Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao is riding a wave of success big enough for Kelly Slater to enjoy. His demolition of Erik Morales in November of this year was the icing on the cake for a career that continues to thrive. Considering public interest in boxing as a sport has dwindled in recent years due to poor promotions, bad decisions, and the lack of a unified heavyweight champion have led us to desire the likes of a Pacquiao immensely. He’s brought so much excitement to the sport that his nickname of the “Pacman” is well known in the industry and to some general public as well. If you think about it, Pacquiao is literally carrying boxing on his back right now. Boxing enthusiasts and writers know the essence of the Sweet Science is to hit without being hit, but Manny has systematically changed the Sweet Science into his own science by perfecting a forward southpaw fighting style that has made him into one of the world’s most exciting fighters.
Reports have surfaced about his ongoing legal battles with Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya’s promotional company, and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. It seemed for a moment that the Filipino superstar was without counsel, guidance, or a friend. De La Hoya had Pacquiao ready to be his six million dollar man, excuse me, five million dollar man. The deal he inked with GBP was a seven fight deal where Manny would make five million per fight. Every internet boxing site on the web was reporting that he was with GBP, but then, the next moment, we were hearing he’s with Top Rank. Reports confirm that Shelly Finkel, Pacquiao’s manager, was instrumental in straightening things out for him. Thanks Shelly! Well for those who haven’t heard the latest news, the Pacman has made the announcement that Top Rank will guide the future of his career. Now most folks know that Oscar’s stable of potential fighters for Pacquiao seemed like the wiser choice but I guess it’s fair to assume that Manny decided to stick with the wisdom and experience of a Bob Arum over the excitement of signing with the hottest boxing promotional company in the world, GBP. Time will certainly tell if he made the right decision.
Pacquiao’s next opponent hasn’t been confirmed yet but the rumor mill has a few names floating around in it, those being, a rematch with Mexican Legend, Marco Antonio Barrera, and exciting new-comer, Mr. Edwin Valero. Try to picture the Mike Tyson of the late eighties, suddenly transformed into a 130 pound man, and there you have Valero. The hard punching Venezuelan tote’s a record of 21-0, 21 KO’s (not a typo), he is for real. His first eighteen fights ended in first round knockouts! The thought of a future match-up between Pacquiao and Valero has boxing fans salivating at the mouth. It’s one of those fights that will not reach the scorecards, and if it does, expect both combatants to need medical attention at the conclusion of the bout.
The Barrera rematch, while currently on hold, is the next huge fight for Pacquiao. Barrera has signed to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on March 17th, 2007. Pacquiao beat Barrera relatively easy in their first fight, dropping the Mexican in the third and sixth rounds and finishing him off in the eleventh. Since then, Pacquiao has been on a streak, destroying the cr?me de le cr?me of the division and enduring a three fight trilogy with Erik Morales. Barrera is already considered one of the greatest fighters of our generation and now, at the ripe young age of thirty-two, he’s got a fight to look forward to against Marquez and rematch with Barrera. Neither fight will be a walk in the park for the battle-tested Barerra. Keep your fingers crossed fight fans that the rematch between he and Pacquiao is made in 07’. Now for those of you that saw the first fight, you should be biting your nails with anticipation for this one because nothing between these two one hundred and thirty pound gentlemen will be settled outside of the ring. Both, will lay their hearts on the surface of the canvas, come fight night, I assure you that.
Manny’s star power is growing on a daily basis, and for a guy that has lived in the web of poverty, like he has, the annihilation of the odds against him in achieving what he has to this day is a true testament of his heart, courage, and character. Along with being on the top of the boxing world, the Pacman has a multi-platinum album, and has a newly released biographical movie. Sorry Manny, I’ve heard your singing voice, and I won’t be running out to grab your album anytime soon. His wins over Barrera, Larios, Morales, and the war with Juan Manuel Marquez that ultimately led to a draw have stamped him as the “Mexican Assassin.”
Yeah, I know Floyd Mayweather’s skills are far better than Manny’s, from a Pound for Pound and skill perspective, but he’s surely the better entertainer. People don’t tune into boxing to watch the essence of the sweet science, they want to see a fight; and as crazy as it sounds, I guess it’s fairly safe to assume that violence and watching violence in any form is a part of who we are as human beings. You sometimes want to turn away from watching a fight, especially a brutal one, but you can’t…you have to look.
There are a number of huge fights that are available for the Pacman coming in 2007. Hopefully we will get the opportunity to see the Barrera rematch and the Marquez rematch. The other barn-burners that could take place in 07’ for Pacquiao are match-ups against Humberto Soto, Rocky Juarez, and Valero of course. If Manny decides to pack on an extra five pounds of striated muscle, then names like Joel Casamayor, Acelino Freitas, Juan Urango, and Junior Witter all come to mind. I know it’s a little premature in 07’ to start discussing future fights but you can you imagine in 2008, Manny Pacquiao fighting Ricky Hatton at a catch weight of 138, how insane would that fight be? Totally insane! The Filipino superstar’s options are limitless at this point. Everyone wants to fight him and every boxer wants to be in his shoes right now; but quite frankly though, they’re some big shoes to fill, despite the physical size of the Pacman.
