WE WILL never lose this terrific picture of Manny Pacquiao, his face a mask of blood and pain, slugging it out half-blind in the 12th and final round against Erik Morales.
This is the photo we will be showing kids of future generations when they ask what type of a hero Pacquiao was.
Pacquiao was a real warrior.
He may not be as skillful, not as foxy as Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde.
But those in a position to vote could always point to his big fighting heart when they try to line up Pacquiao with Elorde in the unofficial race for all-time greatness.
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Elorde, a former bootblack, reigned as world 130-lb. champion for seven and a half years.
Pacquiao has had brief stints as world flyweight king and world junior featherweight champ.
He was often crude compared to other luminaries as far as the sweet science of boxing was concerned.
But riding on a killer left punch and a relentless offensive, he lifted Filipino pride to a record high when he upset and stopped Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera in the 11th round in Texas in 2003.
Pacquiao next missed a clear shot at instant immortality when he lost to Morales in their classic encounter in Las Vegas last March.
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For the record, Pacquiao, pegged the favorite, was clearly outboxed by the more skillful Morales, who came in at his best against the Filipino ring idol.
To this day, it could not be soundly explained how Morales, who had never been stopped in 49 fights, having lost only two bouts by close decision, was hardly given a chance against Pacquiao in their showdown in Las Vegas.
If it’s any consolation, it could be said that Pacquiao, despite losing clearly on points, was never outfought.
In fact, there continued to be a clamor for a Morales-Pacquiao rematch; although the Mexican ring great had said he planned to move up in weight.
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Looking back, there are experts who now say Pacquiao could’ve left much of his power and skills in the training gym.
It’s their cute way of swearing Pacquiao had obviously overtrained. (“Naiwanan sa gym ang galing.”)
Pacquiao himself had admitted he had lacked the necessary shifts and movements, mainly in the lateral area.
In a fight wherein the requirement for victory was for Pacquiao to surpass himself, he proved predictable, tentative and often hollow.
He also had to do a lot of talking in the pre-fight, unlike Morales who stayed focused, mysteriously quiet in his camp up the Mexican mountains.
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All told, other than skills and preparation, the showdown against Marquez was also decided (and won) with deeper character.
Now looms a sorry post-fight scenario for Pacquiao, who had left the ring against Marquez with his head held high.
A tragic, pitiful picture of Pacquiao has started to emerge following the post-fight skirmishes he has had to wage against those managing his finances.
It’s become clear that he’s being subjected to bigger cruelty.
Pacquiao continued to swear he had been cheated of deserved earnings.
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Meanwhile, the very people who had chartered Pacquiao to superstardom were also subjecting him to shameless brutality.
What Pacquiao’s business manager, Rod Nazario, had made public, in a bid to protect his turf and honor, was both alarming and lamentable.
Said Nazario: “Pumasok sa pyramid scam. Pati jueteng gusto pasukin. Huwag, sabi ko illegal ‘yan… Pumasok din yata. But after a few weeks, siya na ang may utang.”
Pacquiao, for his part, has reportedly set aside a hefty sum for the services of a famous American lawyer to pursue his case against Murad Muhammad, his US promoter.
A long, devastating fight is predicted for Pacquiao outside the boxing ring.
We will never lose this great picture of a bloodied but deathly determined Manny Pacquiao in that showdown against Erik Morales.
But there’s also this new, tragic photo of him emerging. It’s both ugly and shameful.
