By: Gabby Malagar
Philippines boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has officially confirmed that he is retiring from professional boxing during the traditional post-fight press conference . ( Photo credit to Wendell Rupert Alinea of Philboxing.com)
Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao once again proved why he is an eight-division world champion by beating American opponent Timothy Bradley via a 12-round unanimous decision yesterday morning (Saturday night in the U.S) held in the world’s biggest boxing stage that was at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 37-year old Pacquiao, now has improved his record to 59-6-2 in his illustrious boxing career after winning his third match against Bradley ending one of the most remarkable trilogy in boxing at 2-1 as Bradley won the first fight with Pacquiao bouncing back in their second meeting to get even at one victory apiece.
The official verdict was a 117-109 victory by Pacquiao after scoring two knock downs in the seventh and ninth round. Pacquiao who was the aggressor all the way, scored his first knock down late in the seventh round where Bradley fell to his knees with both hands on the canvas which was not at all convincing but it was obvious he owned that particular round.
Historic title fight. Philippines boxing icon Manny Pacquiao fought hard against Timothy Bradley. (AP)
Bradley again fell to the floor in the ninth round but quickly stood up to continue the fight and kept his poise unmindful of the inspiring chants form the crowd favoring Pacquiao— Manny! Manny! that energized the latter and yet Bradley who was somehow feeling groggy, was saved by the bell.
Showing no trace of his right shoulder injury when he lost to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. almost a year ago, Pacquiao continue to be impressive in his attacks by connecting nice body shots and jabs into the face of Bradley to earn more points in the tenth round.
Before the start of the tenth round, Bradley’s trainer Teddy Atlas told his ward, “give me six minutes of your best” prodding the former to get the job done by pulling a huge win with two more rounds left.
And yet, Pacquiao was tough enough for Bradley to make a reversal of fortune by keeping upbeat in the last two rounds as the two protagonists filed up a total of 36 rounds in all during their three fights.
While Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee kept on applauding at ringside, Mommy Dionisia stole the limelight as she stood up clapping to his son for his awesome performance.
Cebu’s former radio sports reporter Daniel Guden, now based in the United States, posed for a posterity shot with Lilia Lao, the aunt of the Philippines boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
It was good for Pacquiao for not losing his focus despite the shoulder injury and the criticisms he received for his comment on the same-sex marriage that caught the ire of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community here and abroad.
Now that the clouds are clear after Pacquiao won the fight, the only issue that remains uncertain is whether Pacquiao really pursue his retirement plan because even Pacquaio himself don’t categorically answer questions about his final decision to hang his gloves.
When Pacquiao returns to the Philippines after the fight to resume his campaign trail for his senatorial bid, he will be facing another fight—that is an election protest prepared by Akbayan Party List Representative who announced he will bring the issue to the Comelec believing that Pacquiao’s fight is giving him due advantage for his candidacy comes May 9.
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