleno. (Cong B. Corrales)
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