If Manny Pacquiao didn’t cement his status as not only the best boxer in the world, but one of the greatest of all time Saturday, I really don’t know what would.
Pacquio captured his record eighth world title in eight weight classes when he surgically dismantled another bigger, reputedly stronger opponent in Antonio Margarito.
He transformed Margarito’s face into a bloody pulp with a flurry of punches and Pacquiao’s dominating performance even sent Margarito to the hospital after the fight with a fractured orbital bone.
What makes Pacquiao’s performance sparkle more is that he actually slowed his pummeling of Margarito in the later rounds of the bout.
Pacquiao and his trainer were even urging the referee to stop the fight.
What we are watching every time the diminutive Filipino steps into the ring is not just the best fighter in the world ? we’re watching a man on another level.
We’re watching boxing perfection.
Saturday’s contest in Cowboy Stadium ? in addition to being the best sporting action that venue has seen since it opened ? placed “PacMan” in the elite. He has joined a realm of boxers that galvanize not only the sweet science of boxing, but entire nations.
An elite set, including the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Alexis Arguello and Roberto Duran.
Right now, it would seemingly take the Army National Guard or both brothers Klitschko to beat Pacquiao.
PacMan has taken on the cr?me de la cr?me of current boxing in his last eight fights ? pugilists such as Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Marco Antonio Barrera and Margarito ? and picked all of them apart.
For anyone who has boxed or wrestled, gaining and shedding weight to move up and down in class is an arduous physical chore.
Pacquiao has done it eight times and excelled each time.
Only one fight seemingly remains for Pacquiao, who hasn’t lost since 2005.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. looms, whenever he decides to stop ducking and weaving from a bout with PacMan.
Yes, you read it right. Mayweather is ducking Pacquiao.
“Pretty Boy” doesn’t want to sully his spotless 41-0 record by losing to a superior fighter.
He’d rather do appearances on WWE’s wrestling soap opera and tango on “Dancing with the Stars” than lace the gloves up, step between the ropes and challenge Pacquiao.
What fights he does take are with the likes of washed-up hacks like Sugar Shane Mosley.
Mayweather and Pacquiao have attempted to set up a fight in the past. It could have been not only one of the highest-grossing pay-per-views of all time, but also the most important fight for the sport of boxing since, well, maybe ever.
It could have been the fight that saves a withering sport from extinction at the hands of the UFC.
Yet Mayweather won’t sign the dotted line.
It’s not blood and urine tests for drugs that are holding up this fight. It’s not a dispute over who’ll get a bigger share of the gate.
It simply comes down to Mayweather and his fear of Pacquiao. He knows he’ll have his hat handed to him and probably within nine rounds at that.
Pacquiao’s lightning speed and debilitating four and five-punch combinations would stop Pretty Boy dead in his tracks.
It’s not surprising, though. Mayweather has always had the reputation of not fighting the best fighters.
His actions regarding Pacquiao do nothing but reinforce that reputation.
In some ways, I can’t blame him. He’s reacting how most of us would.
Would you want to fight perfection?
I wouldn’t.
