June 11, 2011, Canastota, NY: The annual festival weekend of the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in Canastota, New York was marred today when a group of over two hundred fans of Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao mobbed the 5K fun run as it left the local high school. The fans mostly Filipino-Americans, turned out to demand that Manny Pacquiao be named a Hall of Fame boxer this year and began demonstrating against the IBHOF when that demand was refused.
“The protesters arrived the day before our annual Hall of Fame Weekend began,” IBHOF President Don Ackerman explained. “They demanded that I add Manny Pacquiao to the list of modern fighters inducted into the IBHOF. I patiently explained to them that Pacquaio has not retired, and our rules state a fighter becomes eligible for consideration five years after their last professional fight.” Ackerman went on to declare that he had no doubt Manny Pacquiao would be inducted on his very first year of eligibility. This did not satisfy the Pacquiao fans, who returned the next day waving signs and protesting Ackerman’s decision.
“I don’t know what these people want or expected me to do. Pacquiao isn’t even retired. Only retired fighters go into the Hall of Fame. What part of that isn’t clear?” Ackerman stated.
Not satisfied with creating a noisy spectacle across the street from the IBHOF, the demonstrators took things up a notch and engaged in some civil disobedience. Relocating to Canastota’s high school, they attempted to rush and block the departure of the IBHOF’s 5K fun run. The result was comical, as the Pacquiao fans came face to face with the likes of 56 year old Marvelous Marvin Hagler, 61 year old Larry Holmes and 44 year old Mike Tyson. The aged ex-boxers bludgeoned the demonstrators out of the way, leaving a pile of unconscious and bruised fans in their wake, who were promptly arrested by the local authorities.
“The [IBHOF] are racist. Racist Americans!” declared the leader of the protesters, Ernesto Cruz. “The only reason they won’t let Manny Pacquiao into the Hall of Fame is because he is from the Philippines.” When asked why he thinks Pacquiao should be exempted from the IBHOF rules, Cruz replied “Those rules were written by white American racists, and they wrote them solely to keep Pacquiao from becoming the first fighter inducted into the [IBHOF] while still an active boxer.”
Almost overlooked in the Pacquiao-inspired fracas were Demyan and Borys Motsyk, two brothers who are the President and Vice President of the Klitschko Fan Club, American Division. According to the club’s record, the brothers are also the sole members of the organization. The Motsyk brothers drive from Cleveland, OH to Canastota for one weekend each month to demonstrate in favor of the admission of the Klitschkos into the IBHOF.
“We understand that Vitali and Wladimir [Klitschko] are not eligible for induction yet,” explained Demyan Motsyk. “However, we are convinced that if they are not constantly reminded, the IBHOF will forget about the Klitschkos as soon as they retire.” When asked if they agreed with the Pacquiao fans that the IBHOF was a racist, American-centered institution the Motsyks replied “Of course. They are eager to sweep the Klitschkos under the rug and induct Chris Arreola or some American instead.”
