This is a well-known fact in the Philippines, where the beloved boxer and politician makes a habit of giving away much of his wealth in an effort to help the poor.
But until his taming of the Tijuana Tornado, many in America had not seen the kinder, gentler Pacquiao.
For most of their WBC super welterweight title fight, Pacquiao pounded the bigger but slower Margarito with astounding ease.
Then in the late rounds, the lion became a lamb.
After Margarito's eyes were nearly swollen shut and his face became a bloody mask, the champ began to fear for his opponent's safety.
“I try to get the referee to talk to the doctor,” Pacquiao said. “I didn't want to damage him permanently. That is not what boxing is about.”
That's not the end of it. Failing to get the fight stopped, Pacquiao took pity on the Mexican slugger, letting up in the final round so as to not inflict any more punishment.
“Manny's a very compassionate person,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer.
Filipinos worldwide have known this for years. Now the rest of the world knows, too. His treatment of Margarito at the end of their fight was a fascinating subplot in what otherwise was a lopsided — and vastly overhyped — bout.
More Manny: Pacquiao revealed another side in the fight. He's also a master showman. In the sixth round, already well ahead on points, Pacquiao lay on the ropes and let Margarito pound him with body shots.
It almost proved costly. Pacquiao was hurt and later had to be examined for possible rib injuries.
“I wanted to fight toe-to-toe and make the fight exciting for the fans,” Pacquiao said afterward.
Cole responds: Some have criticized referee Laurence Cole for not halting the fight after it became clear Margarito was taking a beating.
Cole says he looked for a way to do just that.
“I was trying to find a place to stop it,” the veteran referee said. “But he was still moving and punching strong.”
Cole held up two fingers and asked Margarito to count them. When he responded correctly, Cole let the fight continue.
He said ring doctors examined Margarito between the last several rounds and never asked him to stop the bout.
Margarito fine: Surgery to repair Margarito's fractured right orbital bone was deemed a success, and the fighter was released from Dallas' Methodist Hospital on Wednesday.
Paging Floyd: Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez appear to be the leading candidates as the next opponent for Pacquiao. However, the champ's camp wants Floyd Mayweather Jr., as does just about everyone else on the planet.
But given Mayweather's legal woes — he's facing charges of felony domestic battery — Money May might be tied up for a while.
jwhisler@express-news.net
Source: mysanantonio.com
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