Joining the elite list of boxing immortals is what newly-crowned World Boxing Council super-bantamweight champion.
Manny Pacquiao will try to accomplish now that he has already earned the distinction as the first Filipino and Asian to win world titles in three weight categories.
Already a strong candidate for the boxing Hall of Fame, winning a fourth, a feat only eight boxers so far had attained, at this stage of his career is doable and, therefore, must be pursued.
Reason why nobody should blame the Filipino icon himself and his camp, led by the influential Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions, in pronouncing after Pacquiao disposed off erstwhile beltholder Juan Manuel Marquez last Saturday that a rematch with the dethroned champ is not in their minds.
Arum, instead, insinuated that Pacquiao, who, once in his checkered career had held the WBC flyweight crown and the International Boxing Federation super-bantamweight plum, is eyeing a match up against David Diaz, the WBC lightweight titleholder.
Not only because of the high financial rewards it can open, but, likewise, because succeeding in his quest will earn for the Filipino fighter the legendary status, not all boxers, not even champions can accomplish.
Why, Arum is even thinking bigger things by going into the record last year that a Pacquiao versus super-lightweight champion Ricky Hatton or former super-welterweight champion look a possibility.
Sounds crazy, but knowing Pacquaio and Arum?s penchant for big money and trekking the roads to more fame, nothing is impossible.
As in the words of HBO commentator Larry merchant, “As an attraction, Pacquiao vs. Hatton and/or Oscar would be ax pretty big deal. Because of Pacquiao?s age (29), and his pound-for-pound power, you couldn?t dismiss him.”
