Winnipeg Filipinos call Pacquiao-Mayweather fight one big letdown
Winnipeg's Filipino community is recovering after welterweight star Manny Pacquiao lost to Floyd Mayweather in boxing's richest fight ever over the weekend.
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Mayweather defeated "The Filipino Slugger" in 12 rounds in a unanimous decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night.
In Winnipeg, many Mayweather fans watched the fight at sports bars and pubs, while many Manny supporters took in the megabout at the Philippine-Canadian Centre of Manitoba and Canad Inns locations.
The local Filipino community who was in Pacquiao's corner, made for a room full of disappointed faces.
"We kind of accepted it before this all even rang or the decision came in," said Derick Ramos. "We weren't surprised with it, but mostly [disappointed] because we all waited for this fight and it just turned into a track meet where [Mayweather was] just running around hitting him."
Ramos has seen Pacquiao fight before and said prior matches have been far more entertaining. Saturday's fight didn't live up to his expectations and was one big letdown, he said.
"The two best fighters going at it and it turned into a hug-fest, so I hope boxing fans don't get discouraged," said Ramos.
"There are a lot of great fights out there and unfortunately this happened yesterday and it's not going to win anymore fans over."
Eric Labaupa predicted Pacquiao would beat Mayweather in a decision. That didn't happen, but before the fight Labaupa was sending good vibes and a positive message to his favourite fighter.
"In our community, the support for Manny is huge," said Labaupa. "Everyone's nervous ... we felt all the excitement, we want him to win, and even if he doesn't he's still the pride and joy of the Filipino-Canadian community."
Pacquiao said a shoulder injury he suffered in March kept him from fighting at his best in Saturday. His promoter said they thought he would be allowed to have an anti-inflammatory shot in his dressing room, but Nevada officials denied the request, claiming the injury should have been mentioned sooner.