Hero's welcome for Pacman

If there was once any doubt that Manny Pacquiao is the greatest Filipino fighter ever, there is none now.

No Asian fighter has won more world titles in different divisions. No Asian fighter has earned more from his profession. No Asian fighter has captured the imagination of a global audience as convincingly.

By dealing the legendary Oscar de la Hoya a brutal beating in a decisive eighth round stoppage in Las Vegas last Saturday, Pacquiao has cemented his legacy in boxing as one of the greatest pugilists of all time.

Today, he is the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. When he finally hangs up his gloves, Pacquiao will be a shoo-in to join Pancho Villa, Flash Elorde and promoter Lope (Papa) Sarreal Sr. as the only Filipinos in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Pacquiao, 29, comes home this morning to a hero’s welcome and the entire country will celebrate his arrival with swelling pride. He wasn’t supposed to fly back until Friday. But Pacquiao couldn’t wait to share his moment of glory with the millions who were mesmerized in watching his demolition of the Golden Boy 10,000 miles away on TV and pay-per-view venues.

Pacquiao will stay in town for his 30th birthday on Dec. 17 then return to Los Angeles to await the birth of his fourth child, a girl. His wife Jinkee, who remained in the US, is due to deliver late this month. The family will spend the Christmas holidays abroad.

It is almost unimaginable for a fighter to start his career weighing 106 pounds in 1995 to jump to the welterweight division 13 years later, winning the flyweight, superbantamweight, featherweight, superfeatherweight and lightweight titles in the process.

But Pacquiao is a rare breed. Only last June, he scaled 134 1/2 pounds to stop David Diaz for the WBC lightweight title. Pacquiao jumped two weight divisions for the chance to face De la Hoya in his appointment with destiny.

Most experts couldn’t believe Pacquiao’s audacity. They predicted a massacre because De la Hoya was so much bigger and more experienced with 10 world titles in six weight classes. Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach, however, disagreed.

When Roach trained De la Hoya for the Floyd Mayweather fight last year, he noticed a marked deterioration of the Golden Boy’s skills. He figured Pacquiao’s speed could neutralize De la Hoya’s size advantage and with carefully-studied tactics, he could defy the odds.

While Pacquiao brought up his weight, De la Hoya brought down his. They met not quite in the middle of the road. At the weigh-in, Pacquiao scaled 142 and De la Hoya, 145. The loss in weight was evident in De la Hoya’s physique. He looked gaunt. His eyes were sunken. In contrast, Pacquiao appeared comfortable with his extra poundage.

The Philippines stood still when Pacquiao and De la Hoya squared off at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last Saturday. No title was at stake but because of the stature of both main eventers, the Nevada State Athletic Commission sanctioned a 12-round bout.

De la Hoya showed up with two legendary trainers on his side, Nacho Beristain and Angelo Dundee. It was their first partnership. Pacquiao, on the other hand, stuck with his father-figure Roach.

From the start, Pacquiao took the fight to De la Hoya, darting in and out, staying away from counters. Two of the three judges, Adalaide Byrd and Dave Moretti, scored the first round for Pacquiao, 10-9. South African judge Stanley Christoudoulou saw it 10-9 for De la Hoya. From the second to the eight round, De la Hoya was shut out in the three judges’ scorecards as Pacquiao completely dominated the action.

In the seventh, a body shot buckled De la Hoya’s knees and he reached out to the ropes to prevent a knockdown. Pacquiao was all business in battering De la Hoya to a pulp.

Referee Tony Weeks mercifully called a halt to the proceedings at the end of the eighth. De la Hoya had nothing left. He tried to cope with Pacquiao’s speed but couldn’t. He tried to end it with one big punch but couldn’t. He tried to will his way to victory but couldn’t. The Golden Boy was a badly beaten man.