I can no longer defend Manny Pacquaio as to this shamewful allegation.
This is a pattern of widespread and invidious discrimination of the worst, most abhorrent kind.
Any neutral judge in any fair-minded court would have to find the Pinoy Idol guilty as charged by prosecutor and former world junior middleweight champion John David Jackson.
FOR EMPHASIS, LET ME REPEAT, PACQUIAO IS GUILTY AS CHARGED, GUILTY AS SIN AND AS GUILTY AS THEY COME.
Pacman is, indeed, guilty of felony avoidance of fights against black Americans.
No, turning pasty Ricky Hatton black, blue, green and purple in under six minutes does not count for anything here.
At first, the racially mixed Jackson, a solid enough trainer and like Manny a southpaw in the ring, charged that Pacman ducked all blacks.
Then when it was pointed out that Pacman, normally preoccupied with fighting Mexican greats, had beaten a coal black South African, the charge was amended to avoidance of African Americans.
Now we are really getting somewhere.
As I say, I am often found in Packy?s corner, but not on this hot topic. I cannot defend the indefensible.
Herewith the absolute proof, the proof beyond a doubt, of Pacquiao?s guilt on this serious matter:
1. Pacquiuao has never fought Oprah Winfrey.
2. Pacquiao has never boxed Barack Obama, either.
3. Pacquiao has never fought bleached blond, heavyweight Francois Botha. Although the ?White Buffalo? hails from South Africa, he moved years ago to the US and became a true African American.
4. Pacquiao shakes in his boots upon hearing the name of Samuel Jackson who could strike down upon him with furious anger.
5. Pacquiao ducks Sidney Poitier even stooping so low as to deferentially say to the actor, ?To Sir, With Love.?
6. Pacquiao has never fought Floyd Mayweather. If this statement is true as of next April, it will always remain true, trust me.
7. Pacquiao never ?danced? with either Ike or Tina Turner.
8. Pacquiao ?acts? like a coward when someone refers to Denzel Washington. You might think Pacman was ?A Man On Fire? or someone worried about ?Training Day? when this cat?s name is bandied about.
9. Pacquiao never fought Kevin Garnett who might be too much of a ?Big Ticket? for his scrawny backside.
10. Pacquiao has never fought Don King, Gayle King or anyone related to Martin Luther King Jr.
So you Pachuggers, you demented fools who like to hug the lower portion of the fighter?s anatomy, you go on defending your boy on this rap.
I say, I quit. I say, step down, next case.
And John David Jackson didn?t even have to mention how shamefully Manny has ducked and dodged Michael, Tito, Reggie, Janet and all the other Jacksons.
You defend Pacman on this one.
Not me because I am going to ?beat it.”
Too bad Pacquiao won’t be able to do the same.
Michael is a former sports columnist at the New York Post. He was a criminal defense attorney and worked for sports legends Howard Cosell and Don King. Marley also operates BoxingConfidential.com. Email him your thoughts. He makes it a practice to always recommend Pacland and Philboxing
