The Pac- Man, a relative nickname really, considering every hurdle placed in front of him in the last three years he has chewed up and spat out just in the aspirations of getting to the next level. I?m talking about former WBC super featherweight world champion, IBF super bantamweight world champion, and a fighter currently rated by Ring Magazine as #1 pound for pound best boxer in the world sitting ahead of other valued fighters such as Joe Calzaghe, Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez and more significantly, Ricky Hatton. That man being Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao acknowledged to the majority of boxing fans as Manny ??Pac-Man?? Pacquiao.
It is righteous to say that over the recent years Manny Pacquiao has become somewhat of a boxing legend as well as a Filipino hero (So much so, he has even had his face printed on detergent bottles, foods, political posters and even toilet roll in his home country) I can?t speak for everyone but I certainly wouldn?t like to get caught disrespecting Pacquiao?s face with used toilet roll.
Pac-Mans first major recognition came in winter 2003 when his promoter and trainer noticed that their prodigy was whizzing through the game far to easily, resulting in them opting to change the difficulty level, not from an easy to a novice level, but from an easy difficulty to a much more advanced difficulty. This tactical step up in class came in the form of tough resilient Mexican, Marco Antonio Barrera.
For this fight Manny initiated his preparation at the Wild Card Gym with training expert Freddie Roach where he remodelled his hand speed and mental preparation before the match that many considered to have defined his career. This fight was seen as Pacmans level 1 in a plot that wanted to get him to the top and the pound for pound status he wanted ever since his opening victory in the Philippines against a wiser, stronger Edmund Ignacio. On the anticipated night of 15th November 2003 a win was nothing less than acceptable if Pacquiao?s career was to advance from here. He did not fail. He brought his power with him into his first ever featherweight bout and stunned audiences and dismayed bookmakers with an 11 round TKO stoppage on a more than capable looking Barrera.
Since that fight Manny?s career has gone to new lengths with victories over Marquez, Morales, Jorge Solis and against the young southpaw David Diaz. Not to mention his dream fight against Oscar Del La Hoya in which 17 million dollars in gate revenues was achieved. Supporting the fact that Manny Pacquiao is now thought of as a ??Big Time?? fighter with an extensive fan base willing to travel the border to observe his career rise to new dimensions.
I never doubted Pacquiao in this fight, I knew he could win. The only anxiety I had for him was, whether he could avoid De La Hoya’s powerful left hook and still be effective for an entire twelve rounds. However no one can now efficiently answer that question as from the opening bell De La Hoya, 35, couldn’t avoid Pacquiao’s straight left leading to purple eyes which were severely swollen, if not shut. At the end of the eight round, De La Hoya sat in his corner and was forced to face the reality that there was little he could do but take more punishment, realising this Oscar threw in the towel, stood up and moved to the middle of the ring (The quickest he moved all night) to congratulate his victor. Without doubt Manny was now the top dog.
This has lead to the ??Super Fight?? where Manny Pacquiao?s next assignment with coach Freddie Roach is to devise a strategy against British superstar Ricky Hatton. I believe Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach will have to put together a new game plan which will be much different than the one they used against Oscar. Freddie and the Mexi-Cutioner must consider numerous factors when facing a deadly puncher like Hatton. Firstly they must eliminate the problem of Hatton?s strength, Pacquiao stated “There are concerns because Hatton is a very strong puncher so I must deal with that in the ring??
Also The Filipino added that he will be fighting Hatton at 140 pounds, a division he has yet to test. Whereas Hatton has clearly proved himself with an unbeaten record at the 140Lb mark, his only defeat coming in 2007 against Floyd Maywether where he boxed at 145 pounds for his first time opposing to his comfort zone of 139 ? – 140 pounds. At the 140 mark The Hitman has beaten notable fighters such as Castillo, more recently Paulie Malignaggi and his biggest win to date against Kostya Tszyu all at his niche of 140 pounds.
Bookmakers already have Pacquiao a 4/9 on favourite for the fight scheduled in May, hosted by the MGN Grand, Las Vegas. However this is the same bookmakers that confidently had Shane Mosley as a 5-1 underdog, and we all seen what happened in that fight, so odds can be deceiving.
Facing Hatton certainly won?t be a walk in the park for the Pac-Man as bookmakers propose. On the night Pacquiao must decide to either run or brawl with Hatton, if he comes to brawl I think Ricky would give him an ass whooping, if Pacquiao and his camp decide to play this one right who knows what else will happen in 2009. Would Floyd Maywether come out of retirement to fight? Who knows? Stranger things have happened.
All I can say is I offer my total respect to Manny Pacquiao for his admiration and courage. We live in a day and age where every small part of life is about maintaining a winning aura. Too consistently, would-be mega-bouts are never made because one party/opponent is unwilling to risk a defeat. Too much stress is stationed on not losing, especially in situations involving elite fighters where maintaining indestructible status takes preference over proving one?s worth. Of course, there are exceptions, Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton being that exception, but far too many fighters refuse to take risks without the promise of overcompensation. I am not ready to give me verdict on this contest, all I will predict is that this fight will more entertaining than ??The Dream Fight.?? Make no plans for May 2nd, because you don?t want to miss this one.
