In Rios fight, aging Pacquiao carries weight of nation in mourning

It's tough enough trying to bounce back at age 34 from two straight defeats.

But Manny Pacquiao is stoically bearing the enormous weight of fighting for his devastated homeland. When he enters the ring on Sunday in Macau against the younger, heavier American Brandon Rios, Pacquiao knows that the fight will be watched all over central Philippines, where super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) has left scores of people with virtually nothing.

A victory in the ring would instantly fire up the morale of victims, aid workers and ordinary Filipinos who have been aching for anything to feel good about.

[Click for Pacquiao vs Rios round-by-round updates]

But many have doubts about the aging Pacquiao's chances after a brutal knockout by Juan Manuel Marquez last December that left him motionless on the canvas, and his wife at ringside and millions of fans scared for his life.

Live in Tacloban evacuation center

 

Just a fortnight after one of the world's worst typhoons smashed into the Philippines, killing more than 5,200 people and leaving millions homeless, Pacquiao has dedicated the fight to his millions of fans back home.

 

Away from Macau's glitzy resorts in the battered city of Tacloban, Susan Vergara, caretaker of the Tacloban Astrodome which was caught in the center of the super storm, says the fight will be beamed live into the arena.

 

Some 3,000 people in Tacloban left homeless by Typhoon Yolanda  have made the stadium their home.

 

The bout will also be broadcast to security forces and aid workers at Tacloban's city hall and airport, where many residents are also expected to gather.

 

"The Pacquiao fight gives us inspiration even though we have been suffering from the typhoon. I hope he wins," said Vergara.

 

Pacquiao, who is also a congressman from Sarangani Province, said this week the tragedy was inspiring him to succeed. "My countrymen, I want to make them happy. To bring honour to my country."

 

Pacquiao will also be fighting for his career when he takes on American Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios and seeks to re-establish himself as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. It will be the first major international fight to be held in the Asian gambling capital of Macau.

 

Betting on change

 

The fight is being held at Sands' Venetian arena in the southern Chinese gambling territory. The company is one of six licensed casino operators together with Steve Wynn's Wynn Macau, Galaxy Entertainment, SJM Holdings , MGM China and Melco Crown.

 

Unlike Las Vegas, renowned for shows, nightlife and trendy restaurants and where Pacquiao usually boxes his major fights, Macau's focus has been its 35 casinos.

 

Now things are changing in the former Portuguese colony, a special administrative region like neighboring Hong Kong.

 

China's central government is calling for Macau to diversify its turbo-charged casino industry to draw in more tourists than the hardcore punters.

 

While revenues soar - Macau gaming revenues are expected to be seven times those of Las Vegas this year - casinos are pushing to expand their offerings.

 

Among those expected to watch the Pacquiao bout will be former England soccer star David Beckham, who is in Macau after signing a promotional deal with Sands owner US billionaire Sheldon Adelson.

 

"This fight will mean so much to him because for a slight moment, this fight is going to put a smile on the people's faces in the Philippines," said Beckham, who, this week announced he will launch his own professional soccer team in Miami.

 

Macau is the only place where Chinese nationals are allowed to gamble in casinos in the country.

GMA Network airs the 12-round bout dubbed, “Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao vs. Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios, The Clash in Cotai” via satellite on Sunday, November 24 at 11 AM after“Ang Bagong Hamon: Pacquiao-Rios Primer.”
 
GMA’s flagship AM station dzBB 594, FM station Barangay LS 97.1 and all RGMA stations nationwide will be airing a live blow-by-blow account of the action beginning 9 a.m. — Howie Severino/GMA News/ Reuters