WATCHING Manny Pacquiao look dapper in his suit and appear almost credible during Senate hearings, I am lulled into forgetting that underneath all that expensive haute couture is the DNA matrix of a world class athlete, one which used to be the sport?s no.1 pound-for-pound fighter.
Riding on the coat-tails of veteran legislators allied with President Rody Duterte, Pacquiao has so far been adequately up to task, asking rudimentary questions and even moving for the declaration of vacancy of the Committee on Justice, a move which augured well for Duterte?s allies.
CONDITIONING. Poltical preferences aside, boxing fans should not be concerned about whether or not history will later show if the Pacman was on the right side of the political fence.
But rather if our idol up to the task of embarking on a comeback out of a brief retirement which on fight night will have lasted more than 7 months.
Just the other week, media reports were to the effect that Freddie Roach has noticed a dip in Pacquiao?s capacious abilities, and wanted to ease up on his training regimen by giving him two mandatory rest days in a week instead of one.
AGE. At 37, it is palpably clear that Manny is not anymore the whirling dervish that he once was.
Nobody is exempt from the ravages of time and like any boxer who laces up a pair of gloves and takes punches to the face for a living, it?s only a matter of time before the tipping point is reached.
In boxing, getting old is relative and it?s different for everybody.
On one end of the spectrum you have guys like Bernard Hopkins who has yet to officially retire at age 51.
Or Shane Mosley at age 45 who has un-retired and this year fought for an interim world title.
On the other end you have guys like Fernando Vargas who began their pro careers at age 20 and was finished just 10 years later with only 31 fights to his name.
66. In a career spanning 21 years and 66 fights, the odometer reading on Pacquiao?s career is quite high.
We saw varying vestiges of his waning skills in his last five fights, but still he has performed remarkably well, another testament to his greatness.
Still, the choice of Jessie Vargas as his next opponent seems not to only to be a safe, but a wise choice as well.
With only 10KOs in 27 wins, Vargas can?t punch his way out of a paper bag, and there?s no way he can match Pacquiao?s firepower even at his advanced fighting age.
Plus, he doesn?t move his head much so Pacquiao won?t have trouble finding him all night long.
Of course, there?s also the appetizing matter of the WBO welterweight diadem strapped around his waist which would certainly be a welcome addition to the Pacman?s collection of trinkets.
But still I wonder, how bad has the Pacman slipped considering that never before has Roach resorted to limiting his training regimen?
Maybe Roach has seen something that?s been a cause for concern.
But one thing is for sure, Vargas will be ready to fight and when the going gets tough, probably won?t be holding press conferences to complain that ? mashado na ni ninyo akong inaapi!?
LAST ROUNDS. Are on my kumpare Eddy Basa who recently celebrated his birthday and on my good friends Lee Villanueva and Sue Pausanos who are set to embark on a new journey in their lives. Cheers!
