Not too long ago, before all of the “Fighter of the Decade” and “8-Division World Champ” accolades, and when only mostly hardcore boxing fans and Filipinos knew about what “Pac Man Knows” (this article is NOT sponsored by Nike), boxing’s pound-for-pound champ Manny Pacquiao was regarded and better known as “The People’s Champ”.
That Pacquiao gave you the fights you wanted to see. Ludicrous as it sounds even to this day, this mother lover fought Mexican legends Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales in succession within a 15-month time frame while still in their primes (note: Fashan 3K Battery made a cameo between the Marquez and Morales fights).
Though he still fought formidable opponents in the last couple of years, it’s common knowledge within the boxing faithful that those fights were handpicked and set up for him by his promoter Bob Arum.
Looking back, there’s no shame in dominating bigger guys like Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley and welp, squeaking past Juan Manuel Marquez in their third fight. However, with the exception of the toughest among those four match-ups which was Marquez, it’s safe to say that fans didn’t really clamor for those match-ups.
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These were fights Arum made because they were the most profitable for him, and being the boxing promoter that he is, how can you really fault him for trying to make all the money he can make? Fighters fight; whiners whine; ducks duck (wait, do they?), and boxing promoters will set forth to stack their paper. It’s not a Pit bull’s fault if it bites off your arm when you insisted on petting it in the head. I’m not saying getting bit by a Pit bull is cool or that greedy promoters are either, but I’m just being rational and tired of all the whiners.
My point is, Pacquiao has a say and ability to give people what they want. He can make a stand to demand a fight against Mayweather on May 5th. All he has to do is say it and mean it. End of story. Arum can’t force him to fight someone else, especially if Mayweather wants to fight him too.
“I’m just a fighter, it’s my promoter’s job […] I’m just doing my job,” Pacquiao always says. Well, his fans have bought into it. This, however, has been drawn out for far too long.
HONESTLY, if a Mayweather fight is available, it’s the only thing worth pursuing for Pacquiao right now. Nobody is really dreaming of seeing him fight Timothy Bradley or Lamont Peterson; call it settling. In Filipino “sige na nga”. And as much as a fourth fight with Marquez interests me, with Marquez’s recent demands, might as well just invest all that stress and negotiating with the real fight people have been asking for against Mayweather. They’ve already three fights with Marquez and the same outcome (not decision) anyway.
NOW, Pacquiao pushing for this fight is one thing, Mayweather is another. But that’s something Pacquiao can’t control. If Mayweather really wants this fight to happen, he should cut the BS and just fight Pacquiao. No more added demands and posturing, just take the bigger pot which Pacquiao said he is willing to give you, and fight the guy. They can issue a formal offer and challenge to Pacquiao as well, instead of the childish trash-talking on the internet and in the media that has spilled over to their fans.
Mayweather is as much to blame for this fight not happening as Arum is. From the PED stories, to his arrogance in claiming he’s going on vacation and neglecting fans’ demands for him to fight Pacquiao, to all his blabber against Pacquiao instead of just pursuing the fight wholeheatedly, its time to cut the games.
Pacquiao’s fault is the opposite. He needs to speak out, take a stand, clearly define what he wants regarding Mayweather and demand Arum to make the fight happen. Pacquiao has said he doesn’t need Mayweather and has been non-chalant with the whole situation. He is after a congressman and has a billion other things he’d rather worry about than someone calling him out like a kid at a playground. This is, this isn’t for him. This is for the fans: for those that supported him and still believe he’s “The People’s Champ”.
It’s about damn time people stop picking sides and pressure all parties involved to do this fight on May 5 if that is truly what all you bellyachers want.
Me? I don’t care anymore. Screw these spoiled brats. I love boxing, and there’s more to boxing than Pacquiao vs. Mayweather. If it happens, it happens. And I do believe it’s going to happen eventually. I’d bet anyone money on that.
I just simply don’t believe Arum or Mayweather really wants that fight right now — maybe when Pacquiao and Mayweather are ready to retire. Call it cashing out.
*Cha-Ching!*
– DG –
