It was a controversy-laden-Sunday at MGM’s Grand in Las Vegas where boxing followers awaited the second coming of Oscar de la Hoya in a failing bid to keep his World Boxing Council light-middleweight crown against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The crowd that trooped to the site and a quarter billion others who saw it on tv and it’s ancillary outlets are still divided on how the fight was judged with a large segment crying foul over the widely-assailed verdict.

Be that as it may, de la Heist’s er Oscar’s controversial loss still buzzes the rounds after establishing a new pay per view record where a total of 2.15 million households shelled $54.95 garnering a whopping 120 million U.S. dollars which topped the 1.99 million buys in the second Mike Tyson/Evander Holyfield ‘bite fight.’

The capacity throng that saw it and other tv viewers, now awaits a sequel of the high-profile fisticuffs–this time, starring our mighty Manny the Pacman Pacquiao versus his first big time victim Marco Antonio Barrera.

Manny’s promoter Bob Arum is in town observing his ward’s run for a congressional seat in the first district of South Cotabato.

An announcement from Bob in Las Vegas on Manny’s next fight after the elections is likely. This, after the kinks are ironed out in a settlement of his contract dispute with Oscar.

An out of court settlement is in the offing due to the prohibitive cost of litigation pending in two courts.

Still euphoric from his wins over Eric Morales and Jorge Solis, the GenSan Marvel is in a new role as challenger to the scion of a clan that has controlled the first district of South Cotabato for the past three decades.

Manny is relaxed and easy-going while making his daily rounds, pressing the flesh and making sure his votes will be counted to ensure his election as the first ever boxing idol to win a congressional seat.

This is a match-up between a sports champion and an undefeated pollitician who are locked in a battle that’s keenly eyed, not only in General Santos but in most of the world’s boxing capitals.

Manny is touted to deliver the goods in this electoral exercise to make way for his eventual exit from the ring.

Poll observers are saying that Manny can beat his rival in a fair contest owing to the support from voters who are of the view that he can help his district regain its political footing.

He has to beat Darlene Antonino Custodio who is determined to keep her post at all costs.

This is a confrontation Pacman realized as quite extra-ordinary, one he did’nt fully comprehend until he was deep into it– deadlier and dirtier than his previous combats.

He’s looking forward to a peaceful outcome of this process, one he now covets since accepting the call into a befuddling game if you can call it such.

And if his observation is proven correct, why, we’ll have the first boxing icon elected to the hollowed halls of congress.

It’s been easy to lose track of Pacquiao’s plans since he has acquired a new sense of belonging in an area alien to his haunts.

But given his credentials as a boxer (43-3-2 35 ko’s coupled with his compelling appeal as a fighter par excellence, it should’nt come as a surprise he’ll emerge victorious once more.

No shot had yet been fired, but when Hermie Rivera faced the wrong end of an assault rifle on the Palace corridor he thought he would be the first casualty of 1986 People Power revolution.

Rivera’s confrontation with the Galil-wielding son of President Ferdinand Marcos followed his father’s decision to go on national television to reassure the world he would not attack the rebels.

A trusted press officer with full access to the inner Palace sanctum, Rivera had arranged for Marcos’ television address hours after Washington had warned of dire consequences if the President mounted an offensive.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., nicknamed Bongbong, had opposed his father’s decision taken on the second day of the breakaway by rebellious Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and Gen. Fidel Ramos, the Armed Forces deputy chief of staff.

 A mainstay of the popular late 60s, early 70s dzHP news team, Rivera said he had been called to the Palace at around 6 p.m. on that lazy Sunday – Feb. 23, 1986 — and had taken with him dispatches from Washington to brief the President.

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