Pacquiao Fans:

There's been local weekly TV boxing shows in the Philippines since the 1960's (FISTORAMA) up to today (SAVED BY THE BELL)

Many Filipinos have been following local fighters boxing overseas since the 1920's (Pancho Villa) up to the Ceferino Garcia, Speedy Dado, to the Flash Elorde, Erbito Salavarria era, to Ganigan, Villaflor, Navarette, Espinosa, Penalosa, Pacquiao etc. I'm sure I missed mentioning a couple of good fighters there.

THRILLA IN MANILA was held in the Philippines, and it's impossible for it to happen if Filipinos were not fans of the sport.

Of course, more and more casual sports fans from the Philippines have crossed over to boxing and became more interested after Pacquiao became famous, but there has always been a solid fanbase here, even before Pac arrived on to the scene.

 

Yes the first fight was held in the Philippines and espinosa won fair and square. The second fight was held in America, I don't know remember particularly where but I thought espinosa won again.

 

espinosa won in the second fight on my book..

had he gotten the judges' nod, hamed would've avoided king louie like plague. :yep

 

I remember during my younger days that everytime there's a big boxing fight, my father and his friends watch the fight at home with drinks and food.

My father told me that before the advent of television, pinoys used to watch fights in theaters.

 

i have also followed some local amateur boxers like romeo brin, leopoldo serrantes, leopoldo cantancio and even former champ frankie cedeño.:yep

i got hook during the fab four era in the 80s...

 

and who the **** are you?

 

flash elorde was a household name back in the early 80s when he was still alive. he got to do a couple of movies with fernando poe, jr.

i saw navarrete's fight against boza edwards, choi and limon on tv...

 

Started watching at Tyson's comeback fight. Tyson vs McNeeley.

 

I was acting like a total fantard when as a grade school kid, I watched Serrantes dominate an Egyptian boxer in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, on PTV channel 4.

Too bad he never won the gold.

Cool memories.

 

i used to root for don curry in the late 80s but my fave fighter back then was srl. saw his fights(replays) on our local tv against benitez, hearns 1 and hagler...

 

The brother of hamed who was also his manager even offered espinosa to manage him, yeah hamed seemed to have ducked fighting louie during that time.

 

oh yes i remember that too.. serrantes became an instant sensation after that but his popularity died down quickly too.. softspoken and camera shy he was..

 

ahh naalala ko to. excited nga ako nung nalaman ko na may chance pala na makaharap si lindol ng isang kasing-sikat na boxer ni hamed... sayang lang at hindi talaga nakalusot. dapat talaga pag sa labas ng pinas ka lumaban e KO dapat para iwas sa mga lutong desisyon...

 

yes i believe so too. hamed could have faced louie even before his 2nd fight with soto and probably right after he demolished kennedy mckinney in 4 rounds..

 

I think the FISTORAMA fights were televised during weekends, and I remember my father tell me that all of the kids back then, they'd always watch POPEYE or some cartoon show on their neighbor's black and white TV (the only one in their block) and once the grown ups arrive one by one, they already know that it's the kids' time to leave 'cause it's FISTORAMA time now.