MANILA - Millions of excited Filipinos on Sunday tuned in to the television and jammed public viewing areas for a chance to watch the championship fight between Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr.
President Benigno Aquino led the Philippines in wishing that the fight would be the "crowning glory" to Pacquiao's boxing career.
"I am very confident that Manny Pacquiao will do our countrymen proud as he has always done," Aquino said on the eve of the bout in Las Vegas.
"In every punch and every step during his fight with Floyd Mayweather, all Filipinos will be cheering for Manny."
In a plaza outside the Quiapo Church in Manila, thousands of boxing fans gathered before a big screen on a building, waiting for the so-called fight of the century. The huge crowd caused traffic to build up along the main avenue.