By Anthony Santiago

I live in the United States…Bronx to be exact and I must admit that our culture tends to be loud and rude at times, which has turned everyone into recluses, afraid to communicate with others. In the Philippines, a country that has its fair share of poverty, there doesn’t seem to be that rude behavior. In the Philippines, the impoverished, downtrodden, and depressed were given a beam of light and that light is the bright star that is Manny Pacquiao.

In November, me and Georgie Girl will be watching the Pacquiao-Marquez III Pay Per View. Ever since his job at Wal-Mart, we’ve had more spending cash. I bought this great shirt, regularly 90 dollars, but I got it for 20. I have style and style breeds hate!

Manny Pacquiao’s style has not only bred hate, but it has also caused the destruction of his opposition. Before Manny, there was another fighter that owned my heart and that was Iron Mike. Mighty Mike’s aggression made me so excited and I met my Georgie Girl when he was facing Frank Bruno in the rematch at a bar. I remember Georgie Girl saying: “Bruno’s gonna hold onto that WBC belt girl!” I looked at him and said: “Go eat some applesauce you toothless fool!” Amazing how you can click with somebody later on but dislike them at first!

I am a die hard Pacquiao fan and some of the other writers out there may call me a “groupie” or a “fan-boy” or “fan-girl” journalist, but I write from the heart and I love Pacquiao. He has brought me back to boxing. Let me tell you the story of the Ricky Hatton fight.

Ricky “Hitman” Hatton was a brawler that beat the great Kostya Tszyu. Funny story about Tszyu…I once jumped a large fence to get his autograph and he gave it to me, but then told me not to risk my life anymore for an autograph. OMG! He was the cat’s pajamas! The night he lost to Hatton, I wept, but it was the changing of the guard and a superstar was born.

Hatton got his shot against Floyd “Chicken” Mayweather, JR., and Chicken Mayweather stopped him late. Pacquiao showed him how to do it early. In 2 rounds, Hatton was on the floor. I sat there at the bar watching the fight and told everyone that Manny will win in 2! Everyone thought that Hatton was too strong the bar I go to is an Irish bar, and they supported the British fighter, but when he was flattened, they were quiet. I sat there with a smile. I was right, and to hear the pleasant interview that Manny gave after the fight, I was in awe.

He fights for the right!

Manny took great offense when he was accused of taking steroids by Team Chicken Mayweather. Why you ask? Well, he lives a clean life and fights for his fans and brings dignity to a sport that really needs it.

I remember the controversy surrounding Antonio Margarito! I hate cheaters. You hear me Mr. Goldberg (Stay away from my Georgie Girl!). I don’t like the fact that Mr. Plaster-hands got a payday, but Manny is a fighter. You set them up, he knocks them down and they all have that same “OMG” look on their face.

The defeats of great fighters like:

Oscar De La Hoya
Ricky Hatton
Miguel Cotto
Marco Antonio Barrera
Juan Manuel Marquez
Erik Morales
Joshua Clottey
Shane Mosley

And the list goes on and no, but the defeats of these fighters AND how Manny behaved before, during and after the fights. He’s not a womanizer. He’s a family man. He’s a good man and he’s good for boxing. That is why I am a PacFan. I wish my country had a national hero like Manny Pacquiao.

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