Read the following article in full http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/... if only to see how they've used Manny as the poster boy for the ethical dilemma that boxing raises for a supposed Christian country like the Philippines. An excerpt:

“[B]oxing raises serious issues for the Christian. The fundamental question is whether a sport where the intention is to hurt, cut, injure and knock-out one’s opponent, can be reconciled with the Christian view of man and God. Danger and injuries are, obviously, present in many sports. The difference with boxing is that hurting your opponent is the aim of the sport. Since the Second World War over 350 boxers have died from ring injuries.”

Let's emphasize that: hurting one's opponent is the goal of boxing. Hurting him to the point that he passes out and drops to the ground is what the boxer aims for and what the spectators cheer the most. Now, why would any moral person whose philosophy in life revolves around love, compassion, sympathy, care, … jump up in joy when a fellow human being is beaten up and to use your word “peppered” with punches, bruises, swollen eyes, bleeding mouths and noses?! Why would a moral, loving person even tolerate any activity whose objective is to hurt another person?

Christians talk of a moral compass. If you have such a thing I suggest taking yours to the service center.