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Philippines, 03 May 2024 |
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FULFILLING A DESTINY By Atty. Dan Neri Lim PhilBoxing.com Wed, 10 Sep 2008  Manny Pacquiao?s Dec. 6 super-showdown with Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya is the icing on the cake of the Filipino superhero. Already immortalized in the Philippines as the greatest boxer and athlete it has ever produced, Pacquiao?s fight with De La Hoya promises to raise the stakes to the level that no Filipino have ever dreamed of reaching. Just for Manny to be considered to fight de la Hoya is a triumph in itself. For Manny to actually be lined up to fight the Golden Boy in the year-end knockout of a fight is a notch higher. When he goes up the ring, Manny is a winner three times over even before he throws a single punch. Manny has become the single biggest light in a country in search of an inspiration. Getting clobbered in nearly all fronts, Filipinos find in Manny the redemption that they need in life. To say that many people care less if they remain where they are for as long as Manny makes it to the pinnacle of the boxing world is no overstatement. As the tired clich? goes, Manny is the stuff miracles are made of. He rose from his humble beginnings to where he is now ? not only the Philippines? greatest pound-for-pound but the most exciting boxer everybody loves to watch. There are those who think Manny has gotten too far. The conventional wisdom is that he doesn?t know how to stop. In the one fight that he shouldn?t have fought, they say he will end up where he shouldn?t be ? on the canvas, down and out. Well, people are entitled to their opinions. But opinion-makers generally do not make good prophets for the simple reason that they do not want to go beyond the comfort zone. Sure, De La Hoya is one of the greatest boxers on planet earth. There is no doubt that at 150 lbs and standing at 5? 10?, De La Hoya towers over Pacquiao in all aspects. But there is just one thing that the De La Hoya rooters forget ? the heart of one who has seen the worst that the world can throw at him, and conquered them. If there is one advantage that Manny has over de la Hoya, it is the heart of a lion. Manny conquers adversities like a farmer harvests corn ? routinely and casually. The secret for this is simple: he has not lost his hunger for conquests. When they stand toe to toe on Dec. 6, it will be the single most entertaining fight that the world will watch. Without sounding irreverent, let me just venture to say that people will be watching it with more excitement than they did the Beijing Olympics. Manny has one thing going for him at this point ? the faith of the Filipino people. No matter what happens, no matter how the fight ends, he will forever be enshrined in the hearts of a proud nation. Champions come and champions go. But there will only be one Manny Pacquiao. Before I forget, there is one more thing I would like to point out ? I have little doubt the outcome. It will be Manny?s hand that the referee will raise on Dec. 6. Merry Christmas, Philippines! Editor's Note: Atty. Dan Neri Lim is a long-time supporter of Philippine boxing and is currently the mayor of Tagbilaran, the capital city of the island of Bohol in the Philippines. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Atty. Dan Neri Lim.  |
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