Sonny and Manny
At that time, Pacquiao was already going after Hussein like a cheetah on a tired and wounded gazelle
Thrilla in Manila referee Carlos “Sonny” Padilla made a revelation a few days ago involving his handling of Manny Pacquiao’s infamous brawl with Australian-Lebanese banger Nadal Hussein that took place more than 22 years ago in Antipolo.
But what Padilla said during a video interview was old news.
Immediately, pseudo boxing fans and even true-blue followers of the sport were left in shock upon hearing what Padilla had said.
You see, Padilla was the third man on the ring when Pacquiao had to pick himself up from the floor in the fourth frame en route to a tenth-round knockout victory over the rugged and rowdy Australian puncher.
Padilla would tell the official YouTube channel of the World Boxing Council that he helped Pacquiao escape with the all-important win mainly because they were both natives of the Philippines.
When Pacquiao got decked with a shotgun left by Hussein and fell on his knees, Padilla knew his compatriot was in deep trouble.
“Cross-eyed,” Padilla said.
Since he was on home soil working the fight of a promising fighter, Padilla had to find a way on how to ensure the hometown boxer ends up winning.
Padilla said when Pacquiao finally got up, the count should have been 18, emphasizing that under normal circumstances, Hussein would have already won by knockout.
Pacquiao, of course, beat the “long” count of Padilla and went on to stop Hussein in the tenth stanza, forcing the fighter and his cornermen, led by Australian legend Jeff Fenech, to vehemently protest the decision of ringside doctor Nasser Cruz to call a halt.