November 14, 2010. From my seat at the overcrowded Diamond Auditorium of Blacktown Workers Club where I viewed a live telecast of the Pacquiao-Margarito fight, I determined that the Filipino “National Fist” is not an ordinary athlete. He proved this when he defeated a much larger opponent in the person of Antonio Margarito. He dominated the fight and he won every round or practically every round. But he did not just win the fight. He won the hearts not just of Filipinos but of international viewers from all over the world. He had a heart for his opponent. Pacquiao did not want to inflict more damage on Margarito’s face more than he already had. It became very evident in the final rounds when he glanced at the referee as if asking him to stop the fight.
Margarito was in the best shape of his life as a boxer. He weighed 165 lbs versus Pacquiao’s 148. It was a clear advantage of body weight and height, something comparable to the legendary defeat of Goliath by David. Naturally, the Mexican had a much farther reach but it was the speed of Manny Pacquiao that really gave the Filipino a big advantage.
In the 8th round, Margarito got Pacquiao with a number of uppercuts but in spite of being hurt, Pacquiao still dominated the fight with power punches.
Margarito’s face became a bloody mess. His entire face was swollen and he had a large cut below his right eye.
By the 10th round, the referee had every reason to stop the fight but he didn’t because Margarito was still throwing punches although he could hardly see.
Like the Spartan King Leonides, Margarito demonstrated that he was a real warrior and Pacquiao sensed this. Pacquiao could have knocked him out cold but he allowed Margarito to finish the fight with dignity. By the 12th round, he was pulling back his punches and allowed the battered Mexican to remain on his feet until the bell finally rang.
Pacquiao knelt in his corner in prayer as he usually does at the end of each bout.
After he was handed his 8th championship belt, he clutched his rosary as if to thank Mother Mary for his victory. – ?