Pacquiao’s win draws mixed reactions

Manny Pacquiao connects with a right straight to the face of Jessie Vargas.
(AP)

VISAYAN boxing fans were jubilant in the victorious return to the ring of boxing icon and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

They believe that Pacquiao still has it in him to win fights after he retired from boxing. But some said the Filipino boxing champion’s failure to knock out Vargas showed age taking its toll on Pacquiao.

Engineer Joel Parsomala of Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu said the fight was not impressive. He said Pacquiao could have knocked out Vargas at the 8th round but he failed to do it because of his age.

“Pacquiao’s strength is waning,” he said.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said Pacquiao should now prove himself as a legislator.

“He should retire by now while he is up there. Besides, being a senator of the republic, he should focus on his job. The country has problems to attend to. He was chosen by the people to serve as such
senator,” he said.

“Undoubtedly, he has already proven his worth as a boxer and to be called pambansang kamao. He has yet to prove his worth on the mandate given to him by the people as senator,” he added.

Labella, however, praised Pacquiao for beating the younger and taller Vargas.

He said he was amazed that the 37-year- old Pacquiao was still quick.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the fight exceeded his expectations.

“I expected a boring fight like (Floyd) Mayweather who kept running away. It was exciting and inspiring to see Manny fight as if he was younger than Vargas,” he said in a text message.

Elmer Babatuan, who works as company auditor, said Pacquiao’s victory was not convincing because Vargas was able to score in a few of the rounds.

Ilonggo fans also welcomed Pacquiao’s win but doubted if he has more years in him to continue defeating his opponents.

“His win was expected. But I already had doubts if he can knockout (WBO World welterweight title from champion Jessie Vargas). I think he was not as fast and sharp as he used to be. Maybe because of
age,” lawyer Gaudioso Geduspan said.

Pacquiao, 37, defeated Vargas and took the title from Vargas by unanimous decision even as fans rooted for a knockout in the earlier rounds of the 12-round match.

“He used to fight bigger fighters and much classier than Vargas. (Pacquiao) could have easily knocked him put if he was five years younger,” said Geduspan, who kept tabs of the fight on radio at his farm.

Chief Insp. Dexter Calacar, public information of the Police Regional Office 7, said Pacquiao defeated Vargas because of his speed.

Although Pacquiao’s punches remained strong but these were not as powerful as in his previous fights, according to Calacar.

But fans welcomed their idol’s victory and hoped Pacquiao will continue fighting.

“I am happy of course. I thought he retired for good. He can still beat much younger and taller opponents,” Ranel Salarte, a pedicab driver in Iloilo, said.

Calacar believed that Pacquiao can still continue boxing and he hoped it would be Floyd Mayweather who had defeated Pacquiao.

Lawyer Michael Acasio described the fight as “decent.”

“I think it was a decent fight, not spectacular, but decent,” he said. “What’s noticeable is that Manny, despite his age, proved to the world that he is still capable of bringing finesse in his fights.”