Pacquiao vs. Marquez: How Manny Pacquiao Losing Would Devastate a Nation

Try to name one sports figure more important to his country than Manny Pacquiao is to the Philippines. 

You can keep trying to think of someone, but the only result you're going to get is a sore brain. Manny Pacquiao is more important to his home country than any sports figure in the world today.

And it's not even close.

The Philippines doesn't have a whole lot of figures representing the country around the world, so any big Filipino sports star is already extremely important.

But the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world? And one of the best boxers ever? Someone who's as lovable as he is ferocious? 

Forget about it. 

It's safe to say Pacquiao is an important figure for his country. And then you can throw in the fact that he's also a congressman there. 

His importance just can't be rivaled by anyone else. I mean, who else is important enough that a mom would postpone her son's appendectomy for a possible meet-and-greet? 

You just can't make that stuff up. I'll repeat it. A mom actually left her son's appendectomy so she could attend a Manny Pacquiao media day appearance.

Wow.

That same story dives a little deeper into the Filipinos' fascination with Pacquiao.

On the day of the fight, one fan said that there's "zero crime." Another said there's "no traffic."

"Everything stops," the fan said. "The business stops. They all watch Manny." 

Can you imagine any sports figure important enough in the United States that would bring absolutely everyone off the street when he or she competes? It's just not even close. 

And now imagine if this monumental figure were to lose tonight, and what that would mean to the nation that so lovingly backs him. 

If Manny Pacquiao were to somehow lose to Juan Manuel Marquez, he wouldn't be seen—in the eyes of every nation except for the Philippines, of course—as the best in the world anymore. With a possible future as governor, he might not even box anymore.

Sure, some think this fight is big because a potential Floyd Mayweather-bout is on the line, and that's true. But much, much more importantly, a whole nation will be on the edge of its seat when Pacquiao enters the ring.

And it will be absolutely devastated if he loses. 

More than LeBron James's fans were after the 2011 NBA Finals. More than Tom Brady's fans were after his most recent playoff exit. More than Derek Jeter's fans were after the Detroit Tigers got done with him. 

More than anyone.