Viewers cheer Pacman, boo screening

MANILA, Philippines - While uninterrupted viewing of the Pacquiao-Clottey fight was noted in most theaters and sports bars, the same couldn’t be said at the SMX Convention at Mall of Asia where four of the seven screens went off during Rounds 4 to 6, turning the cheers for Pacquiao to boos for the host venue.

“Looked like a pirated DVD,” said one fan in jest as the telecast, which started out with a lot of promise, became a frame-by-frame shot before finally coming to a stop after the fourth round, forcing the fans to crane their neck to get a glimpse of the fight on the first three screens on the left side of the large hall.

The screens afterwards flashed the hitch was caused by signal interruptions.

“The good thing was the fight lacked in action as Clottey stuck to his turtle-shell defense and refused to engage Pacquiao toe-to-foe. Imagine how fans would’ve reacted had the fight became a brawl during Rounds 5 and 6,” said another fan.

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Over at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and San Andres gym, residents of Manila were treated to free viewing of the Pacquiao-Clottey fight as four big screens inside the RMC were set up courtesy of former Mayor Lito Atienza while incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim put up another huge one in San Andres.

Incidentally, the two are running against each other in the May elections.

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At the RMC, small-scale entrepreneurs including cigarette, beverage and ice cream vendors, made a killing because more than 10,000 fans packed the venue.

Majority expressed their disgust over the way Clottey fought, but not the vendors, who were all praises for the Ghanaian fighter.

“The longer the fight goes the better for us because fans would tend to buy more from us,” said Kat Kat, a pedicab driver who decided to sell cigarettes and beverages, in Filipino.

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Uniformed police officers nabbed one snatcher in front of the RMC gate during the bout, quickly hauling the suspect into the nearby police station on Vito Cruz cor. Taft Ave. before rushing back to watch the fight.

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The Quiapo Church, which is usually packed on Sundays, had fewer devotees yesterday, most opting to hear the mass early to catch the live telecast of the Pacquiao-Clottey fight.

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Organizers of the fifth Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup had to reschedule the finals between San Beda and Jose Rizal early to be able to watch the fight with the Lions making short work of the Bombers, while Filipino fencers competing in the Asian Cadet and Junior Fencing Championships at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City followed the fight on the transistor radio.

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Some nightclubs, including a comedy bar along Quezon Ave. in Quezon City, opened early for this particular day for a special viewing of the bout with patrons all going home happy following Pacquaio’s unanimous win over Clottey.

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While most Filipinos celebrated Pacquiao’s win, one fan was fuming mad: “Talo ako sa pustahan, knockout ang ipinusta ko (I lost in a bet because I wagered that Pacquaio would win via knockout),” he said.