I have never been a fan of boxing, nor have I ever watched a full boxing match on TV—live or as a replay. The only Filipino boxers I am familiar with are Manny Pacquiao and a handful of others. Yet, despite my indifference to the sport, something stirred within me the day before the highly anticipated bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, famously dubbed the "Fight of the Century."
As I reflected on the upcoming match, I paused for a moment and prayed. Interestingly, my prayer was not for Manny Pacquiao to win, but rather for the name of the Lord to remain honored, no matter the outcome. Pacquiao had been outspoken about his faith, confidently proclaiming that God would deliver Mayweather into his hands. However, I couldn’t claim to share the same conviction. It was his revelation, not mine. Nevertheless, I silently hoped and prayed that, in the end, God would be glorified.
Praying for Manny Pacquiao
Knowing that Manny Pacquiao is a devoted Christian who publicly professes Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, it was unsurprising that many fellow believers were rooting for him. I am sure I was not the only one who prayed and hoped for his victory. After all, his win would have been an opportunity to magnify God’s name on a global stage.
Then came Sunday, May 3, 2015—the day the world, or at least the Philippines, seemed to stand still. At around 10 o’clock in the morning Philippine Standard Time, the nation was fixated on the fight. Since I did not have cable TV and would not have subscribed to pay-per-view even if I did, I relied on live tweets for updates. Every second, new reactions flooded in. I could hear the collective gasps, cheers, and groans of my neighbors as they watched the fight unfold on their screens, while I followed along, refreshing a webpage that displayed real-time scoring.
Manny Pacquiao Loses To Floyd Mayweather
Despite the scores showing that Manny Pacquiao was losing round after round, I held onto a sliver of hope. I prayed that something extraordinary would happen—a sudden turn of events that would grant Pacquiao victory in the final moments.
But when the final bell rang, and the judges declared Floyd Mayweather the winner, I couldn’t help but ask, Why, Lord? Did Manny Pacquiao truly hear Your voice, or was he mistaken? What about the prayers of countless Christians who interceded for him? Did our prayers not matter? Or perhaps, as some might say, the Lord simply isn't a boxing fan.
Why Did Manny Pacquiao Lose The Fight?
If Manny Pacquiao had won, he would have undoubtedly given glory to God. But would that have been the true outcome in the hearts of people? Perhaps more attention would have been placed on Pacquiao himself rather than on the Lord. Maybe, in His wisdom, God allowed this result to serve a higher purpose—one we may not yet understand.
Pacquiao’s loss reminds us of a profound truth: God's ways are beyond our comprehension. As Isaiah 55:8 states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” Sometimes, what we perceive as a defeat may actually be a part of a greater plan. Whether in victory or in loss, our ultimate purpose is to bring glory to God, trusting that He remains sovereign over all things.
While I may never fully grasp why Pacquiao lost that fight, I trust that God’s purpose prevailed. Perhaps, in time, Pacquiao himself found peace and understanding in the outcome. After all, faith is not about winning every battle—it’s about trusting God, no matter the result.
