Shorts: Powerful Pinoys

Forgotten But Not Gone

     It's easy to understand but not altogether forgivable that most people forgot that Manny Pacquiao was not the only Filipino that fought in a boxing ring last weekend.  Filipino pugilists Richie Mepranum and Eden Sonsona also took to the ring and like their idol Manny, ended up victorious.  (Michael Farenas also fought but the fight ended in a no decision because of a clash of heads)  Mepranum outworked and outpointed previously undefeated flyweight Hernan Marquez in their 10-round battle in the Gaylord Hotel on the eve of the Pacquiao fight. Meanwhile, Sonsona reminded the world he was the Sonsona to remember (and not Marvin) as he knocked out former world champ bantamweight Mauricio Pastrana in the 8th round.  So devastating was his knock out that the referee didn't bother to count out the Colombian when he fell to the canvass.  Mabuhay!

Fill 'Er Up

     If people are still wondering just how many Pinoys are already in the U.S., they need to look no further than Sunday's Pacquiao-Clottey fight.  Cowboy Stadium, configured for 45,000 seats, welcomed 50,994 people, the third largest boxing audience in an indoor arena in U.S. history.  Judging from the amount of flags seen along the stands and the deafening roar for Pacman, it can easily be surmised that Pinoys made up a good number of that crowd.  Pinoys, not only from Texas but as far as New Jersey and Chicago, according to an AP Report.  Talk about people power.

Action Star

     Of course, the best example of Pinoy dominance last weekend is the planet's best boxer, Manny Pacquiao.  Pacman unleashed a flurry onto challenger Joshua Clottey, pounding the Ghanian into a dominant, unanimous victory.  While many concentrate on Clottey's reluctance to punch (actually I did too on my Facebook status), what many should consider is that Clottey's intention to not get knocked out is not the only reason he didn't punch.  For anyone who doesn't, here are two questions.  Have you seen what happens to people (like Miguel Cotto, David Diaz and Ricky Hatton) who trade punches with Pacquiao?  What do you do when a hurricane of punches named Manny comes?  The answers are, "They get knocked out," and, "Cover up like hell."  So, as much as last weekend's massacre was a function of Clottey's lack of resolve, it's also about Pacquiao's sheer brilliance, ferocity, speed and power.  

photos courtesy of the AP and special thanks to Tiborce and his tremendous blog