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Pacquiao Win Lifts Spirits in Storm-Ravaged Philippines


Manny Pacquiao from the Philippines wears the champion's belt after defeating Brandon Rios of the United States in the WBO international welterweight title fight, Nov. 24, 2013, in Macau.
Manny Pacquiao from the Philippines wears the champion's belt after defeating Brandon Rios of the United States in the WBO international welterweight title fight, Nov. 24, 2013, in Macau.
Thousands of survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in the central Philippines joined their countrymen Sunday in celebrating the victory of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao to earn the World Boxing Organization international welterweight title.

Crowds watching giant screens at four locations in the ravaged city of Tacloban jumped to their feet and erupted in jubilation as Pacquiao defeated American Brandon Rios in the 12-round bout.

Pacquiao dedicated his comeback fight to storm victims and has promised to visit Tacloban and outlying regions, where the storm leveled entire villages and killed more than 5,200 people.

Many viewers said Pacquiao had lifted the people's spirits, and for awhile, let them forget the death and destruction that surrounded them.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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