THE world has become Manny Pacquiao’s big stage.
Even before he methodically destroyed Miguel Angel Cotto over eleven or so rounds, the stage was already set for Manny’s grand entrance.
TIME magazine featured him on the front cover of its Asia edition. It was only the third time the prestigious magazine had a Filipino on its cover.
The other two occasions? They were both graced by the late President Corazon Aquino, considered an icon in Philippine democracy.
Even the ‘mainstraimest’ of all broadsheets, the New York Times, paid him a tribute in the days leading to his Cotto fight.
Two of the sporting world’s biggest publications, Sports Illustrated and ESPN announced they are coming with a special on him even before he met Cotto.
Everybody took notice of his record-breaking feat Sunday. Some questioning if Manny really captured his seventh boxing title in as many weight divisions. There is, indeed, a question but a debate? It won’t be coming.
For no matter how revisionist is one in boxing history, there is no escaping that what Manny accomplished in boxing may never be duplicated in our lifetime or in this century.
That’s what makes Manny so special.
Sports aficionados and scribes are a discriminating lot, especially in a sport that has nearly lost its luster after decades of being a mainstream attraction.
But Manny has broken so many barriers, including his being an Asian.
In the build up to the Cotto fight, a Vietnamese said he was proud to be a Filipino. He must have meant being an Asian. In Cambodia, Manny is a star. In Thailand, the king welcomed him in his Palace.
In Hollywood, Manny ‘guested’ in Jimmy Kimmel’s late show and had his billboard displayed side by side with Kobe Bryant.
NBA stars, whom he used to idolized, are cueing in Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym to exchange banter with him.
Oh, did I also say he is a demigod in his country?
Manny’s has definitely arrived and is arguably boxing’s new crossover superstar.
Some sees him as the fighter that will relive the glorious era of boxing.
But don’t look now. For all his ring exploits and the accolades given him, there are segments in the sporting world who still cannot seem to comprehend the magnitude of his accomplishment.
Excuse me. But HBO sports Ross Greenburg may have just delivered the unkindest statement that undermines Manny’s feat.
He said it is Floyd Mayweather Jr’s call for a fight for the ages between the latter and Manny Pacquiao to happen.
No. It is not Floyd’s call. It is Manny’s.
More than anybody else, Floyd needs Manny and the money.
Golden Boy Promotions’ Richard Schaefer just cast the first stone by implying that Floyd deserves the bigger purse should that fight happens by invoking previous PPV buys by both fighters.
Manny may not have generated as much as Floyd did in the past.
But hello! We are now living in the present.
Manny is now the MAN. And you have to give it to Manny. He deserves more than just the billing.
You did it once with Ricky Hatton, Richard, when you terribly shortchanged Manny by splitting the purse but sweetened it just the same by skimming from both your’s and Bob Arum’s share.
Do it twice and you become the villain and an outcast.
Manny could choose to retire now and HBO will lose their biggest cash cow after de la Hoya ingloriously left the sports – courtesy of the MAN right now.
Let the fight happen by giving Manny his due and proper respect. You and Bob Arum can still skim form your share but Manny has to get premium over Floyd.
Manny has conquered the world. And until somebody else stops him, he should rightfully reign as one and deserves to earn the spoils of his conquest.
