Lesson for Pacquiao

Never underestimate your opponent.

Manny Pacquiao learned this lesson the hard way Saturday night when he survived a stunning fourth-round knockdown to beat Australian challenger Nadel Hussein before a rowdy, boisterous crowd at the Yñares Sports Center in Antipolo, Rizal.

"Alam ko naman na malakas itong si Hussein. Pero hindi ko talaga inakala na ganoon siya kalakas," said the 21-year-old Pacquiao moments after retaining his WBC International superbantamweight crown with a 10th round TKO victory over the gallant, hard-punching Hussein.

Pacquiao, expecting his first child with wife Jinkee by January, went down on his knees after being caught with a stinging left straight. Referee Carlos Padilla then wisely led Hussein to a neutral corner before giving the dazed, left-handed native of Gen. Santos City a standing eight count.

Fortunately, there was enough steam left in Pacquiao who slowly regained his confidence against the charging, head-butting Hussein in the succeeding rounds. A flurry of punches from Pacquiao opened up a nasty one-inch cut on Hussein’s right eyebrow in the ninth round.

The end for Hussein came with barely a minute left in the 10th round when ring physician Nasser Cruz examined the cut, which was then bleeding profusely, before ordering the stoppage of the fight, drawing a howl of protest from the Hussein camp which maintained that their fighter could have continued.

"Nasaktan ako doon sa suntok niya sa fourth round. Pero next time, hindi na ganoon ang magiging tingin ko sa mga magiging kalaban ko," said Pacquiao, the former WBC flyweight champion.

When the fight was stopped, Pacquiao was ahead on all three scorecards, including that of Padilla who had it 87-80. Korean David Cheung scored it 87-83 and Australia’s Garry Dean 87-85.

Pacquiao will next face South African Ramoni Simeon in Johannesburg on Nov. 14 with the Filipino hoping for a victory that will set him up against another South African – reigning IBF champion Lehlo Ledwaba early next year.

The victory over Hussein will serve as a big boost to Pacquio’s bid for another world title since losing the WBC flyweight crown to a Thai fighter last year.

It was the third time Pacquiao has defended the International (a belt for fighters outside the top 10) super-bantamweight crown.