Ilonggos keep glued on Pacquiao-Solis fight
Pacquiao, left, delivers a punch to Jorge Solis, of Mexico,
during their WBC Super Featherweight Championship bout.
Pacquiao won by TKO is eight rounds. AP Photo
Most Ilonggos stayed at home or flock to theaters airing live the boxing match of Manny Pacquaio and Mexican challenger Jorge Solis yesterday.
Malls and streets were less crowded than usual as many were glued to their television sets and radios to keep a tab on the fight.
Iloilo's four AM stations covered live the boxing match with their own pool of local boxing analysts on hand. Others who preferred to see the action on free TV turned off their radio sets and even cellphones so as not to receive advance information as to the result of the fight.
The Pacquiao-Solis fight were shown on free TV around 2:00 p.m. Radio listeners and those who watched the boxing on live telecast, on the other hand, knew the outcome of the fight around 12:30 p.m.
Hundreds also flocked to the SM City and Robinsons cinemas which aired a live telecast of the match.
The 900-seater cinema in SM City was packed with cheering boxing fans who erupted when Pacquiao knocked down Solis for good in the eight round. SM and Robinsons charged viewers P500 each.
Candidates also took time off from their campaign to watch the match.
Sen. Francisco "Kiko" Pangilinan was among those who watched the match at SM City.
"(Pacquiao) has once again brought honor to our country," said Pangilinan.