Over the next year to year and a half a lot of questions will be answered concerning three great fighters. Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny Pacquiao, and Juan Manuel Marquez. It seems like you can’t say one name without mentioning the others. Starting this October 6th in Las Vegas with the much-anticipated rematch between Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao, fans will start to get definitive answers concerning this golden era of the featherweight division. The scenarios are endless. We can have possible trilogies, possible retirements, and fights that will define the careers of these men.
The three part series ends with the enigmatic Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao is 28 years old and has a record of 44 wins 3 losses 2 draws and 35 wins coming by knockout. Manny Pacquiao first captured a title in 2001, as a last minute replacement, when he defeated Lehlondo Ledwaba for his IBF Super Bantamweight title.
The next two years will be pivotal in the career of Pacquiao. It all starts with the long awaited rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera this October. This is a statement fight for the Pacman. He has heard all the excuses Marco gave about their first encounter in 2003. Pacquiao wants to defeat the Mexican legend in convincing fashion and leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that their first encounter was not a fluke.
Manny Pacquiao’s real test will come in 2008 when he gets the chance to face Juan Manuel Marquez. Their first fight was an epic war that ended in a controversial draw. Had judge Burt Clements scored the first round 10-6 like the other two judges properly scored, that would have given Pacquiao the close decision win. A win over the highly skilled Juan Manuel Marquez would arguably make Manny the best featherweight of the last decade. Wins over Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Juan Manuel Marquez would make a hard argument for anyone who thinks otherwise.
Manny Pacquiao is already a hero in his native Philippines. When Manny fights it’s like a national holiday for the country. Manny is already considered one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world due to his exciting fighting style. When Manny appears it is must see television for all boxing fans from different races and countries. . Manny has the potential to sell out arenas in Macau, China and Vancouver, Canada and other frontiers boxing has not reached yet. The only person that can prevent Manny Pacquiao from reaching his potential is ironically enough Manny Pacquiao himself.
It has been well documented that Manny Pacquiao likes to party like a rock star in his native Philippines. There is the bar hopping, the womanizing and serious allegations about his gambling habit. You can never tell what is next with Manny. One day he wants to be the greatest fighter of all time, and the next he wants to run for a congressional seat. It wouldn’t surprise me if he decides to try his hand at playing professional billiards next.
Manny Pacquiao has the potential to be a legend inside and out of the ring. He has done a lot to help his people in the Philippines. Manny knows what his people are going through because he grew up in adverse conditions himself. It is now up to Manny to fully dedicate himself to boxing the next couple years and cement himself as one of the greatest little men to ever lace up the gloves. After he retires he can dedicate himself in a grander scale to helping his people in the Philippines by becoming a politician or even president.
