The Philippine Online Chronicles

Doctors gave Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao a clean bill of health Tuesday after he checked into an LA hospital when the boxing champ complained of body pains.

Pacquiao, who had sustained blows on the right side of his body from his 12-round fight against Antonio Margarito Sunday (Manila time), was found by doctors to be free from any fractures, strained muscles or ruptures.

The Pacman won his eighth world title division championship against Mexican Margarito, who had a 17-pound, five-inch advantage on the prizefighter by unanimous decision, clinching the World Boxing Council super-welterweight championship and cementing his claim as the world's top boxer.

Pacquiao’s foe, Margarito has congratulated Pacquiao for the win from his hospital bed in Dallas, calling him the "best boxer in the world."

"I gave it all I had, but unfortunately I was not able to get the victory over the best fighter in the world today," said Margarito. "As I said before the fight, I was never going to quit and tried to win this fight to the very last minute."

Pacquiao has likewise expressed his admiration for Margarito’s toughness during the fight.

Margarito is set to fly to Los Angeles on Wednesday before going home to Tijuana after undergoing surgery for a fractured right eye socket today.

Pacquiao will be flying out to Lake Tahoe for a pre-arranged concert for fans before heading home to the Philippines on Saturday.

Younger Pinoys in Sunday’s undercard bouts fared almost as well, with Filipinos winning two of the three bouts against American opponents.  Dennis Laurente and Richie Mepranum defeated Rashad Holloway and Anthony Villareal respectively. However, Juan Martin "Bai" Elorde bowed to Angel Rodriguez of Houston in his first international fight. Elorde is the grandson of Filipino boxing legend Gabriel "Flash" Elorde.

Retirement?

After denying rumors that the pound-for-pound of king would retire after his fight with Margarito Sunday two Philippine bishops have called for Pacquiao to reassess his priorities and focus on lawmaking.

Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Francis de Leon and Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, in separate interviews, have said that Pacquiao should now retire in order to focus on his duties as a congressman.

Pacquiao's preoccupation with politics has worried his longtime coach Freddie Roach that the Pacman is no longer at the top of his game. Pacquiao however told ABS-CBN that he remains in 100 percent condition.

“I already achieve my goals in boxing, my dreams in boxing. And what I want to achieve more is in public service, you know. I wanna be a champion there,” he said to American news program 60 Minutes.

Buzz about Pacquiao reached a fever pitch during Sunday’s fight when the hashtags #Pacquiao and #Margarito made it to the top and second spots trending worldwide.