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Philippines, 17 May 2024 |
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MUHAMMAD ALI AND MANNY PACQUIAO: ALL-TIME GREATS By Alex P. Vidal PhilBoxing.com Wed, 10 Dec 2008   LAS VEGAS, Nevada ? There was no doubt that Manny Pacquiao, the new Teki god of punch business, is next to "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali, the protege of Angelo Dundee, who admitted for the first time in more than 40 years that he erred when he predicted that Oscar De La Hoya would easily outslick and overpower the Filipino "Mexicutioner" who will turn 30 on December 17. "I was dead wrong," sobbed the 86-year-old Dundee. "Maybe I'll be right next time. What's the difference?" Dundee had made tons of accurate prefight analyses when his wards?Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, among other bigger-than- life fighters, placed boxing on top of the pyramid, the reason why media would always consider his wisdom more reliable than the Apostles Creed. It took a lightweight champion from the Far East, a religious southpaw, to oblige the legendary senior citizen to admit that he "was dead wrong." Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) has eclipsed the record of all former Asian world champions, including that of Henry Armstrong and Jimmy Wilde, and is now perched on the pedestal of all-time greats alongside the former Cassius Clay, who elecrified the boxing world with his fantastic charisma and devotion to humanity in the 60's and 70's. No other boxer in history has won three titanic fights in one year in three different weight divisions (super featherweight, lightweight, welterweight) , a feat Pacquiao executed with unparalleled pay-per-view success in the age of internet and satellite media broadcast. No other boxer in history from a Third World country has dispatched with loud magnitude a ring superstar from the United States who has the status of a demigod; the fame of Tiger Woods; the popularity of Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth combined. Pacquiao's 8th round annihilation of the Golden Boy (39-6, 30 KOs) on December 6 at the MGM Grand here provoked sentiments even from hostile Hispanic territories who had nothing but corrosiveness and expletives to a handsome compatriot they thought didn't put up a gallant stand before calling it a night while on his stool. Juan Manuel Marquez and David Diaz, both visited the canvas like true brave warriors before losing to Pacquiao; thus, they still command the respect and admiration of fight fans who continue to lavish their "bravery" with praises. Like De La Hoya, there is Mexican blood running their veins, but they went down fighting literally and fans thought they weren't cheated for their tickets. Not De La Hoya, whose immortality his trainer Nacho Beristain had wanted to protect the reason why the trainer pulled the plug just when Pacquiao smelled a KO victory had the duel resumed in the ninth round. There was no doubt that Pacquiao, with his mind-boggling TKO victory over a superman, has captured the imagination of fight fans from all over the planet, never mind if his 12-round brawl with De La Hoya the promoters had dubbed "Dream Match", was non-title. After a rousing disposal win, a consensus among pundits all over the United States suggest that Pacquiao is all-time great?next to Muhammad Ali. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.  |
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