MANILA, Philippines — You think you have heard enough about the Manny Pacquiao magic, how a mere mention of his name would open impossible doors that had been shut for ages?
You see, while his handlers continue to insist Pacquiao would run over Mexico?s Juan Manuel Marquez, reigning WBC 130-pound king, in their rematch next month, they are clearly being goaded giddily by the Pacman?s incredible offensive, anchored on power and speed.
Put in a hefty helping of Pinoy bravado and it would indeed appear Pacquiao is impossible to upset come the night of March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
In fact, reluctantly influenced and convinced by this incredible gang of Pacman rah-rah boys, this reporter has decided to skip the Las Vegas trip this time, thanks to the predicted massacre by the Pacman of another Mexican warrior.
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You bet Pacquiao has improved tremendously since he was last forced to a controversial, bloody split draw by Marquez in their first fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in May 2004.
His famous American trainer, Freddie Roach, insists that, while the Pacman has improved into a two-fisted assassin — he now packs a right wallop, compared with last time when he rode mainly on his killer left hand — he has also developed better all-around ring craft.
Roach is right, although he could not assure that there will be no repeat of the boo-boo that saw Pacquiao peaking ahead and getting miserably overweight, negatives that had the Pacman reporting deathly drained and skeletal for the official weigh-in in his rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera in October.
OK, Pacquiao may not even have to break barriers in order to prevent those horrible mistakes.
But, come to think of it, there?s one very visible Pacquiao defect Roach will have to work extra hard to correct this time out.
You see, DEFENSE, and the lack of it, is one area Roach and Pacquiao have to work on very diligently, and very hard, too.
Reason: Pacquiao has not shown any visible development in his poor defense.
Worse, he still drops his guard whenever he goes for the kill.
Sorry, going by the results of his partnership with Roach, this glaring defect in Pacquiao?s shallow armory has obviously been treated as part of the winning Pacquiao magic.
Will offensive savvy be great enough to offset this defect in the rematch against Marquez?
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Now, speaking of the Pacquiao charm, your reporter here thought he had heard everything about it until we received this message through the e-mail the other day.
Dear Sir:
I?ve tried everything. I?ve used practically all angles. My nose nearly bled trying to have this story published. I have all but given up until I turned to the great Manny Pacquiao.
Kindly read on:
STO. TOMAS, Pangasinan?The Philippines will try to upstage Mexico once again, but not in the boxing arena.
Barely a month before the much-awaited Pacquiao-Marquez return match, RP girds for another battle with Mexico when it attempts to capture a record for the Longest Barbecue in the Guinness Book of World Records, currently held by Hermosillo, Mexico.
The attempt to set a new world record coincides with the town?s First Centennial Celebration on Feb. 10.
Vice Mayor Dick Villar said they will try to top the existing record for the longest barbecue, set at 1,294 meters and achieved by Hermosillo, Mexico, on Nov. 20, 2006.
Organizers will use 2,2024 corn grills laid out on a stretch of 4,938 meters, covering 10 barangays, from Carmen to Alcala.
