MANILA Mayor Alfredo S. Lim yesterday joined a crowd of some 10,000 Manila residents who trooped to the San Andres Sports Complex to watch the third bout between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez.

Accompanied by Manila Police District director S/Supt. Alex Gutierrez, Station 9 chief Col. Ernesto Tendero Jr., city security force ret. Maj. Nick Amparo and department of public services chief ret. Maj. Carlos Baltazar, Lim arrived early at the said venue and watched the undercard fights.

Although his third- round knockout prediction in favor of Pacquiao did not happen, Lim said he was happy and ecstatic that Pacquiao had won and once again brought pride and glory to the country.

“Third-round knockout ang prediction ko sana kung lumaban lang si Marquez nang sabayan.  Walang panama si Marquez. Ayaw lumaban ng sabayan eh. Iwas nang iwas. Kung lumaban nang sabayan ’yun, knockout ’yun. Si Manny pa rin ang champion. Champion nating lahat,” said Lim.

The mayor also said plans will be ironed out first thing this morning (Monday) for welcoming Pacquiao.

“Merong plano pero kailangan with the approval of Manny. Lahat tayo mag-celebrate. Magdiwang tayo para sa panibagong karangalan na naman ang ibinigay ni Manny sa ating bansa,” Lim said.

“Suntok, takbo, suntok, takbo ang ginawa ni Marquez kaya tama ang desisyon. Congratulations, Manny! Ikaw pa rin ang aming champion forever and ever,” he added.

The city of Manila regularly undertakes the free showing of Pacquiao’s fights in all of the city’s sports complexes and covered courts, in order to provide the poor residents the chance to watch Pacquiao’s fights live via telecast without having to spend a single centavo.