Bay Area Filipino Community Excited Ahead Of Pacquiao, Mayweather Fight
DALY CITY (KPIX 5) – In what has been billed by promoters as the "Fight of the Century," the much-anticipated matchup between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao takes place Saturday. Excitement about the fight is high in the Bay Area's large Filipino community.
Filipinos locally and all over the world are preparing to take in Saturday's fight. At Kadok's restaurant in Daly City, they're taking orders for lumpia like it's a holiday.
"Pacqiao he's our national hero," Eleazar Panopio explained. He's leaving work early on Saturday to watch the Pac-Man in the ring.
"I'm a business owner, so I have to go to work. But I'm working half day only," Panopio said. "Just for this fight."
As the world watches the two take the ring, an entire country will be holding their breath. "Well, if he loses, then The Philippines will lose too," Panopio said.
Patrick Ragan, who owns West Side Boxing, said he's never seen this much hype over a fight. "He has a following from his hometown, his country," Ragan said, referring to Pacquiao.
When asked about the matchup, Ragan said, "Manny is so aggressive, that if Floyd is underestimating his speed and his timing and his distance, it can end very, very fast.
