When Pacquiao takes on Mayweather, he fights for the Philippines — with a national holiday

 

In the Fight of the Century tonight, Floyd Mayweather Jr. doesn't really have much on the line. Win or lose, the blinged-out, undefeated Mayweather will get $200 million, and he already has a reputation as one of the greatest American boxers in history.

Pacquiao, his 36-year-old Filipino rival whose share of the purse is $133 million, has more to fight for. He's battling for the distinction of being the first man in history to win the crowns of five boxing divisions; and — this is important - the pride of an entire nation.

“Everything that has been documented about his popularity has not been exaggerated,” says Filipino sports writer JM Siasat to Mashable about Pacquiao’s effect on his home country of the Philippines. “When he fights, the crime rate literally goes to zero. In the southern part of The Philippines, the war between the rebels and the military stops. Sometimes they even watch together, that’s how big it is.”

The national electric company, Palawan Electric, has urged Filipinos to stop using all electricity except lamps and refrigerators to prevent strain on the nation’s electric grid from the broadcast of the fight.

The Philippines has declared May 2, the day of Pacquiao’s match against Mayweather, a national holiday.

Yes. That big.

'He used to sell doughnuts on the street just to have money to eat’

To understand the Philippines, you have to understand Manny Pacquiao. To understand Manny Pacquiao, you have to understand the Philippines.

A Pacquiao triumph will galvanize a nation that has spent its entire history seeking equality and recognition.

Since 1521, when Magellan landed there, the Philippines — over 7,000 islands with 100 million people in total - has been a victim of one takeover after another, from the Spanish reign which lasted over 300 years, to later Japanese and American rule. Independent since 1945, fiercely religious from a missionary past, it has struggled with self-definition. It’s a country that wants its own voice.

Pacquiao knows who he is. Like his mother country, has made his name by surviving despite the odds. His life started with loss: first as a child when his father walked out, then later when his mother could not afford to keep him in the house. The young Pacquiao dropped out of school and left home aged 14 because of severe poverty. In his early teens, he sold doughnuts on the streets before beginning his professional boxing career after he turned 16 years old.

Pacquiao turned his early disadvantages into celebrity as a boxer, singer, and politician. Pacquiao has won world boxing titles at eight different weights, has been victorious in 47 bouts, and is a current Congressman in the Philippines’ House of Representatives.

He has also dabbled in professional basketball, released two platinum albums, and established a celebrity presence unlike any other.

“Wherever you go, he’s there. On the front page of the newspapers, or when you turn on your television you see him. When you go out for a drive you’ll see a billboard with his face on. Manny’s rags-to-riches story is one people can relate to, and he gives hope to millions across the country that if you work hard you can get somewhere,” says Filipino sports writer JM Siasat to Mashable.

“He used to sell doughnuts on the streets just to be able to have money to eat, and now look where he is,” says Siaset. “People can look up to him and say, “if Manny can do it, why can’t I?”

Pacquiao is also a moneymaker. He will be part of the highest-grossing fight in history with expected pay per view views of $250 million, sponsorships of $13 million, and ticket sales of $74 million. The money he makes for promoters, television executives and himself is so lavish that there’s plenty left over for businesspeople back home.

My brother Tom Hines is a British restaurateur who has lived in The Philippines for 20 years.

“All of my restaurants will be showing the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight,” he tells me. “We are banking on Pacquiao’s economical effect because that’s how strong the guaranteed revenue is.”

Hines is betting on the same Pacquiao Effect that caused the Filipino government to declare fight day a day off for everyone.

“The social impact is incredible, because the spirit and energy during his fights is an intense experience,” says Hines. “Everybody will be watching the fight, from homeless people peering into windows, to rich and poor alike. It will also be on the radio for the people in the provinces who don’t have a television,” Hines says.

'A very small man, a very scared man'

As well as the 100 million Filipinos cheering on their hero from home, there are also over three million Filipino Americans who live in America, with 100,000 residing in Las Vegas alone, where Pacquiao will fight Mayweather at the MGM Grand casino.

The smacktalk was non-existent when Pacquiao and Mayweather spoke to fans in New York. Mayweather, uncharacteristically generous, said Pacquiao is “one of the best fighters of his era.” Pacquiao, who was photographed carrying his youngest son Israel, declared the two fighters’ intention to please fans and said “the most important thing is the name of the Lord will be glorified.”

This is nicer than most of the rhetoric between Pacquiao and Mayweather.

Floyd Mayweather has stirred up plenty of controversy in the week ahead of the fight by producing a t-shirt which features the colours of the Filipino flag and his trademark logo. Smiling to the media, Pacquiao took the news with typical grace, but this type of behaviour has not warmed the American to Filipino hearts.

“The consensus here is that Mayweather is generally disliked for plenty of reasons,” confirms Siaset. “Mayweather has had some bad things to say about Manny in the past.”

Mayweather, who has served prison time and owns a company called Philthy Rich records, rose from poverty in Grand Rapids, Michigan but lacks Pacquiao’s ease. Mayweather, cocky, boastful, undefeated and entitled, is seen as something of a metaphor for every foreign power that ever invaded the Philippines: just fighting for the purse.

“A lot of Filipinos believe that Manny is one of the best boxers ever, but a win over Mayweather would take him to a whole new level. That’s why I think it’s a must-win fight for Manny,” says Siaset.

Even Mike Tyson is on Pacquiao’s side, saying Mayweather is “delusional” and “a very small man, a very scared man.”

“It’s going to be a sad day in the Philippines,” concludes Siaset, “if [Pacquiao] loses to this guy who a lot of people dislike.”