Bedlam in Pacquiao's dressing room

Source: By Joaquin Henson (The Philippine Star)

ARLINGTON – Manny Pacquiao walked into his dressing room swinging like he could go another 12 rounds as well-wishers gathered to toast his win over Joshua Clottey by a unanimous decision at the Cowboys Stadium here last Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila).

Pacquiao whooped it up and threw punches in the air, looking like he didn’t just endure a gruelling grind in the ring before over 51,000 fans. Wearing his new Nike signature “Pacman Knows” blue T-shirt, Pacquiao bussed wife Jinkee on the lips and was mobbed by a selected few with credentials to join the dressing room celebration.

Pacquiao shook hands with everyone, including referee Rafael Ramos who stayed to pose for a picture and WBO officials. Then, he was taken into a private room for the mandatory urinalysis and examination by doctors accredited by the Texas state athletic commission.

When Pacquiao reemerged from the room, he had already showered and wore an argyle sweater.

There was a huge welt under Pacquiao’s right eye and his cheeks were reddened by Clottey’s blows. In contrast, Clottey’s face was hardly marked although blood trickled from his nose. His body, however, was severely battered and the speculation was he would’ve urinated blood from the banging his kidneys took.

Cowboys Stadium owner Jerry Jones was in the dressing room and told Pacquiao how proud he was that the Filipino icon made history by performing in the facility’s first boxing event.

“This was the first and people will always remember the first,” said Jones. “You make us all very proud.”

Pacquiao told Jones the experience of performing before more than 51,000 fans was “amazing” and “unbelievable.”

Pacquiao later admitted he felt a little pressure fighting in front of such a large audience. But he shrugged off the jitters, knowing if he just did what he set out to do, things would fall into place and they did.

Others in the dressing room included trainer Freddie Roach, assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, conditioning coach Alex Ariza, cutman Miguel Diaz, wife Jinkee and sister Janet, his brothers Rogel and Bobby, RPN-9 chairman Tonypet Albano, Solar chief operating officer Peter Chanliong, lawyer Jeng Gacal, business manager Eric Pineda, Joe Ramos, Winchell Campos, Gov. Chavit Singson, Solar vice president for production Erick Tam, Chino Trinidad, Dyan Castillejo, two-time world lightflyweight champion Brian Viloria and his fiancée Erika Navarro, Michael Koncz, writer Thomas Hauser and Roger Fernandez.

Buboy Fernandez carried the metal case that contained Pacquiao’s WBO title belt and showed it off proudly.

“It wasn’t an easy fight,” said Fernandez. “I’ve known Manny since we were kids so during the fight, I knew what he would do. I told him to be careful about Clottey stepping on his foot. And before the 11th round, I reminded him about his defense because I expected Clottey to fight like he would commit suicide. I knew Manny would go to Clottey’s left to avoid the right. I knew he wouldn’t stand in front of him too long and he would move side to side. I kept telling Manny to hold up his left hand because Clottey was throwing a lot of rights.”

Fernandez said he couldn’t imagine Clottey absorbing Pacquiao’s hardest blows without going down.

“He’s really durable,” said Fernandez. “He’s never been knocked out. But Manny’s too good. He’s the best in the world.”

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