Thousands of Philippine Boxing Fans Welcome Home Local Hero

CHAN: Thousands of boxing fans are out on the streets of Manila. They are welcoming home their local hero Manny (The Pacman) Pacquiao, after his successful super fight in Las Vegas.

STORY: Philippines boxer Manny Pacquiao defeated his Mexican rival Erik Morales over the weekend.

Fans are joyed to see their champion. They chant Manny, Manny, as he smiles and waves from a truck.

[Lito Atienza, Manila Mayor]:"So we are very happy in the city of Manila to greet Manny Pacqiao and the great great joy and honor that he brings to the country as a whole."

Pacquiao knocked down Morales with a flurry of punches in the third round of last weekend's fight.

Morales had won a decision in a fight last March. Pacquiao stopped the Mexican in the 10th round of a rematch in January.

[Carmelo Dumdom, Merchant]: "He is the greatest boxer in the whole world. He is the pride of the Philippines. He is the national fist."

Pacquiao is a very popular celebrity in the Philippines. He endorses many brands of beer, fast food, pain killers and karaoke microphones. He also appears in movies, TV sitcoms and records songs in the Tagalog language.

The boxing great from General Santos City is considering a career in politics.

His mother has advised him against getting into politics, according to local newspaper reports.

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News & Politics

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