Cebu readies for Pacquiao-Mosley fight
FROM barangay sports centers to five star hotels and restaurants, boxing fans in Cebu have a wealth of options to choose in watching today’s hyped welterweight title bout between the People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao and “Sugar” Shane Mosley.
SM Cebu City Mall opened its cinemas 7 and 8 for the live screening of the Pacquiao-Mosley bout with an admission price of P500.
SM Cebu’s RJ Leduna said all tickets were sold out as of yesterday.
Sky Cable’s pay-per-view of the bout is priced at P1,499 per subscriber with 2,000 paid subscribers as of yesterday noon.
Cebu City Coliseum charged P230 for the ringside, P180 for the lower box, P120 for the upper box and P65 for general admission.
Cebu City, Sports Commissioner Edward Hayco is expecting 3,000 boxing enthusiasts to flood the gates of Cebu City Sports Institute (formerly San Nicolas Sports Complex) as early as 8 a.m today.
“This is the second time that we are having a free screening of the Manny Pacquiao fight at the Sports Institute gym to bring the Sports Institute and Sports Commission to the residents of the nearby seven barangays,” Hayco told Cebu Daily News.
He invited residents of barangays Pasil, Suba, Ermita, Duljo-Fatima, San Nicolas, Pahina San Nicolas and Sawang Calero to watch the bout at the Institute.
“They have a high potential of producing future boxing champions. They are survivors and natural fighters,” Hayco said.
The Mandaue City Coliseum offered live screening of the match at P150 each under the initiative of Mayor Jonas Cortes’s Kaabag Foundation.
Mandaue City Hall spokesman Roger Paler said the proceeds will fund the foundation’s various projects.
He said different barangays also offered free live screenings.
In other Cebu towns, Argao charged a P30 entrance for a live telecast at its sports center.
Other municipalities in the province will hold a live broadcast of the bout at their sports centers for free.
In barangay Poblacion, Talisay City, officials sponsored a pay-per-view telecast of the bout for city residents at their barangay hall.
Poblacion Barangay Captain Teodoro Belleza said the admission is free and funded by the council from their own pocket.
“We just pitched in and help pay for the cable telecast of the Pacquiao fight, “ Belleza said.
The Radisson Blu Hotel within SM City Cebu offers an P800 package deal that includes live screening of the Pacquiao-Mosley bout and a buffet lunch, according to Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) chairman Sylvan Jakosalem, a boxing enthusiast.
But the hotel management gave free one night accommodations to the top boxers of the Ala Stable as their way of thanking the group for placing Cebu’s boxers in the boxing world map.
Jakosalem said top Ala boxers Donnie Nietes, AJ Banal, Milan Milendo, Ray “Boom-Boom” Bautista and even Z Gorres will be honored and seated at the VIP table together before the live telecast of the bout.
Jakosalem will be with Vice Mayor Joy Young at the Radisson Blu Hotel while Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will be at the Parklane hotel.
Jakosalem predicted that Pacquiao will win over Mosley via unanimous decision.
But Councilor Yayoy Alcoseba, whose Yayoy’s Grill and Restobar in Capitol Site, offered a live telecast of the bout, predicted that Pacquiao will win via knockout either on round 8 or 9.
In the US, Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district is confident that Pacquiao will win but cautioned that it won’t be easy.
“I cannot predict (until what round) because sometimes Manny Pacquiao doesn’t come out strong. In the first two rounds he sometimes would still get the feel and some punches and then get this rhythm.” Osmeña told Cebu Daily News.
But Osmeña said Pacquiao, a fellow congressman, doesn’t get into the ring without a plan.
He said Pacquiao is a versatile fighter who “can adjust to the other fighter right away.”
“(But) Mosley is just too big. You are playing with fire here. With a lucky punch (from Mosely) Pacquiao could get knocked out.” he said.
Osmeña said Cebuanos should come early before the main event.
Osmeña will watch the bout with his son Miguel Osmeña and Rannie del Mar, son of former Cebu City congressman Raul del Mar, near the ring at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Local boxing promoter Wacky Salud paid for Tomas’ ticket.
After the fight, Osmeña will proceed with his bi-annual post cancer medication in Houston, Texas.
Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd District, who will watch the pay-per-view fight at his home, said he is hopeful that Pacquiao will win over Mosley.
Cebu police, however, won’t have the luxury of watching the fight live.
Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) chief, told police personnel to watch the replay of the bout instead so they can secure their towns during the day.
Comendador said Pacquiao’s fight doesn’t change their routine as they continue to patrol their areas of jurisdiction (AOR) for any criminal activity.
With Correspondents Edison delos Angeles, Carmell Loise Matus and Gabriel C. Bonjoc
