Remembering Pacquiao-Magramo
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Jan 2007
It was September 13, 1997 when Manny Pacquiao made his first and only appearance in the historic Cebu Coliseum. He was one of the main draws in the now defunct weekly television boxing series “Blow by Blow”. He was also fresh from winning the OPBF flyweight title with a fifth round one punch knockout victory over Thailand’s Chokchai Chochvivat.
Pacquiao then had yet to turn 19 years old and had a record of 20W-1L with 13 KO’s and was facing veteran Melvin Magramo, then 23-12-2 with 13 KO’s, in a ten round non-title bout. Being a die-hard boxing fan, I had to drag my father to watch this exciting young fighter with me.
The Cebu Coliseum was oven hot as usual. It was not a sell out crowd but there was excitement in the air. Cebuano fans were raring to see a brawl and they indeed got one.
Both fighters traded bombs at the onset. But Magramo used his experience and was able to absorb and soak in Pacquiao’s vaunted left. Magramo managed to crowd and hold Pacquiao and managed to dish back some of his own.
The decibel level inside the coliseum was like that of a jet-engine as the crowd screamed and cheered every blow that landed from both protagonists. Both fighters were groggy at the midway point and Pacquiao would often go the opposing corner in between rounds apparently in a daze. This elicited a collective roar from the crowd.
I remember leaping from my upper box seat enthralled by the action. Pacquiao at this point in time was very crude and threw punches from an off balanced position. He also had walked straight in and defense was just an afterthought. He certainly absorbed more than he should have during this fight.
His hand was raised in victory in the end. It was a hard earned ten round decision. There were those who doubted whether he really deserved that win. It was a very action-packed, bell-to-bell brawl. And the fans got their money’s worth which was really a preview of things to come.
I do remember what I said to my father after the fight, “I don’t think Pacquiao will go far. He has no defense. I don’t know if he can go on fighting like this. He will burn himself out. I don’t think he will be a world champ.”
Fifteen months later Pacquiao won his first world title via a come from behind eighth round knockout victory over Thailand’s Chatchai Sasakul. The rest as they say is history.
I will always look back at that day and say that I am so glad that I was so wrong.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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