To serve justice to the waiting world, the fervently anticipated boxing match of the decade has been set to happen very soon – on March 13 most possible. After everything else, it’s Manny Pacquiao, the pride of the Philippines against the exceptionally talented and flamboyant Floyd Mayweather Jr.; Pacquiao is the current pound – for – pound king, while the latter is his immediate predecessor. But the 32 -year – old American great champion has been arrogantly adamant at his refusal to recognize Pacquiao, claiming he is still the rightful holder of the throne. The moment of truth is in the offing anyway.
Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Promotions was in the country recently, meeting Pacquiao in Manila for the obvious reason – to iron out all legal matters of the mammoth boxing match. After a brief colloquy with his most treasured ward at a Manila hotel, the 77 – year old promoter of Pacquiao cheerfully declared he would hastily return to the U.S. to sit with the Mayweather camp and talk and smooth out all remaining minor details, then make the announcement as early as possible. Looking straightforwardly into these optimistic developments, it appears the fight is almost a done deal. In fact, according to the most recent reports, the two contemporary boxing giants have already signed the dotted lines leading to the colossal pugilistic competition.
Pacquiao’s social status in his native country has unquestionably transcended the boxing ring. While he dabbles in a variety of off-boxing activities, he is currently vying to become the congressman of Sarangani, his wife’s home province in the southern frontier of the Philippines. In the previous national elections in 2007, Pacquiao fought but lost via a wide margin against Darlene Antonino – Custodio for the same position for the first district of General Santos City, the boxer’s very hometown. In an apparent reason, majority of the electorates concerned did not want the most treasured citizen of the country to join the troublesome world of Philippine politics; most of them explained the political office would just spoil Pacquiao’s splendid fighting career that affords them a strange brand of pleasure and happiness whenever he climbs the ring in the world stage. They would rather see him one of the greatest champions in boxing history than a traditional politician he might become, his fans added.
A question of note is, are the constituents of Sarangani any different with that of General Santos City? Are they satisfied enough watching the Pacman do his mouth – gaping thing and earned more record – breaking victories for the Philippines? Perhaps the historic wins of their hero in his most recent outings against Miguel Cotto, Oscar dela Hoya, and Ricky Hatton were pleasing enough that “some few” are now willing to install Pacquiao into the Philippine House of Representatives. But Pacquiao needs to gather as many votes as possible as his latest road to the Philippine congress appears more rocky and thorny than his fights against those aforementioned great fighters as he is up against a no push – over opponent in Roy Chongbian, a prominent businessman and member of the established and deep -rooted political kin in the local politics of Sarangani. To add to the trouble, facing a formidable political adversary is not the only perceived impediment in Pacquiao’s political ambition, his fans including those of Sarangani is on the clamor to see him fight and defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is widely considered as Pacquiao’s immediate rival for the consensus approval as the best in the world. Mayweather is undefeated in 40 fights, 25 of which are by knockout; in the event the Filipino beats him, Pacquiao without any cloud of doubt will have his name swiftly whirled among the greatest competitors in the sweet science all across the history of the sport.
In truth this fight appears to have a lot of bearing on Pacquiao’s second try for a seat in Philippine congress. It is both a jeopardy and a boon, and Manny is well – aware of it. Confident of winning, Pacquiao jumps at the fight before the election period for the following apparent reasons. Without fighting Mayweather prior to the national polls, his other legion of fans and potential electors who, in spite of his most recent string of incredible victories, might deprive him their votes come election day on May 10 in apprehension of him already in public office would make the Mayweather fight gone forever, or if and when it happens with Manny already a congressman, people reckons he would be on the greater risk of losing, thus making them reluctant to cast their votes either. In addition, Pacquiao probably believes the months of worldwide media hype leading to the fight is a huge boost to his candidacy and a fresh victory against Mayweather will translate into votes, great enough to propel him to the Philippine political arena, which is highly possible in consideration that Mayweather is seen as the only man left standing, but so gargantuan of a challenge. The fall of the American will leave all Pacquiao fans with nothing more to demand for their hero to accomplish afar, compelling them to give him finally the benefit of the doubt. Losing, however, will speedily drag the Pacman down the hill of the political landscape due to a possible surge of clamor for a rematch, depriving him votes by the thousands in the process, albeit for his benefit. Nonetheless, in victory or in defeat, Pacquiao will be a billion peso – or more – richer when the smoke of battle of the decade if not of the century clears out on March 13, but the fight is highly winnable for the 30-year-old phenomenal Filipino; concomitantly he might as well manage to dish out a good knock out victory over Roy Chongbian, who refused to forego his constitutional right upon the prodding of some people close to the champion and in higher command in Philippine politics.
