Roads empty as people watch Pacquiao-Barrios duel
KIDAPAWAN CITY, COTABATO—The roads were almost empty here on Sunday morning as most tricycle drivers stopped ferrying passengers to watch the much vaunted comeback fight of “Pambansang Kamao” Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista organized a free livestream viewing at the gym as Pacquiao attempted to set another boxing record by wrestling from American Mario Barrios the World Boxing Council’s welterweight crown, four years into his retirement.
Free viewing was also available in a number of barangay halls in Cagayan de Oro City, while several restaurants offered free viewing to draw in customers.
Most radio stations in Mindanao also covered the fight, showing the livestream into their “teleradyo” programs that were carried on their social media pages, complete with end-of-round analysis and commentary.
Shouts and cheers were heard as Pacquiao connected while sighs as Barrios landed jabs, especially on the national icon’s right eye.
As the 46-year-old former senator was heating up into the second half of the 12-round duel against the 30-year-old defending champion, the crowds were giddy and restless for what would come next.
People stood up from their seats as they erupted into a loud cheer during an intense exchange of punches in the eighth round that somehow favored Pacquiao.
With the fight over and while the scores were being totaled, the people waited with bated breath for the results.
Many saw Pacquiao as the winner, an affirmation of their hero worship of the man whose rags-to-riches story was made possible by his punching power.
Although others saw the fight as a draw, just like the judges in Las Vegas, they hailed Pacquiao’s performance, which was described by one commentator on local radio as “extraordinary for a 46-year-old boxer.”
