MANNY MORE POPULAR THAN CHRIST ON SUNDAY
San Francisco, CA-Having gotten the negatives out of the way in ?Part I, The Positive & Negatives of Pacquiao-Larios,” this is where we spin the positive that came from the event. First of all, the Pacquiao legend continues to grow in leaps and bounds. Not just in the 7,000 islands that encompass the Philippines, but here in the United States as well. I know people that watched Manny Pacquiao defeat Oscar Larios on Pay Per View (Direc TV & Cable) on both coasts.
MEXICAN ASSASSIN RUNNING OUT OF MEXICANS!
Although few Mexicans would be willing to say so, Pacquiao, now 42-3 professionally, is the man that has slain every legendary Mexican he?s fought. Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and now Oscar Larios. The exception is the draw with Juan Manuel Marquez. Only Marquez and Larios, now 56-4, were standing at the end of 12 rounds with the Pacmonster. But, both of those men were hurt (see dropped) numerous times by Pacquiao.
PACMAN HAS DOUBLE DIGIT KNOCKDOWNS
With people like ESPN?s Teddy Atlas, (whose book has been rated good and very good) questioning Erik Morales? ability to engage Manny competitively later this year, would the third fight be a rubber match, or the rubber brand (Morales) that broke? Is this the fight that ends with Pacquiao standing victoriously, after clubbing what used to be Erik Morales?
AND WHAT ABOUT BARRERA & PACMAN?
As for Marco Antonio Barrera, the rematch with Rocky Juarez is set. Knowing that Marco was in excellent shape for the first fight tells me he?s slipping badly. Not to knock Juarez, the 2000 Olympic Silver Medallist, but Barrera is fading. The big money for these Mexican warriors is no longer with each other. It?s against the fiery Filipino, Manny Pacquiao. Morales seems ready to ride off into the sunset after a Pacman drubbing, but Barrera, who was stopped in the 11th round of a rout, he might be smart to skip a rematch.
MONEY & PRIDE COMBINATION TOO HARD TO RESIST?
The financial incentive, this and pride, these two ingredients will surely make a Pacquiao-Barrera rematch happen if they both keep winning. Barrera?s a proud man that tells people that he?s eager for this to happen. Should Marco lose this upcoming rematch with Rocky, then I think there?s a great possibility he?ll retire and we?ll never see Pacman-Barrera II.
PHILIPPINE WORLD SCREACHED TO A HALT!
As for his impact on his country, the world all but came to a halt Sunday morning beginning at 9 AM local time in Manila. A very religious nation, there were a lot of people that skipped church. One report said churches were empty. But to the millions of Filipinos, Sunday was a Christmas-like holiday for them. With the exception of that one point in the third when Pacquiao was rocked, it was all about an annihilation, and then celebration.
PACMONSTER CHOMPED ON LARIOS AFTER THREE
With the 12 rounder a runaway on the www.RingTalk.com scorecard at 118-106, there really isn?t anything you can say negatively about Pacquiao?s performance. Oscar tested him, and the Pacmonster passed with flying colors. His supremacy at 130 lbs. might be unsurpassed by anybody current. The exception could be the WBO?s Jorge Barrios.
THINK EVEN THE REDNECKS WOULD TUNE IN?
The way that Manny Pacquiao fights, he could be a fighter that could rekindle the fire in the belly of one-time boxing fans that no longer view the sport. Besides the blossoming Hispanic and Filipino populations, and with the current anti-illegal immigration issue foremost on the minds of some, if Manny were properly promoted as a Mexican assassin, these demographics could come together.
WHERE DO I SET THE ODDS?
If it happens later this year, Manny Pacquiao is a 4-1 choice over Erik Morales. If Manny were to engage Marco Antonio Barrera, he?d be a 3-1 favorite. The odds are probably 10-1 against any Mexican beating Pac before he packs it in. Pacman-Barrios 6-5 pick ?em. If Barrera or Morales can defeat Pac, and they probably can?t against the 2006 version, Team Pacquiao will need to resurrect Juan Manuel Marquez (Manny 3 ? to 1) quickly in order to continue the Mexican assassin angle.
?RACE BATTLES, THAT?S WHAT?S MISSING!
You think I?m kidding? There were Aryan types who thought at one time that Butterbean Esch was really the World?s heavyweight champion. On Monday or Tuesday of next week, I?ll talk about ?Race? and how it played a critical role in the development of boxing, both as a spectator sport live, and on television. If boxing had five White guys that could really fight, the game wouldn?t be a ?niche? sport that has been exiled to Cable.
