Hispanic Boxing Fans Root For Filipino Boxer Manny Pacquiao
07/03/2010 12:07
Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao has millions of boxing fans from Mexico and they are expected to fill up the huge Cowboys Stadium along with Pacquiao's multinational fans on March 13 to watch him square off with Joshua Clottey of Ghana
Hispanic boxing fans are expected to cross the Texas border en route to Cowboys Stadium on March 13 in Arlington Texas when pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao collides with Joushua Clottey of Ghana for the WBO welterweight championship crown.
Many boxing fans from Mexico have developed fondness for Pacquiao even as the Filipino boxing icon have in the past demolished almost all of Mexico's legendary boxers including Juan Manuel Marquez, Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, among others.
Mexicans like action fights as Forth Worth boxing trainer Vincent Reyes said in an article by Tobias Xavier Lopez of Star-Telegram.
"He's beat the top Mexican fighters and the Mexican fans like a crowd pleaser," Reyes said. "He's certainly a crowd pleaser. He's not boring. The Mexican fans want action and that's what he gives."
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said having Hispanic fighters on Saturday's undercard helps sell the bout locally. However, he suggested the Mexican population has embraced Pacquiao because of his accomplishments. Pacquiao became the first fighter in history to win seven world titles in seven weight classes.
"Our goal when we started with Manny was to break him out from the Filipino base that he had," Arum said. "We were able to pick up millions of Hispanic fans and we have broken him into the general conscience of the people around the world.
In the meantime, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said earlier today he believes Pacquiao can dispose of Clottey in six or seven rounds. Earlier he predicted Clottey will be gone in nine rounds but was tempted to revise his prediction after today's sparring sessions with Pacquiao.
“Manny looked very, very sharp today,” said Roach, stressing that “there’s not much that he (Clottey) can do” against a fighter who is going to “overwhelm him with punches from all angles.”
Pacquiao and his entourage leave for Arlington, Texas Monday on a leased Jumbo jet for his date with Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the huge Cowboys Stadium.
(original article appeared @ Digital Journal )