6 Reasons Why People Wanted Manny To Win

As Forbes' Contributor Maury Brown noted in his earlier piece, people were rooting for Manny over Floyd because he was the underdog. Before the fight, Vegas had odds of "Pac Man" winning by Decision or Technical Decision at 15/4 and Knockout at 10/1.

Growing up in the Philippines, Manny went to bed hungry most nights. While Manny pulled in as much as USD120 million for the fight on Saturday and has career earnings of USD335 million, ranking him second to only Mayweather, he started off in the Philippines hungry more often than not.

Boxing was a way for Manny and his family to break out of poverty, explains this ESPN article exploring Manny's life and his journey into boxing. Yet, at the age of 36, he hasn't forgotten that gnawing pain in his gut; the many, many times his single mother could only offer her six children warm water in lieu of food before bedtime.

Manny follows God in the best of his abilities. He says "It's God's will that I fight". And he truly believes it, entering the ring with a beaming smile. He has a genuine goodness about him. It is only Manny whom people have seen kneeling at the corner of the boxing ring before and after his fight.

As this Telegraph piece notes, one of the many reasons people love Manny is that he is honest enough to admit his faults. He has renounced his drinking, gambling and womanising. His faith made him do it, through being a born again Christian.

According to this Bleacher Report piece, fans generally love Mayweather for being a talented, skillful and unbeaten fighter. But some of these fans love to hate Mayweather. They salivate at seeing Mayweather beaten in the ring, not necessarily by Manny, but by any one of his future opponents. Why is this so? It seems they are not comfortable with how Mayweather projects himself as an ideal role model for the youngsters who emulate his talents in boxing. For instance, while Manny shares his blessings to the poor and the needy, Mayweather seems to enjoy spending money on entertainment and on other things that he seems to enjoy doing like sports betting and clubbing.

Bob Arum, Manny's promoter, says that "Manny Pacquiao is this generation’s Muhammad Ali. I have never promoted a fighter who has so captivated a country and a people the way that Manny does. He's idoliSed and followed by every Filipino and his appeal is worldwide. Thanks to Manny Pacquiao, boxing is now retaking its proper place on the world stage.”

Floyd Mayweather is a misogynist. And not just a misogynist, but a batterer, and a serial batterer at that. According to the sports website Deadspin, Mayweather has had at least seven assaults against five women that resulted in arrest or citations in addition to other episodes in which the police were called but no charges filed.

When questioned by CNN reporter Rachel Nichols last year about his abusive behavior, Mayweather showed little remorse. He noted that there were "no pictures ... just hearsay and allegations." At its best, a boxing match can be thrilling, artistic and mesmerizing. Unfortunately Mayweather's longstanding domestic abuse issues tarnish both the sport and the fans that choose not to hold him accountable for his behavior.

Thomas Hauser of SecondsOut.com writes in this piece, that when asked about his purpose in life, Manny answers, 'It is to love and to serve. My concern is not only for myself but for what I can give to the people of my country." He is what he appears to be and sees the struggle of every Filipino in his own torturous journey. "I feel what they are feeling because I have been there," Manny says. "I slept in the streets. I ate once a day. Sometimes I just drank water, no food. That was my life before. So hard. I understand the needs of people who need help. My heart hurts when I see people in the street, sleeping. I remember my past when I was young."

Through his work in the ring, Manny has lifted the spirits of his people. No sport other than boxing has given rise to an athlete who moved passions, lifted spirits, and impacted on an entire nation in the manner of Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali. Now Manny Pacquiao is having a similar effect in the Philippines and beyond, writes Hauser. We are witnessing a great fighter, who is also a good person. Enjoy the show while it lasts. Manny Pacquiao belongs to the Philippines and to the world. But he also belongs to boxing.