THERE’S SIMPLY no stopping Manny Pacquiao from reaping every available award from the world boxing community.
Dan Rafael of ESPN.com named Pacquiao as 2006’s top fighter, while Norm Frauenheim of the Arizone Republic did the same in an article titled “Rise of Pacquiao is highlight of ‘06.”
Rafael, formerly the lead boxing writer for USA Today, said Pacquiao “made an emphatic statement with his third round knockout victory over Erik Morales and the Filipino lefty had a “remarkable 2006.”
Frauenhiem wrote: “The ballot box for 2006 is filled with a lot of the usual suspects, but a year full of familiar condemnations and dire forecasts is defined by Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao’s signature is there in the beginning and in the end with bookend victories over Erik Morales in January and again in November.”
Both newsmen were present during Pacquiao’s twin wins over El Terrible and Frauenheim expressed concern over the future of boxing’s most exciting puncher.
“Even Pacquiao couldn’t steer clear of complications. With new-found power in his right, he has kept both hands busy with punches and a pen. In 2006, he won three fights and signed dueling contracts with promotional rivals Oscar De La Hoya and Bob Arum,’ added Frauenheim.
Frauenheim also voted Pacquiao cornerman Freddie Roach as the year’s best trainer for making Pacquiao what he is today and Pacquiao’s sensational tenth round stoppage of Morales last January 21 was the year’s best fight.
In picking Pacquiao, Rafael left out such established stars like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and heavyweight Vladimir Klitschko.
Rafael said: “Indeed, Pacquiao made those who love boxing very happy with three exciting fights, and for his magnificent year, he is the 2006 ESPN.com Fighter of the Year. The Pac Man began the year in grand style, avenging a March 2005 decision loss to Morales with a 10th round, come-from-behind knockout on Jan. 21. Although Morales dominated the first several rounds of the slugfest – what Pacquiao match isn’t? – Pacquiao rallied and became the only fighter ever to stop the future Hall of Famer.”
“Although Morales picked up his contractual option for a rubber match, Pacquiao had time to squeeze in a long-awaited homecoming fight in the Philippines, where he is as famous as Tiger Woods, Britney Spears and Tom Cruise are in America, all rolled into one,” added Rafael in his widely-read column.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s New York-based manager remains positive that the fighter would be able to see the light.
“I am still hopeful that Manny will realize what he should do before it is too late,” Shelly Finkel told the Bulletin in an e-mail yesterday.
Finkel and Roach were in the country for a short time and they both failed to convince Pacquiao to sign up for a rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera under De La Hoya’s promotional group.
