LAS VEGAS, Nevada ? In the boxing world, it’s difficult not to mention Manny Pacquiao’s name.
For more than a decade, Las Vegas has been hosting Pacquiao’s fights, a majority of which were victories, a few of them losses. He became a household name not only to boxing enthusiasts but among celebrities and US politicians.
?Manny Pacquiao should do whatever he wants to do,? said TV personality Steve Schirripa.
?Fight again, win again. Manny, he’ll fight again!? added TV and radio host Larry King.
But Pacquiao’s upcoming fight against Jeffrey Horn, an Australian boxer flying under the radar, has caused veteran sportswriters here to raise their eyebrows. They say Horn is not that visible in the boxing world.
?Horrible fight which I, for Manny, what are you thinking of? That is a joke that you are fighting this guy. The guy is terrible and why are you fighting Jeff Horn (he?s) just a joke,? said Yahoo sportswriter Kevin Iole, adding that Pacquiao should fight opponents of the same caliber as his.
?The truth is Manny doesn?t want to fight a really big guy right now, Keith Thurman said that he would fight him. Keith Thurman has a welterweight title. Manny Pacquiao is not fighting Canelo (Alvarez) he is too big,? he explained.
?Manny Pacquiao needs to fight somebody better than Jeff Horn.?
Some sportswriters say that Pacquiao is on the tailend of his career.
?My question is why is he fighting the Horn kid in Australia of all places? That?s my question to you, to Bob Arum,? said CBS sports anchor Chris Maathuis.
?He is on the tail of his career. (He) doesn?t want to take a chance, I really don?t know why. Why are you fighting this guy in Australia? It?s like you are trying to build an audience in Australia. If you are Manny Pacquiao, you come to Vegas, don?t you??
Others believe that, because he is one of the boxing greats, Pacquiao could fight anywhere in the world.
?Manny has turned into a savvy fighter and I think he deserves the chance to continue fighting. He is still one of the best fighters out there because of his experience, because of his ring guile,? said In This Corner boxing host James Smith.
?He uses a lot of athletisicm when he fights. He is a the end of it, but he still has proven in some of his recent fights that he can win.?
Earlier this year, Pacquiao was close to securing a fight with Amir Khan in the United Arab Emirates. But that didn’t push through.
The Pacquiao-Horn welterweight bout will take place at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on July 2.
