Even in the worst of times, when bad decisions, bad behavior or bum-of-the-month heavyweights dominated the headlines, boxing has always had a constellation of stars that saved it from oblivion.
Often, it’s been one fighter, a singular superstar, who seemingly has carried the sport all by himself. Either in the ring, at the box office or both.
In the 1970s, boxing’s cover boy was Muhammad Ali. Since then, the torch has been passed from Ali to Sugar Ray Leonard, to Mike Tyson and to Oscar De La Hoya.
But De La Hoya’s reign appears to be coming to an end. He’s only 34, but the Golden Boy has become more businessman than boxer in recent years, and his megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 5 might be his final fight.
Could Mayweather be next in line as boxing’s No. 1 attraction?
Or, might there be someone else waiting in the wings, someone ready to assume the coveted mantel of most marketable star?
Someone like Manny Pacquiao?
Beginning Saturday at the Alamodome, San Antonio fight fans will get to decide for themselves.
Pacquiao, the Filipino fireball, states his case against undefeated Jorge Solis of Mexico. Three weeks later in Las Vegas, Mayweather will make his claim in the much-anticipated showdown with De La Hoya.
For months, most pound-for-pound lists have found Mayweather at the top. He’s clearly the most talented fighter on the planet, but his personality sometimes turns people off and the box-office numbers have yet to match his superstar status.
Pacquiao might be on the brink of becoming “The Man.”
He has the charisma to go with a scintillating style and, despite his struggles with the English language — he’s improving greatly in that respect — the pint-size puncher is fast becoming a known fighter in America.
Who ever would have thought a 130-pound boxer could overpower the middleweights and heavyweights as the top draw in the sport?
Well-known boxing historian Bert Sugar isn’t quite ready to label Pacquiao the pound-for-pound best or even boxing’s most entertaining fighter, but “you could easily make a case for it,” he said.
“He’s one of the most exciting fighters I’ve seen in years,” Sugar said. “Anybody who overlooks him anymore doesn’t know boxing.”
Sugar said being bilingual has helped De La Hoya become a crossover star, but that a boxer’s ability to speak English isn’t necessarily a prerequisite for acceptance by the American fight fan.
Neither Roberto Duran nor Julio Cesar Chavez spoke English, Sugar pointed out, yet they became huge stars in the United States.
Pacquiao’s biggest obstacle?
“How can a man be embraced by America if you can’t pronounce his name?” Sugar joked.
Leonard, who knows a little something about pound-for-pound lists, doesn’t think Pacquiao (PACK-yow) has become boxing’s top draw yet.
“But he certainly has that potential,” Leonard said.
The man who waged epic battles with Duran and Thomas Hearns in the early 1980s and enjoyed De La Hoya-like celebrity status during his era, still ranks Mayweather ahead of Pacquiao on his pound-for-pound list.
But Leonard says “Pretty Boy” Floyd’s sometimes hard-edged personality “rubs people the wrong way.”
Pacquiao, Leonard said, has no such issues. As for the language barrier, he says Pacquiao speaks the universal language for boxing — action.
“He’s exciting as hell,” Leonard said. “That’s what fans want to see. With Pacquiao, you’re going to see heart, you’re going to see bravado, hand-speed, the total package. He’s amazing.”
Others opinions were just as favorable.
“Jesse” James Leija, former world champion from San Antonio:
“I’d rate Pacquiao No. 1 right now, only because he’s fought the biggest names in his division and beaten all of them. His fan base just keeps getting and bigger all the time.”
Emanuel Steward, Hall of Fame trainer:
“Every time he fights it’s exciting. He’s Mike Tyson in a smaller body. America is used to foreign fighters now. Manny has the potential to be No. 1.”
Teddy Atlas, trainer and ESPN boxing analyst:
“He probably won’t be another De La Hoya, in terms of appeal, but Pacquiao is charismatic in a different, almost animalistic way. With Manny, you have a chance to see a knockout every fight.
“He could be the next poster child for the sport.”
* * * SATURDAY’S FIGHT CARD
Who: Manny Pacquiao (43-3-2, 34 KOs) vs. Jorge Solis (32-0-2, 23 KOs), 12 rounds, WBC International super featherweight title
When, where: Saturday, Alamodome
Co-main event: Jorge Arce (46-3-1, 35 KOs) vs. Cristian Mijares (30-3-2, 11 KOs), 12 rounds, WBC super flyweight title
TV: Pay-per-view ($44.95), 8 p.m.
Tickets: $300, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35
Inside: John Whisler ranks boxing’s five most exciting fighters. Two will be here Saturday. 3D
