Manny Pacquiao’s blazing performance against David Diaz at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, secured his deserved placement as the mythical Pound for Pound King in boxing. The Filipino icon used his blazing speed, furious, but controlled attack, and underrated defense to pepper the stubborn Diaz into a 9th round knockout.
?All hail the King!,? but what is next for Pacquiao? A string of fights that will bring him or his reign little honor, or fights that are high quality and will test his skills?
The writing is on the wall and it seems as if Pacquiao will follow in the footstep of the former King, Floyd Mayweather Junior, and take fights that will fill his coffers but leave the fans wanting action and excitement.
All indications point to Pacquiao going up another five pounds and his next high profile fight will pit him against England’s Ricky Hatton. An event, that is just that, an event more than a boxing match. With Hatton committed to fighting Paulie Malignaggi in England later this Fall, either Manny Pacquiao takes a long rest or the more likely scenario is promoter Bob Arum squeezing ever last possible red cent from boxing fans and throwing in his newly crowned King against a mediocre foe during November.
Not the sort of scenario fans of boxing want to see.
There is plenty of unfinished business for Pacquiao with boxers that can test his physical limits. Valero, Marquez, Guzman, and Soto are all names that come to mind. Sorry Hattonites, Ricky is clearly at the tail end of his career and hugging and mugging is not what the true boxing public wants for their pound for pound best.
Thank You Monte!
Monte Barrett will be remembered for two things.
One, winning it all on American television game show ?The Price is Right?, and two, possibly ridding the world of boxing freak show Tye Fields.
If there was any doubt that Tye Fields was Eric ?Butterbean? 2.0, Barrett proved it the minute the bell ring and violently knocked him out moments later.
Who knows, without Tye Fields being prominently featured on their Versus Network boxing programming, maybe Top Rank can now present quality action on the show.
Fight of the Night…Mexico vs. Puerto Rico
Mexican-American WBO featherweight champion Steve Luevano and Puerto Rican Mario Santiago let it all hang out in a highly entertaining and competitive twelve round draw. It was the latest edition of boxing’s longest and greatest boxing rivalry…Mexico vs. Puerto Rico.
Luevano’s offense was crisper and more technically sounds, but Santiago was able to hurt his opponent and stay in the fight with strong left hands of his own. Both men knocked each other down and fought with the urgency so many professional boxing bouts lack.
In a perfect world, a rematch would take place, but I have the gut level feeling that having luckily kept his championship, Luevano will look for an easier defense with some other opponent.
Poor Officiating Brings Steward Close To Tears.
I agree with Emanuel Steward, Referee Joe Cortez’s disqualification of Humberto Soto in his bout with Francisco Lorenzo was one of the worse decisions made inside a ring in recent times. But, I am not sure if it was enough to bring me to near tears.
While providing his analysis of the poor decision on camera during the HBO Pay Per View broadcast, Steward was clearly emotional and seem to be near tears.
No worries Manny! Soto has a fine promoter and should bounce back with a nice purse and television fight and Lorenzo can defend his meaningless and unmerited WBC super featherweight championship.
