Pacquiao victory triggers nationwide boxing mania

With the inspiring 10th-round win against Mexican Erik Morales by featherweight champ Manny Pacquiao last week, boxing mania is sweeping the country, with hundreds of Filipinos now trying to follow in Manny’s footsteps.

Boxing rings, gyms and sports complexes are now filling up with aspiring fighters, according to Manny Lopez, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.

People from all walks of life, including women, children and even the elderly can be spotted shadow boxing — in streets, offices and sometimes with their neighbors — the boxing official said yesterday.

"The victory of Pacquiao has triggered a snowball effect so that every Filipino is now keen on becoming a boxer," Lopez told a weekly forum at the Sulu Hotel in Quezon City.

Even on side streets you can see people jogging, jabbing and raising their fists in a victory sign — which has become a greeting among some of Pacquiao’s fans.

Women boxers are also lining up in gyms to practice boxing moves, and some are even willing to compete in the ring.

Lopez said old folks and children who cannot go to gyms instead shadow box in the streets and in some areas neighbors fight with gloves to settle their petty disputes.

Lopez said the interest is so intense that the federation expects a dramatic increase of amateur boxers, from 400 in years past to over 5,000 who may compete in various boxing divisions in the future.

He said boxing has now become more popular than basketball so they are considering convincing basketball players — particularly those who engage in fistfights on the courts — to transfer to boxing.

"We lack tall boxers so basketball players may fill the vacuum," he said.

He said local governments, particularly that of Puerto Princesa City, is very enthusiastic about promoting amateur boxing to produce future champs like Manny Pacquiao.

"We have the support of the national and local governments so we can expect more champions in the future, even the possibility of winning the country’s first gold medal in the Olympics," Lopez said.