So after running around for the last few days, I finally have a few moments to catch up with you before we get hit with our Cinco de Mayo crowd. I have to post about the recent HATTON/PACQUIAO championship fight, simply because it was such a surreal experience.
We had been receiving calls all afternoon regarding the fight; mainly questions about reservations, cover charge, etc. and the calls kept coming throughout the day. That should have been an indication of what to expect for the night.
Around 9pm, people began filing in to claim a prime viewing spot for the big fight. We had the Game 7 matchup between Chicago and Boston taking place at that time, so the crowd that was there was already hyperactive. Then you started to notice the British contingent of fans filing in, which was to be expected. What I didn't expect, however, was the Filipino contingent that would soon take over our bar.
By 10pm, the place was packed. The basketball game was still going on, however, the undercard fights were still taking place so I didn't have to worry about a conflict just yet. What I did begin to worry about was the comfort level of the bar. With so many people in the bar, it was starting to get hot. The AC could only handle so but so much and soon enough it started to peter out and the place started to feel like a sweatbox. That, however, did not deter most of the capacity crowd, there to see the fight.
When it came to fight time, the place was buzzing with electricity. We had the front windows open to get some much needed air and the sidewalk was at least five deep with fans wanting to watch the fight but couldn't get in. As the fighters were announced and their national anthems were being played, the fans of each fighter started chanting at one another. I felt like I was at an English soccer match. It was that loud and intense.
When PACQUIAO's name was announced, the fans went into such a frantic rage of enthusiasm that I couldn't hear myself talk. My ears were ringing it was so loud. So loud in fact that I seriously thought we'd get a noise summons. It actually freaked me out for a moment.
The fight finally began and both men went at each other like a couple of wild dogs. The pace was fast and furious and the crowd loved it. When HATTON landed a punch, the British contingent cheered him on; when PACQUIAO countered, the Filapino contingent cheered right back. When PACQUIAO landed his first knockdown of HATTON, the Filipino contingent erupted with glee and again, I thought we would get shut down from the loud noise being generated from the bar. When HATTON went down again, the PACQUIAO supporters could smell blood, just as the fighter could himself.
And when the eventual knockout came about in Round 2, bedlam ensued. The Filipino fans went ape-shit, dancing on the tables and hugging and kissing one another, while the British contingent hung their heads in shame and shock. The whole scene was something you would see in a World Cup final match, for lack of a better comparison. It was crazy.
Lucky for us, no one got hurt (aside from some bruised egos) and everyone had a great time. I underestimated the fan base of MANNY PACQUIAO in this fight, but you can be sure that I won't do that the next time he fights. He is truly the class of the boxing world.
Nuff Said
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