Millions of Filipinos - from grandmothers to children, from soldiers to prisoners - suspended activities Sunday morning to watch local boxing hero Manny Pacquiao make history.
Fans packed town halls, sports complexes and other public places across the nation -- some lining up as early as daybreak to get seats in front of wide screen televisions broadcasting the fight live from Las Vegas, in the United States. In Manila, authorities had to turn away hundreds for fear of a stampede.
The anticipation quickly ended as Pacquiao's legendary left hook knocked out Briton Ricky Hatton less than three minutes into the fight. Some sports analysts expected it to be a close, 12-round match.
Pacquiao is the only boxer in history to win six world titles in as many weight divisions -- flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight and now, junior welterweight.
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo was "ecstatic" to learn of Pacquiao's win while on an official visit to Egypt. From Cairo, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde read a statement from Mrs. Arroyo.
"May this victory of Manny Pacquiao inspire all Filipinos to triumph against all odds and may his example of continuing to learn and improve be emulated by all our people, especially the young... We expected him to win but not in this spectacular fashion," Remonde said.
We were planning on releasing a limited PacMan shirt with all of its proceeds to go to the GK group, but instead Jeepney has put out there own for the same purpose so we highly recommend you to check out www.jeepneyclothing.com and purchase this limited tee!
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