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LINGERING QUESTIONS FOR THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY By Anthony Quilon PhilBoxing.com Thu, 30 Apr 2015  Las Vegas ? Despite its myriad of problems, many of which are self-inflicted, boxing is akin to a proverbial cork bobbing in a beautifully angry ocean: Regardless of how many times a strong wave threatens to sink it, the cork will always pop up onto the surface, owing to its innate ability to float. And in every generation, we have had boxing matches that transcend the sports since the Marquess of Queensberry imposed the rules of the modern boxing in the 19th century. In my generation, I am lucky to have witnessed some of the most exciting and unforgettable matchups in the ?70s and the ?80s when Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, among others, ruled the sport of boxing. Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Oscar de la Hoya, Roy Jones, Felix Trinidad, et al, dominated the sport in the ?90s and left an indelible mark in the world of pugilism. One thing about the sport of boxing is that it is universally understood that even a small fry can understand. It doesn't need translations or explanations as it moves from culture to culture across time and around the world. It also provides a safe and acceptable playground for us to channel the primal aggression we would rather relegate to the sub-basement of our amygdala -- either actively through our own participation in the sport or vicariously from the comfort of our seats in the stands. And here?s the unvarnished truth about our beloved sport: Boxing aficionados and even casual fans respond positively even under dire circumstances or the worst economic crisis, providing the sport delivers what they want to see. And when we have those matchups in history, it's intrinsic effervescence shoots the sport, like a Champagne cork, high into the firmament, beyond our wildest imagination, and into the realm of the truly magnificent ones. We don?t have to look no further. The showdown between Mayweather (47-0, 26 knockouts), the WBC/WBA champion, and Pacquiao (57, 5-2, 38 knockouts), the WBO titleholder, for the unification bout on May 2nd at the MGM Grand is an eloquent example of the matchup that will transcend the sport into another level. This is a fight that has captured the imagination of the people around the world and it will certainly be the richest fight in boxing history. It is expected to live up to the hype and will hopefully become a magnificent fight. We?ll eventually get to find out who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. There has not been a boxing event of this magnitude since Muhammad Ali fought Frazier at Madison Square Garden in 1971. This is a throwback to the halcyon days of the ?70s and ?80s when the very best fought the very best. Not only will this be a fight that makes the world stop, not only will this be a fight that puts the public spotlight on the sport of boxing, not only will this be a fight that will make these two combatants ludicrously wealthier, but it might just be a fight that lives up to its promise once the bell rings and the two combatants slug it out. 
But these are the questions that linger in my mind: Will Manny Pacquiao be able to unleash his killer instinct that he skillfully employed when he annihilated and imposed his will against the likes of Cotto and De La Hoya and not be reckless at the same time? Can he break into the much-vaunted defensive shell of Mayweather? Will the devastating knockout he suffered in the hands of Marquez play a factor when he corners Mayweather against the ropes? Will he succumb to the traps of the wily and elusive Mayweather? He?s been talking about his killer instinct when he was interviewed here by the select members of the media a day after he arrived here in Las Vegas. A few days ago at the Wild Card Gym, Freddie Roach was interviewed by Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times. Freddie said that Pacman promised him that the latter will knockout the unbeaten Mayweather. He made the promise after he sent his brother to New York to collect his seventh Eddie Futch trainer of the year award. "What would be most special is No. 8, and Manny says, 'You'll win that next year, because I am going to knock Mayweather out,'" Roach said. "I've never heard Manny be so bold. I was really happy he said that to me," he added. I was in attendance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena when Manny Pacquiao stepped into the MGM ring as Marquez delivered one of the most brutal knockouts in modern history. Watching Manny Pacquiao's concussed body and lying face-first on the canvas, I was torn between the savage beauty of Marquez's blood-curling and picture-perfect counterpunch and the pathos of Pacquiao's devastating loss. In the immediate aftermath of that devastating knockout, some of the self-proclaimed pugilistic cognoscenti from the Philippines immediately chimed in and offered their two cents' worth in a typical Pinoy fashion and advised the BWAA Fighter of the Decade to hang up the gloves. These people have a very loose grasp of the boxing history and a superficial understanding of what makes a fighter great. Quick and brutal knockouts seldom inflict serious injury although it can damage the fighter psychologically; it's the savage and grueling years of war of attrition that usually lead to permanent damage. I was also in attendance on June 9, 2012 when the undefeated welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr., won in a questionable split decision against Pacquiao in what many boxing experts consider as one of the most controversial verdicts in history. Most of the boxing experts agreed that Pacquiao clearly won the fight. In the buildup to their rematch, the main theme from Bradley's camp is their insistence that Pacquiao has lost his ?killer instinct,? and saying in effect that his aggressiveness and quick reflexes are "not there anymore." So let's get the facts straight. For nearly six years, the eight-division world champion hasn't knocked out any opponent since he beat the heavy-handed, well-schooled, versatile, hard-hitting and boxer-puncher Miguel Cotto in 2009 and questions have been raised to his ?killer instinct? and fan-friendly style that made him an international icon. He's known as one of the very few fighters who will go for a knockout from the opening bell. It's not his technical improvements but his swashbuckling and devil-may-care attitude, in-the-ring ferocity and his never-take-a-backward-step and non-punching style of fight that has endeared him to adrenaline junkies and the devotees of the Sweet Science. Under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, a psywar expert and master strategist, he had become one of the most savage practitioners of the Sweet Science and had employed both General Clausewitz's theory and Sun Tzu's strategy in imposing his will by decimating and overwhelming his opponents and with his swarming and non-stop punches. This fight against Mayweather will be totally different, according to some of the senior member of the Team Pacquiao. ?This time around Pacquiao will not show any compassion to his brash opponent,? they said. When I spoke to one of his closest friends sometime in 2011, there was something that he said that etched indelibly into my mind. He said at that time that if he ever squares off against Mayweather, he will never show any "compassion" and will not pull off his punches to the point of incapacitating him, after Mayweather accused him of using performance-enhancing drugs. Pacquiao's running partners Emmanuel Ferrer and Mandirigma Angeles both insisted that they haven't seen Manny train this hard in years. Former boxing champions Orlando Villaflor and Roberto Jalnaiz have both agreed that they have never seen Pacquiao this motivated. His spartan-like training on the trails of the Griffith Park was brutal, says Jalnaiz. ?He's not just motivated but also very excited for this fight,? says Team Pacquiao member Mermann Flores who is also one of Pacquiao?s security aides. Jay Conte, another long-time member of the Team Pacquiao, gave an insightful analysis. "He will be extra motivated for this fight. Mayweather knows that. All those defamations and baseless accusations of using performance-enhancing drugs he hurled against Manny will only strengthen his resolve to defeat his undefeated opponent. And how he ripped Pacquiao with his racial slurs and childish rants during his tirade on video that became viral on social media," he said. Pacquiao must win convincingly on Saturday night aptly billed as the ?Fight of the Century? and unleash his fury and killer instinct to show the boxing community and his legions of fans that he?s the best fighter of this generation. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Anthony Quilon.  |
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