12 years ago in Davao City 4 KNOCKDOWNS IN FIRST ROUND EARNED PACQUIAO FIRST P10-M By Manny Pinol Long before he rose to the status of an international celebrity and he became a household name, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao fought in Davao City 12 years ago in a title fight which lasted less than 3 minutes to earn his first multi-million peso prize money. Four knockdowns punctuated by a crackling uppercut ended his fight with Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym of Thailand who was trying to wrest the IBF Super Bantamweight title but who ended up in the hospital where he was brought by no less than the City Mayor of Davao, Rody Duterte. That short fight which brought jubilation to the crowd at the RMC Gymnasium but left many others complaining that it was too short an action for their very expensive ringside tickets is still being talked about today. Abi nako mamatay, said Duterte after he heard the crackling sound of the Thai challengers jaw. I personally saw the excitement of the Mayor, who supported the staging of the championship bout, at ringside because I, along with Quinito Henson and Recah Trinidad, covered the fight for Philippine television. Pacquiao, who made quite a stir in the United States following his upset of South African Lehnolo Ledwaba to win the IBF Super Bantamweight title, earned P10-M from his short appearance in Davao City which was his biggest purse thus far at that period in his career. From his sterling performance in Davao City, Pacquiao went back to America and conquered the likes of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto and Juan Manuel Marquez. Today, Pacquiao receives no less than $20-M for every fight making his purse in Davao City look like peanuts. But the Filipino boxing great always looks back to that night of Oct. 26, 2002 when he scored his shortest win in a world championship fight. That night also cemented a friendship with a man who he admires very much, Rody Duterte.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 07:01:15 +0000
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