Will the next televised Pacquiao fight unite Filipinos again?

Manny Pacquiao raises his gloves following his split decision loss to Timothy Bradley, from Palm Springs, California, in their WBO world welterweight title fight Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Las Vegas. (Photo by JULIE JACOBSON / AP)

Remember the good old days when a Manny Pacquiao fight became synonymous to a national holiday?

The normally busy weekend would usually turn even metro areas into a virtual ghost town, with empty streets and zero traffic.

Young or old, rich or poor, Pinoys from all walks of life kept their eyes glued to their TV sets as they cheered and rallied behind their little brown hero’s every punch, hook, and jab that got him closer to his winning knockout.

Every victory became a cause for nationwide cheer and jubilation, with frenzied fans taking to the streets to swap high fives and congratulatory pleasantries with virtual strangers.

It’s ironic when we realize how Pacquiao’s blazing fists of fury – high-caliber lethal weapons on their own – have become instrumental in uniting his countrymen who have always been divided by their beliefs and persuasions.

For once, Pinoys would set aside their petty differences to rekindle their patriotic fervor.

Never in Philippine sports history has any local athlete triggered such pervasive hysteria, aptly dubbed by some quarters as Pacmania.

With his latest “Fight of Champions” match with Argentinian fighter Lucas Matthysse merely days away, netizens are wondering: Will the People’s Champ be able to once more unify his people to rally behind him? Will he be able to reclaim his belt and wave the Philippine flag proudly once again in the global boxing circuit?

Catch the “Fight of Champions” bout televised live from the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 15 via GMA, ABS-CBN, ESPN-5, Cignal TV, and Sky Cable. /atm