Pacquiao’s Triumphal Return while De La Hoya suffers the humiliation!

No Respect for De La Hoya: “It was a Mismatch”

Arroyo to Pacquiao: ‘It was a mismatch’
Pacquiao aknowledges there’s an even bigger God than him:‘There is a bigger God,’ says Pacquiao

By Joel Guinto, Izah Morales
INQUIRER.net

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo (R) gestures as he receives World Boxing Council lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao (L) at the Malacanang Palace in Manila on December 10 2008. The Filipino boxing icon arrived here early December 10 for a homecoming after beating US boxing superstar Oscar de la Hoya in their welterweight non-title bout in Las Vegas December 6. AFP PHOTO/JAY DIRECTO

MANILA, Philippines – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, at one point, shadowboxed on her seat, as she and boxing hero Manny Pacquiao talked at length about his stunning victory over Oscar de la Hoya.

Pacquiao, who was in a black long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans, called on Arroyo at the Malacañang Music Room on Wednesday morning, just hours after he arrived from the United States.

“It was a mismatch the other way around. You are not an underdog,” Arroyo told Pacquiao, referring to oddsmakers predictions of a De la Hoya win.

Pacquiao told Arroyo that some sportswriters apologized to him for underestimating him. He also said that having trained hard for the fight, he knew that “pagpasok ko sa ring, kasama ko ang Panginoon [when I entered the ring, I knew God was with me].”

Pacquiao acknowledged that De la Hoya, an Olympic gold medalist, was a tough opponent, saying, “It’s David versus Goliath.”

“He [Dela Hoya] was taller, bigger,” Pacquiao said, adding that he knew he could take on De la Hoya when he knocked out a hefty built sparring partner during practice.