Manny ‘the Pacman” Pacquiao, is a man in a hurry. The whole boxing world, and even those who despise boxing here in the Philippines knows that on March 19 of this year, he will be facing the super featherweight champ, Erik Morales of Mexico. I can’t remember any fighter who has started as a flyweight and fought on with huge success on the subsequent weights, finally culminating in the super featherweight division. Even the great Jimmy Wilde never made it that far. Now going back to the Pacman, this guy was the biggest news to hit my country since the people power that toppled Ferdinand Marcos in ’86.
Its now Pacman here, and Pacman there. Heeyah, heeyah, yo! He’s done commercials. He’s done movies. He’s everywhere. Hell, if Manny Pacquiao runs for Senator, he could be one, given my countrymen’s penchant for craziness when it comes to electing our Government leaders. Our nation comprises of 700 islands. Only God knows how many of these islands go to a standstill during Pacman fights. I cannot help but compare Pacquiao’s incredible fame to that of another boxing immortal, Roberto Duran, undoubtedly the greatest lightweight of all time. Duran was Panama’s lone boxing champ then, and so is Pacquiao now for his country. In that great decade of the 1970’s, it is said that Duran’s name becomes a prayer on fight night. And a then prime Duran doesn’t disappoint. The same can be said with Pacquiao.
That’s why he creates a frenzy among us Filipinos whenever he fights. I also fear that if he loses, productivity will on an all-time low for all work levels in the Philippines the following day. Vacation or sick leaves will be on an unprecedented high. That is why a Pacman victory is mandated come March 19. There will be pandemonium on a win, as if we’re Red Sox Nation last October. Or there would be grief, as if the Pope had died.
Fight Analogy:
1983 flashes back to me as the last time wherein a great super bantamweight went up in weight to challenge arguably the best featherweight of all-time or at least in my opinion. I’m talking about Puerto Rico’s WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Wilfredo Gomez and the then featherweight king, the late Salvador Sanchez of Mexico. Gomez was a concussive puncher during his salad days. Salvador Sanchez, just saying the name, brings back so many memories. This is how I can pay homage to this great Mexican warrior: I have yet to see any fighter since or even before Salvador Sanchez that possesses his ring generalship and excellent footwork except for on fighter whose name was Cassius Clay AKA Muhammad Ali. Sanchez, like Clay/Ali, puts together not just five, but six, seven or eight punch combinations with extra-ordinary frequency. If you don’t take my word for it, ask Danny” Little Red” Lopez.
Sanchez was the only fighter to have stopped the durable Azumah Nelson. In the Gomez fight, Salvador was just too much for Wilfredo. The bout came to a halt in the eight round although Sanchez had Gomez in trouble as early as in the second round.
In this big fight,Sanchez’s pure boxing skills negated the punching power of Wilfredo Gomez. Sanchez was also the quicker of the two, but I attribute his quickness to his footwork.
I reflect on this fight for the very reason that history might repeat itself in the Pacman -El Terrible encounter. The only difference this time is that the speedier guy is Pacquiao, but for me, this future Hall-of-Famer Morales, minus the speed (plus bloody nose), is the second coming of Salvador Sanchez with an upgraded chin to boot. I say this because Erik has been hit flush before and he’s still standing while nobody was able to touch Sanchez. And the big question for me is how the Pacman can carry extra weight? Whether it’s only a pound or two. Well, it took a toll on the great Wilfredo Gomez and other pugilists who moved up in weight divisions, why would the Pacman be an exception?
Wilfredo Gomez shut the door on two wanna-be’s, Carlos Zarate and Lupe Pintor, but he himself got slammed by Sanchez. Arguello also couldn’t do it against Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor in two separate fights. Bobby Chacon was overmatched when he moved up against Ray Boom Boom Mancini and was taken out in three rounds. Jeff Fenech failed against Azumah Nelson. The list goes on. I remember Chacon being pummeled by Mancini without let up. But that was then and this now.
The Age of Upgrading:
Present day champions will now have to deal with upgraded versions of lighter weight wanna-be’s who’s after their turfs. Modern training methods and food supplements have somewhat solidified the body metabolisms/structure of such fighters going up in weight (with little difficulty) such as Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, JR., Erik Morales, Felix Tito Trinidad and almost, but not quite, Shane Mosley. The extra poundage doesn’t seem to bother these champions with respect to stamina although their volume of punches will drop as they fight on through their respective careers. Blown-up fighters seems a rarity nowadays. Everyone seems to cope up with it for the most part except for Ricardo Mayorga recently, of course when he was beaten pillar to post by Felix Tito Trinidad.
This is the alternative scenario for the Pacman. His fight with Erik could result to a changing of the guard for the super featherweight crown. El Terrible no more! Only Whooka! Whooka! as Pacman gobbles ’em up from now on. I have to agree with boxing scribe Keith Terciera who hit it right on the button when he said he had this gut feeling that Manny Pacquiao is a once-in-a-generation fighter.
I do believe Pacman is just that like Roberto Duran and Mike Tyson before him. I’m probably wrong, but I think the Pacman is some sort of a super athlete. He used to be a track star in school that also played a lot of basketball. As a youngster he endured hard labor while working on the waterfront. A nerve less gambler in high stakes pool games and cockfights who can also guzzle down a whole case (24 bottles) of beer in one sitting. By far, the richest athlete his country has ever seen, but the guy can deliver. He brings home the bacon. Truly an upgraded version of Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez. The sponsorship of No Fear is a good fit for Manny because like El Terrible, and other great pugilists before him, he lays it all on the line. .He takes his chances while others do not. Fools rush in?as they say. But if that’s the case, then I’ll go for these fools anytime. March 19, you’d be a fool if you’ll just sleep into that good night.
