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Floyd is a Manny Pacquiao Admirer By Teodoro Medina Reynoso PhilBoxing.com Fri, 30 Aug 2019  Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would not admit it but he was, and still is an admirer of Manny Pacquiao. There are incontrovertible proofs to prove it dating back to the times when both were still establishing themselves as top fighters and champions. Back in November 10, 2001, Floyd and Manny were co-featured in a Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotion double header at the Billy Graham Civic Center in San Francisco, California. The main event was Manny versus Agapito Sanchez of the Dominican Republic in a 12 round unification fight for the IBF and WBO world super bantamweight titles. As companion main event was Floyd's defense of his WBC junior lightweight championship versus Jesus Chavez of Mexico. The fact that Floyd agreed to fight before Manny in that event was a tacit indication of how he highly regarded Pacquiao especially considering that Manny took his second world title, the IBF belt from the once highly feared South African Lehlo Lebwaba. Floyd went on to stop Chavez in their fight which proved to be his last at 130 before he moved up to the lightweights where he would win his second world crown versus Jose Luis Castillo, also of Mexico. But Manny was forced to a technical draw by the rough and rugged bald pated Sanchez who employed all the dirty tricks in the book, including a headbutt that opened a deep gash in Manny's eyebrow that led to the stoppage and resort to the judges scorecards. Had Floyd stayed up---which was likely as he had ended his fight early---and saw how Manny struggled against the foul Dominican fighter, he might not like what he witnessed of the Filipino. But five years later in January 21, 2006 there was Floyd in attendance at the rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Mexico's Erik Morales held in Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Pacquiao drops Morales. Pacquiao and Morales had fought in a high profile fight in late 2005, Manny's first at 130 after dominating at 122 and establishing himself at 126 utterly beating Marco Antonio Barrera-- Morales nemesis--- in 2004 and drawing with another Mexican rising star Juan Manuel Marquez early in 2005. Manny lost that one, the main event of a Top Rank promotional card held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on a close but unanimous decision to Erik. But the high quality of action and competition of that first fight had the fans and sponsors asking for another match between the two. Thus the Pacquiao-Morales rematch was set on the same state but different fight venue and lo and behold, Floyd was there near the ringside. Any question about who Floyd came in for was definitively answered when Manny began to turn the tide of the battle starting the sixth round and went on to not only outland but batter Morales as Floyd was among those lustily cheering for him. Any attempt by Floyd to hide his being Manny fanboy that night vanished when he jumped for joy after Manny sent Morales crashing to the canvas in the eleventh round for a well earned technical knockout victory. The video recording of that fight clearly showed that Floyd was a Manny fan. And he cannot be faulted for being one. For he witnessed what to this writer as Manny Pacquiao's greatest performance before his most recent magnificent victory over Keith Thurman. Floyd was also in attendance in that Pacquiao-Thurman fight but he was there,he reasoned, as a party of interest being the fight promoter and boss to both fighters. But seeing how he unabashedly showed his admiration of Pacquiao back in 2006, who could be faulted for believing that Floyd was holding back his emotions especially in the rounds where Manny floored Keith, forced him to spew his mouthguard with a body punch that also bent and sent him into a horrified retreat? And when finally Manny's hand was raised in victory after twelve rounds of gruelling, back and forth action? Floyd did not stay up to see that, aware that Manny had the fight sewn up as early as the 10th round. But perhaps, he could no longer keep his feelings in check, he left right before the official announcement. Floyd is human afterall just like us. He is also a fan. A Manny Pacquiao fan and admirer, no matter how hard he tries to hide or deny it. The author Teodoro Medina?Reynoso?is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines.?? He can be reached at?teddyreynoso@yahoo.com?and by phone 09215309477. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.  |
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