Kabasares: What if Pacquiao lives next door?

By Cris D. Kabasares


SAN FRANCISCO, California -- Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao, 29 years old, 5"6', told a crowd in New York during the "dream match" HBO Pay-Per View promotional tour that "some people are criticizing Oscar De La Hoya for picking a small opponent like me and some say I took this fight for the money. I'll prove them wrong -- I will be fighting to give glory and honor to my country, "asahan 'nyo, si Manny Pacquiao, tatayo hanggat may hininga. Hindi ako susuko," the Filipino Reporter quoted the Gensan City fighter. Pacquiao records stand at 47-3-2, 35 K0s.

The more engaging and crowd-getter Oscar De La Hoya, 35 years old, 5'10, from East Los Angeles, told the crowd in this city's Crissy Field: "I'll stop his (Pacquiao) streak of defeating Mexican boxers.

What's your take on the Mindanao crisis? Discuss views with other readers

The fight, according to Nancy Gay, "has become a fight for national and ethnic pride."

The megastar Oscar De La Hoya is a 2 to 1 favorite to beat (Manny) Pacquiao when the two meet on December 6 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas in a 12-round welterweight (147 pounds) bout, writes San Francisco Chronicle's Nancy Gay. De La Hoya's record: 39-5, 30 by way of K0s.

The Filipino Reporter (New York) publisher and editor-in-chief Bert Pelayo told this writer he gives the fight to the Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya because he's bigger and he's a ring tactician.

The December 6 dream match has been sold out hours after the box office opened.

I'm a late hanger-on to the Manny Pacquiao mania that has swept the Philippines like wild fire since he started thrashing some of the greatest living Mexican boxers.

I haven't followed the odyssey of this Bukidnon-born boxing marvel named Emmanuel Dadidran Pacquiao. Although I had enough time to do a lot of things, I read his ring exploits in the sports pages only when I felt like doing it. It was, incredibly, a case of apathy. And one thing more -- I am an avid football fan.

Time, however, like life itself, does change.

And here's why!

While vacationing in Davao City during the months of May through August, this year, rumor spread in our village that the champ from Gensan has expressed interest in acquiring a property in Durian city. He was, as the rumor went, particularly eyeing a lot at the lush Mountain Haven Subdivision in Barangay Eden, Toril, some 17 miles from the SM City in Matina. My wife and I own a modest vacation home there. The place isn't bereft of a superstar, Sharon Cuneta owns a lot there. But there's still room for another prominent name. Manny Pacquiao could be the one.

The rumor remains, well -- just that -- a rumor. But what's exciting about it was it churned out some whimsical questions in my mind.

What, if indeed Pacquiao becomes my neighbor?

What if we run into each other while jogging around the subdivision?

How would I break the ice, so to speak?

"Hi Champ" would definitely be a proper greeting to start what in due course could be a lasting neighborly ties with a bona fide celebrity, I think.

So I thought of brushing up with my stats on the Pacquiao fame rather pronto. With Google a mere click away, it wasn't entirely a bad idea.

On June 26, I drove to Mandaya Hotel in Davao City to pay for two seats for the Manny Pacquiao-David Diaz fight on pay-per view and buffet lunch at the hotel's lobby. This was Philippines' boxing immortal's outing for another crown, the WBC (World Boxing Council) lightweight title. This I've got to see, I told my wife.

Two days before the scheduled match, I "texted" a few friends in and around Mindanao, including Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno, to ask them whom they'd pick to win the fight. To a man, they rooted for Pacquiao. I had to text an old friend in Manila, a retired sports journalist who had covered some of the biggest fights in his time, including the October 1, 1975 Mohammad Ali-Joe Frazier "Thrilla in Manila," to get an opposing choice. The guy risked to forecast a Diaz win. Pacquiao had barely slithered a split decision (SD) over Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez in their March 15, 2008 fight for the World Boxing Council's super featherweight crown at the Mandalay Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, he stated.

The Filipino champ fought poorly, his timing was erratic, like he was off a delicate choreography. He sent Marquez to the canvass in the second round but failed to finish him off which was a slight departure from his vaunted skills. After that the Mexican fighter furiously traded punches with and scored effectively against Pacquiao. Marquez had cornered the Filipino mauler many times, he said.

"Cris, take a peek at the details of the fight in the papers -- you'll agree with my choice," he added.

He was right. All 28 sports writers who covered the bout, including three Filipinos -- Ronnie Nathanielz, Francis Ochoa, and Ricah Trinidad -- scored the match for Marquez. He (Marquez) landed 34 percent of his punches, Pacquiao cleared 25 percent; in the power hits, Marquez scored 42 percent, while Pacquiao managed only 37 percent. Marquez's jabs found their marks 21 percent of the time, Pacquiao struggled with a mere 14.

The judges scored: Judge Duane Ford: Pacquiao 115, Marquez 112; Judge Jerry Roth: Pacquiao 112, Marquez 115; Judge Toni Miller: Pacquiao 114, Marquez 113.

On June 28, I saw the Filipino champ drop David Diaz with his legendary left at the 2.24 mark of the ninth round to annex a fourth crown. Pacquiao was at his best, I thought.

After the Pacquiao victory, I "texted" my Manila friend to find out what he thought of the fight. His cell phone was unattended.

On December 6, I'll watch the fight on HBO.

Sports writers predict this fight to be risky for Pacquiao.

I wouldn't let my neighbor down!

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(Cris D. Kabasares writes a column for a New York newspaper.)