NOT a few fans were irked by how referee Genaro Rodriguez handled the Manny Pacquiao-Brandon Rios fight last Sunday, saying he allowed the American to get away with his 'dirty tactics.'
Even the wife of the former pound-for-pound king, Jinkee Pacquiao, expressed disgust at how Rodriguez allowed Rios to hit her husband with "cheap shots" during breaks.
“Oo, nainis rin ako (sa referee) kasi pag hinahawi niya (referee) yung dalawa, parang hinahayaan lang niya na masuntok si Manny sa likod. Ang dalas ngang nambabatok ni Rios di ba?” said the Jinkee.
They Said It!
“Naiintindihan ko rin yung tao. Kasi pang-apat na referee niya yung sa amin nung araw na 'yun eh. Ikaw man ang mag-referee ng apat na beses, mapapagod ka na." - Manny Pacquiao on complaints as to how referee Genaro Rodriguez handled his bout with Brandon Rios
“Parang hindi pa 'ata masyadong sanay,” Mrs. Pacquiao added.
Pacquiao at times was seen giving the 64-year-old referee a stare and imploring him to do something about Rios hitting him in the nape during breaks.
Most Pacman fans at the Cotai Arena even grew frantic during moments in the fight when the Filipino ring hero took his eye away from Rios to talk to the referee.
Yet, the eight-division world champion was quick to forgive Rodriguez, saying he understood that the referee had handled four fights in the card and was most likely tired during his face-off with Rios.
“Naiintindihan ko rin yung tao. Kasi pang-apat na referee niya yung sa amin nung araw na 'yun eh. Ikaw man ang mag-referee ng apat na beses, mapapagod ka na,” Pacquiao said.
“Ang gagawin ko na lang siguro is to tell Bob (Arum) na huwag hayaan na mapagod ang ilang officials,” he added.
Asked if he was pissed by the tactics of Rios during the fight, Pacquiao only shook his head.
“Hindi. Kasi kung maiinis ka roon, masisira lang laro mo. Baka style niya rin 'yun. Focused naman tayo, mahirap magpa-apekto sa mga ganun,” said the Sarangani congressman.
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