In the wake of Manny Pacquiao’s one-sided demolition of Miguel Cotto last Saturday, the focus was rightly put on Pacquiao. His performance was remarkable. But I was more interested in the circumstances surrounding Cotto, who took a slow, methodical whipping.

MANILA — The Philippines rolled out the red carpet in a rock star reception Friday for pound-for-pound king and newly crowned World Boxing Organisation welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. High-ranking officials and fans flocked to Manila’s international airport as the 30-year-old Pacquiao flew in five days after he demolished Puerto Rican champ Miguel Cotto to become the only fighter in [...]

Manny Pacquiao was in extraordinary form last night, both inside the ring, where he dismantled Miguel Cotto to win a world title in a seventh different weight division (a record), and outside the ring, where he interrupted his jovial post-fight press conference to sing a love song. “I’m just ordinary,” the always humble Manny had said earlier in the proceedings. As a singer, perhaps. [...]

Manny Pacquiao was fighting for those struggling in his home country, the Philippines, who were ravaged recently by a trio of typhoons. He was fighting for his family — for his father, who made a rare appearance — and for the millions of fans who follow his every move.