As if it wasn’t tough enough on his overblown ego early last week when Manny Pacqiuao was praised on the floor of the United States Senate and then met briefly with President Barack Obama at the White House, what happened in a boxing ring Saturday night in Las Vegas was even worse.
As the rave reviews continue to pour in for charismatic Nonito Donaire’s two punch combination (blazing left hook followed by jaw-crunching uppercut) which produced a KO 2 over highly regarded world champion from Mexico, Fernando Montiel, Mayweather’s massive ego took another wicked blow.
(Btw, I hate to confused muddled Montiel with facts as he still labors under the delusion that he was a one shot KO victim.)
In his bright post-fight in ring convo with HBO’s Mad Max Kellerman, Donaire said that in reference to legendary Pacman, he doesn’t mind being Number Two.
Well, that’s exactly where, taking into full account his “statement” KO victories over Messrs. Darchinyan, Sidorenko and now Montiel, I’ve have placed the “Filipino Flash.”
In the interview, you got the impression that the second best is satsifactory refence alluded to Doniare being below Megamanny on the Pinoy pugilistic totem pole.
Maybe that was that Nonito meant and maybe it wasn’t.
It doesn’t matter now as the Michael Marley Pound For Pound Rankings, as seen below, are newly revised and I’ve evicted the long inactive “Money” from the second spot and dropped him to third in boxing’s batting order.
Yes, I’ve said it and so did young scribe Cliff “Sold Gold” Rold, a mainstay for Rick Reeno over at Boxingscene.com. Getting on to and then moving up on any P4P list is all about dominance, all about dramatic KOs, and Donaire seems to specialize in same.
Don’t hate him because he’s got the foot and hand speed of winged Mercury and his wife is smart and a gorgeous. Pacman remains King of the Hill in the P4P ratings, Mayweather drops down one notch and so does Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez.
Sure, Martinez looked awesome in dismantling Tall Paul Williams last November but, don’t forget that he is EIGHT years older than the 28 year old Donaire.
(Happy Birthday, Sergio, as of today, Monday.)
The best, it would seem, is yet to come from the long-limbed, ultra-fast Donaire.
Poor Mayweather, now two Filipinos are blocking his way back to his old throne.
With “Maravilla” now fourth, I’ve got Pacman nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez in the Numero Cinco position. He’s still cruising for a brusing from Pacman in a third fight and he should get his final, big paynight and a memorable pasting.
Meanwhile, though, I don’t see any others out there who are locks to beat the Mexican counterpuncher.
Rounding out my bottom half of the Top 10 P4P are:
6. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, the Thai Stick, whose next victory gives a nice, round total of 80. I wonder if he knows who great flyweight Pone Kingpetch is. (Confession: I’ve never seen a single second of any Wonjongkam fight even on the radio.)
7. Timothy “Billy Goat” Bradley, who looks as though he will accomodate Mr. Khan.
8. Wladimir Klitschko, we’ve got to pay some respect to what long was boxing’s flagship division.
9. Amir Khan, unless his chinny-chin-chin betrays him versus “Ram tough” Bradley.
10. Andre Ward/Bernard Hopkins, for sentimental reasons and because nostalgia ain’t what it used to be, go with Weekend At Bernie’s.
If Mayweather doesn’t return to the ring soon, he might take a tuk tuk full of Pinoys ahead of him.
I do hear Mayweather remains ranked Numero Uno by the village idiot in Isabella, however.
“Money” turns age 34 three days hence.
Tick, tick, tick…
