MANILA, Philippines - Ordinary Filipino fight fans were dissatisfied with the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight, labeling the black American as unworthy challenger to the Filipino champion.
Not a few said it was Pacquiao’s most boring fight since he hit it big and became boxing’s top attraction.
Some were not happy as well on how Pacquiao fought Mosley, saying the Filipino idol lacked the grit and fire in this bout.
“Kamayan ng kamayan. (They kept on shaking hands). It’s more like a peace talk than a fight,” said Edmund Dungca, a barangay kagawad from Katipunan, Quezon City.
“Mukhang magkaibigan at ayaw maglaban. Sana nga di na sila naglaban (They looked like good friends and didn’t want to fight. They shouldn’t have arranged the fight at all),” said Jun Cabiling, a tricycle driver from Fairview, Quezon City.
Almost everybody scored Mosley for getting up the ring just to collect his $5 million paycheck.
“Mosley should have just joined a marathon. He did nothing but to run and run and run,” said Dominador Castro, a storeowner from Valenzuela.
“It was really boring. We wasted our hard-earned money for this fight,” said Pedring Santos, Castro’s helper.
Castro and Santos said Mosley beat Joshua Clottey in being Pacquiao’s most boring opponent.
Filipino fight fans likewise labeled the Ghanaian fighter an unworthy challenger for just defending himself against the stronger and quicker Filipino ring icon.
The Filipinos, like everybody else on the planet, are now aching for the Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather showdown.
“Pacquiao has beaten all of them. Please bring on Mayweather for Pacquiao,” said George delos Reyes, also a tricycle driver from Fairview.
“Hopefully, the promoters would already be able to arrange the Mayweather fight. I don’t see anyone else who could put up an exciting fight with Manny,” said Joy Flores, a student from Caloocan.
Mosley finished the fight standing, but didn’t get the respect of the Filipinos for refusing to slug it out with Pacquiao.
Eric Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez were all felled by Manny but drew praises from the Filipinos for their brave stand.
Same could be said of David Diaz, Ricky Hatton, Oscar dela Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito but not of Clottey and now of Mosley.
Others said it’s a testament to Pacquiao’s tremendous strength and great speed that he kept Mosley on the run.