Pacquiao won a narrow split decision to claim Marquez’s WBC 130-pound title Saturday night in a sensational fight that left two of the world’s best boxers bloody and triumphant.

Again, Manny Pacquiao wins, and he makes the Filipino proud, the Filipino whose hope has been dwindling with the current political fiasco that has been invading the country. Same as the split decision of the judges in the Pacquiao-Marquez fight, we need someone or something or an event, whatever, which would break the current pro-administration and anti-administration deadlock quickly.

Yes, we are all in search of the elusive truth—but do we see the light at the end of the tunnel which seems to be endless? This deadlock has to be decided. The Filipino must move on, even if we are to start from scratch, before it is too late.

Though Marquez landed more punches at a higher percentage, Pacquiao (46-3-2) knocked down Marquez (48-4-1) in the third round and persevered through a nasty cut. Marquez also was cut, but neither backed down from one scintillating exchange after another.

Their first matchup ended in a draw in May 2004. Marquez was knocked down three times in the opening round of that acclaimed bout, but the Mexican champion improbably rallied to win most of the later rounds in a possible career-saving performance.

An immediate rematch was scuttled by financial arguments, and Pacquiao went on to cement his spots atop the sport and in every Filipino’s heart, while Marquez made a long climb back to a match he eagerly accepted this time.

The second fight was just as tight —and every bit as exciting.

Judge Duane Ford favored Pacquiao 115-112 and Jerry Roth called it 115-112 for Marquez, while Tom Miller gave a 114-113 edge to Pacquiao despite giving the last two rounds to Marquez. The Associated Press narrowly favored Marquez, 114-113, on the strength of his 12th-round performance.
With outstanding action in nearly every round producing bloody injuries and heart-stopping moments, the fight showed why both boxers are at the peak of their profession. One defining moment came when Pacquiao nearly had the fight won in the third round, but Marquez kept his feet.

“I thought at that point I was in control of the fight,” Pacquiao said. “But when he cut my eye in the fourth round, he made it more difficult for me, and I couldn’t take control of the fight. … I wasn’t sure (heading into the 12th round), but I always treat the final round as the most important. I don’t take any chances.”

From the opening bell, the action was fast and frenetic at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Marquez staggered Pacquiao in the second round, but Pacquiao floored Marquez in the third with a left hook. Pacquiao then wobbled Marquez again late in what’s sure to be one of the year’s best rounds, but couldn’t finish off Marquez.

“I don’t like the decision,” Marquez said. “I still feel I am the champion. It was a bad decision. That first knockdown, he got me cold, but then I adjusted my game plan and I thought from then on, I dictated the whole fight. … The people are the best judge, and the people are booing him. I won.”

Pacquiao won a major world title in his fourth weight division, and he intends to take on a fifth when he moves up to 135 pounds for his next fight against David Diaz, the WBC lightweight champion who won on Saturday’s undercard.

“I don’t think so,” Pacquiao said of a third fight with Marquez. “This business is over.”
Marquez, whose brother Rafael just finished a three-fight epic with Israel Vazquez, landed 172 punches, or 34 percent of his total compared to Pacquiao’s 25 percent. Pacquiao threw more jabs, and Marquez landed more power shots.

Pacquiao entered the ring to thousands of cheering fans and a Filipino rapper who incited the crowd with a live performance. Marquez had a white-suited mariachi band waiting for him in the ring, and his fans drowned out the sizable Filipino contingent.

After a cautious start, both fighters showed glimpses of their fearsome potential in the second round. Pacquiao won several tough exchanges, but Marquez wobbled Pacquiao with a three-punch combination in the final seconds.

The third round was nonstop action, with both fighters trading quality punches before Pacquiao put Marquez on the canvas with a left hook. Marquez was leaning against the ropes by the end, but wouldn’t go down.

Marquez cut Pacquiao with a punch in the fourth round, but Pacquiao staggered him again in the seventh, and a collision of heads opened a nasty cut near Marquez’s right eye. Marquez then split Pacquiao’s right cheek early in the eighth, but Pacquiao kept charging forward to take punishment with his obscured vision.

They traded quality punches until the final minute, when Marquez landed a handful of combinations to do the final damage. Both fighters’ cornermen raised them in victory.

“It was a close fight, but we came back at the end,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach. “It could have gone either way, in my mind. Manny followed him around the ring too much. He didn’t cut off the ring like he should have. Marquez may have had a lot to do with that as well. Manny was more disciplined in training than he was in the fight tonight.”

Marquez could have had this fight shortly after their first bout across the Las Vegas Strip at the MGM Grand Garden, but his management complained about the financial terms. Marquez ended up fighting for $30,000 in Indonesia, where he lost his WBA title to Chris John two years ago, but Marquez claimed the WBC title last year by beating Barrera.

I may be a dreamer, but can we start from here? Admittedly, Manny Pacquiao is already a hero for many of us. Manny Pacquiao is a common factor—both the pros and the antis wanted him to win. Everyone is the same in that score. And it was a difficult fight, risking life and limb. He may have money, power within his circle, fame and all—but he fought hard for it, in each game he has been through since he started his career. The politicians? I doubt it—they have the money, power and all—at the expense of each and every Filipino, raking pro rated ill-gotten weath according to their ranks and levels.

I have more respect for Manny Pacquiao than any of them politicians. Oh yes, there are good ones, but I really cannot hand pick any of them, as I have become biased.

I just wish Manny Pacquiao would not side with either the pros or the antis. I just wish he were to start his own revolution—leading the youth, leading the businessmen into something that would leave an impression in the hearts of each Filipinos. I was thinking, during the Marcos time, we had slogans, “Sa ika-uunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan”.

This was instilled in the hearts and minds of each Filipino through repeated announcements in radios, over televisions and in forms of banners and prints on walls. What have we got afterwards? We had cleaner surroundings, when in the past the Filipino would throw his or her candy wrapper on the streets, he or she would hold it till the next trash can in sight. Discipline was slowly brought back to the home, to the society, even in small forms. Same with the trash, the people have become aware of disposing of trash properly. Small deeds, but if you count by the millions of Filipinos doing small good deeds, it would spell a lot of difference.

There was also the green revolution during the Marcos era, and somehow, people were made aware of the importance of “green”. Now it can be something like, “Save the environment”.

There were many more, given time, I will be able to recall them.

Manny Pacquiao could lead a revolution of good deeds, he can lead by example. I just wish that the rumors about his gallivanting and betting in cock-fights were not true, or if ever they are, I just wish he could do something about them. No one is to judge of course, and no one is perfect. But as a public figure, he must have some sense of good judgement with his activities.

He can start with projects that can help uplift the plight of the poor, and the basic units in society—the families can work with the basic units of the governments—the barangays. One model is for a company or a group of companies within a barangay or within a district to put up some funds for those who have less in their group, like livelihood programs, scholarships, day care centers, coaching, counselling from volunteers in the area. And hopefully others will follow suit.
Manny Pacquiao has money that could last him a lifetime, even more. And Filipinos are fond of showbiz, love heroes and would emulate them—Manny Pacquiao could be a factor who could influence. Influence the Filipino through good deeds, through action, and not just words.

Manny Pacquiao—you can’t help it anymore! You are an influencing figure in the hearts of Filipinos. The people, especially the poor somehow have placed their hope in you, dreaming to rise from where they are now, seeing a little of themselves in you. I can see the smiles on their faces when they see you win on the delayed telecast.

Yes—the streets are still empty and quiet as the tricycle drivers, the street vendors, the sari-sari store owners take their time out from work to watch your fight. Even the churches were not full this morning, I wonder if the malls had enough business in the morning.

You can make a difference, as the Filipino awaits your return, I just hope that a spark of idea will come to your mind—to take one more step forward to be the true Filipino hero that you are, in words and in deeds. Inspire! Be the leader! Help in the healing of the country, so that others may follow suit, and the Filipino will be great again.

Please don’t stop me from wishing, and dreaming. I can dream, can’t I?