Pacquiao's popularity at stake in Horn fight –sports analyst

Senator Manny Pacquiao's popularity as an eight-division world boxing champion and as a politician is at stake when he faces Jeff Horn for the WBO welterweight championship in Brisbane, Australia, on July 2, a sports analyst said Monday.

In an interview on Balitanghali, lawyer Danrex Tapdasan said Pacquiao is motivated to win his bout with Horn so he can preserve his popularity especially among Filipinos.

"'Pag nanalo siya rito of course continue pa 'yung career niya as a boxer, and of course alam naman natin connected siya sa pulitika. He is a senator. He wants to keep winning kasi 'pag natalo siya ng isa pang laban, baka 'yung political clout niya ika nga o 'yung popularity niya ay bumaba rin," Tapdasan said.

Tapdasan said Pacquiao's team wants no less than a "spectacular knockout" to finish off Horn.

"Kung hindi niya ito mapapatulog, everybody would be frustrated. No less than a spectacular knockout ang inaabangan ng mga kasama ni Manny Pacquiao sa team niya," he said.

On the other hand, Tapdasan, who is also an international boxing referee, said Horn is banking on his hometown advantage to pull off a "star-making" performance by defeating Pacquiao.

"If he beats Manny Pacquiao, this will be a star-making performance for him. Especially sabi nila na mga Australian boxing experts, sinasabi nila this is the biggest fight in Australian boxing history. 'Pag nanalo siya dito it will be history for Australia, it will be history for him," he said.

He, however, cautioned that the same hometown vibe of Horn could also be his disadvantage when he becomes too aggressive and careless in the ring.

Tapdasan said Pacquiao is banking on his experience in fighting in front of a massive audience.

"I think ang magiging advantage ni Manny Pacquiao dito magiging mas kalmado siya kasi sanay na siya sa mga big fight. Hindi siya matataranta, and that is his advantage kasi si Jeff Horn hindi pa nakakalaban ng ganitong kalaking fight," he said.  —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK/KVD, GMA News