Fan dies of heart attack while watching Pacquiao fight

MANILA, Philippines — A 68-year-old fan of Sen. Manny Pacquiao reportedly died of a heart attack while watching the fight between the Filipino boxing champion and American Keith Thurman in Marikina City yesterday.

Salvador Abay was watching the delayed telecast of the boxing bout at the Manotoc covered court along Estaquio street in Barangay Sto. Niño when he collapsed at around 12:10 p.m.

“He was sitting in a chair when he suddenly fell to the floor. Although the place was crowded, there was no commotion among the people,” Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, director of the national Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said.

Abay’s relatives told police that he had been been taking medication for his heart ailment.

Rescuers of the Marikina government brought Abay to the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival.

In Caloocan City, police recorded a stabbing incident ahead of the fight between Pacquiao and Thurman.

Ricardo Juano was rushed to the Malabon hospital after he suffered multiple stab wounds. He was transferred to the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Police said Juano was stabbed by the suspect, known only as Jao, along Salaysalay street in Barangay 8.

The NCRPO tactical operations center received the stabbing report at around 2:15 p.m.

Eleazar ordered a manhunt for the suspect.

“Only a few people were loitering in the streets as a majority of Metro Manilans were glued to their television sets watching the boxing match,” he said.

Pacquiao won by a split decision over Thurman.

Eleazar said they were expecting Pacquiao’s fans to celebrate his victory by drinking.

To prevent violence from erupting, Eleazar ordered his five police district directors to intensify foot patrol operations and implement city ordinances, especially the ban on drinking in public places.