"Okay lang sana kung ako ang lalaban. Mas gusto ko pa ‘yun dahil kaya ko naman dalhin ang sarili ko. Pero mas kinakabahan ako na panoorin ang kapatid ko eh," the People’s Champ later said in an interview after Bobby won over Carlos "Famoso" Hernandez in their super featherweight match.
It was a split decision that not too many boxing experts agree with. Nonetheless, it made the whole crew heave a sigh of relief. Their campaign was victorious. Bobby’s debut in Vegas, never mind that it was described as "doubtful" by the majority in the boxing industry, was a successful one.
And perhaps, no other smile that night was bigger than that of Manny’s who flashed his pearly whites for the photographers and videographers who set out to capture one of the happiest moments of the boxing brothers’ lives. Bobby’s victory, felt like it was also Manny’s. In all the bloody and anxiety-filled 10 rounds of the fight, Manny never left his brother alone. Bobby was physically fighting in the ring while Manny dealt with the emotional and psychological stress of the whole bout.
ROUND 1 — Both Pacquiao and Hernandez started strong.
Manny took his seat a few steps away from the ring. He was not only a brother; the 26-year- old boxing idol is also Bobby’s manager. Manny sat with Michael Koncz and Joe Ramos, two of Bobby’s managers. Before the bell rang, Manny dished out last-minute instructions to his brother who professes to idolize him.
"Goodluck. Galingan mo, pero mag-ingat ka din," Manny told Bobby. Of course he didn’t want his brother to get hurt. But he knew it was inevitable. After all the fights he had gone through in his own career, he knew of the dangers of the sport and he didn’t want anything bad to happen to his younger brother. "Kailangan mong manalo."
ROUND 2 — The southpaw released some good right-hand blows to Hernandez who was clearly the crowd favorite. Even FOX boxing sports analyst Rich Marotta who covered the fights that night said that it would take a lot for the 24-year-old Bobby to knock down the 34-year- old veteran who has had a range of tough fighters in his career, including Erik Morales who beat Manny early this year.
But Bobby did it. A left hand from the General Santos, Philippines-bred boxer brought the California-based boxing pro to his knees. Manny, who was clearly proud of his brother stood up, raised his fist to the air and cheered wildly along with the few fans of his brother.
ROUND 3 — Hernandez was not about to give up the fight easily. It was as if the knockdown woke him up and got him exuberantly friskier. And though this was also the round when he bled for a bit, the former IBF junior lightweight world champion proceeded to make an impact. His solid punches seemed to weaken Bobby, prodding the American commentators to comment that Bobby was easily disheartened and the younger Pacquiao didn’t have the big heart his older brother displayed inside the ring.
Manny remained calm as Hernandez furiously tried to get back at Bobby. At the end of the round, Manny, accompanied by Ramos, excused himself and went to the restroom.
ROUND 4 — Hernandez started moving closer and cornering Bobby whose feet seemed to have been glued to the canvass. He didn’t have enough footwork and speed against his opponent’s siege. And as Bobby seemed to grow more passive by the minute, Manny appeared to be more aggressive, shouting instructions for trainer Edel Villamor to relay to Bobby.
ROUND 5 — In the middle of the exchange of jabs and uppercuts between Bobby and Hernandez, Manny bowed down and appeared to be saying a silent prayer. After a few seconds, he looked up and noticed the broadcast camera pointed at him. The cameraman was given the instruction to capture the boxing champ’s reaction as his brother got beaten up.
Manny, the media charmer, restrained himself as the camera lingered to focus on him for about two minutes. But as soon as the cameraman left him he started punching the air.
"Side, side lang!" He wanted Bobby to attack from the sides since clearly, he was being out-powered and outwitted by Hernandez every time he threw straight punches.
"Uppercut lang!" It was the second instruction for the round. Manny noticed that his brother’s uppercuts seemed to hurt his opponent and he wanted him to stick to what worked.
ROUND 6 — "kombinasyon tapos atras!"
As the round started, Manny started shouting more instructions to Villamor to relay to Bobby. This time, Manny wanted his brother to bury two quick punches to the body and then back off from Hernandez. But Bobby didn’t seem to hear, nor understand. The younger and less experienced Pacquiao continued to fight at close range.
"Ayaw pasuntok sa last tin sikonds!" Manny’s instructions, no matter how loud, fell on deaf ears. He wanted his brother to avoid getting hit during the last ten seconds of the round because that’s when the scoring was most crucial. But again, Bobby didn’t seem to hear, nor understand.
ROUND 7 — "Para ‘yan sa mga anak mo!"
Manny, seeing that Bobby appeared tired and slow, didn’t want his brother to give up the fight. So he reminded his brother that he was fighting for his family. Bobby’s wife, Lorelie Geronimo, was also watching the fight. Their three-year-old daughter Graziel and two-year- old son Albert Jr., were left in General Santos.
ROUND 8 — Manny worried that Bobby would lose on the body blows. Hernandez was able to land a lot of punches to the body, to the ribs, especially. Once again watching his brother struggle in the three-minute ordeal made Manny bow down and say another silent prayer.
"Lagi ko’ng sinasabi sa kaniya na tumawag sa Panginoon. Huwag makakalimot magdasal at magpasalamat," Manny said.
"Kinakabahan ako," he added, turning to face this writer.
ROUND 9 — The crowd continued to boo the Filipino fighter. But Bobby hung on. And so did his "Kuya Manny" who continued to shout instructions: "Kumbinasyon lang. At galaw ka ng galaw."
ROUND 10 – "Last na ‘yan. Final na!"
Bobby Pacquiao held on to claim the controversial decesion. "Malakas po ang tiwala ko sa Panginoon na ipapanalo Niya ako," Bobby said in his dressing room, face and fists swollen after the fight. He looked tired, but happy. And sharing in his victory was his brother who was with him throughout the encounter.