WITH Manny Pacquiao himself finally confirming his rubber match with Timothy Bradley on April 9 to be his final bout, it seems the day has finally arrived when we will be forced to look around for a worthy successor.
The transition will be far from seamless of course, as it is quite certain that a fighter of Pacquiao?s talents and capacious abilities may not be seen again in this generation or in the next.
But we can?t afford to let Philippine boxing be without a flagship fighter, and so for the sake of discussion let?s throw around some names.
DONNIE NIETES. Next to Pacquiao, ?Ahas? is Philippine boxing’s brightest star. He is the longest reigning Filipino world champion, eight years, and counting.
He currently holds the WBO junior flyweight diadem and defended it well in his last fight against Juan Alejo.
His only blemish came in 2004 and seems to personify the adage about wine becoming finer with age.
He is scheduled to face nemesis Moises Fuentes for a third time in a mandatory title defense tentatively penciled in May.
Nietes defeated Fuentes decisively in their 2nd bout but the latter has bounced back nicely with 4 consecutive victories since that loss.
Another Nietes victory will further enhance his legacy and he needs to keep winning to maintain his standing.
In order for his career to get that boost, he needs to nail that career-defining bout a fighter of his stature sorely needs.
Regrettably, the lower weight classes are usually the least glamorous of divisions, and this inherent disadvantage may prevent Nietes from becoming a bigger star.
But if you consider that once upon a time, Pacquiao held the flyweight belt, you will only arrive at a better appreciation of Pacquiao’s capacities and achievements.
Right now the biggest possible fight that could be made is a potential showdown with current pound for pound king Roman Gonzales who is currently campaigning at the flyweight division.
A victory over Gonzales will certainly bestow upon Nietes, Pacquiao-like cult-status, but that is far from being a certainty.
In fact, should that fight happen tomorrow, Nietes will come in as the heavy underdog.
What is certain though is that at age 33, time is not on his side and Nietes needs to get that in the works very soon and he can?t afford to be sidelined with a loss.
NONITO DONAIRE. Once touted as the strongest candidate to be Pacquiao?s heir-apparent, the ?Filipino Flash? lost his footing with losses to Guillermo Rigondeaux and Nicholas Walters, the last one in devastating fashion.
But Donaire has somewhat resurrected his career and has already racked up 3 consecutive wins.In his last outing he engaged Cesar Juarez in a war and annexed the WBO superbantamweight crown.
However, those wins did not exactly come against top tier opposition and Donaire seems to be leaning towards being more of a power puncher rather than a versatile boxer /counter -puncher.
This brawling style was exactly what he wanted to avoid, but it seems that this is Donaire?s default approach when the going gets tough.
I have no complaints as that barnburner against Juarez was a Fight of the Year candidate. My only concern is that Donaire seems to be a fighter torn between styles and this confusion could not be more apparent than the fact that he lost both to Rigo and Walters , two fighters who clearly have nothing in common, style-wise.
(to be concluded on Sunday)
LAST ROUNDS. Are on my Lola Salud who turns a young 92 this week and Siegfred Melleza, one of my best buds from high school. Happy birthday and cheers!
