Some of the most destructive forces within this world have been created due to science. You have the hydrogen bomb that can destroy whole cities, LSD which can cause you to see flying donuts dripping with jelly, methamphetamines aka shabs used to maintain a hectic work pace for eight days straight with no sleep, four pound hamburger patties that my colleague Ricardo Lois consumes on a regular basis, and potentially Manny Pacquiao the fighter. While some people believe that the Pacman is strictly a come forward fighter that merely throws bombs in combinations until his opponent is left a bloody pulp, I happen to disagree.
There are many facets to the sweet science aka boxing aka the greatest sport in the world. Boxing is an art form of fighting in which punching technique, angles, defensive wizardry, and the always important, inner fighting strength all play an important role in a fighter’s ability or inability to be effective within the ring. While some boxers utilize one of these aspects in greater abundance over the other, a select few are able to employ each method of the fight game at precisely the correct time.
While Manny Pacquiao is undoubtedly a truly violent offensive machine, I’ve noticed his ability to box when he needs to. It has never been more evident than in his fight with Oscar Larios last year when he was able to use his speed and unorthodox punches to tatter “Chololo’s” head over the course of their bout. Manny does have the second gear that makes him a truly great fighter that many fans tend to overlook.
While some fighters such as Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Joel Casamayor tend to rely on strictly boxing and movement to eek out the W’s on their record, it doesn’t necessarily make them purer boxers than Manny Pacquiao. It doesn’t mean that they define the “sweet science” any more than what the Filipino champion has shown the world. The Pacman just happens to be a more offensive practitioner of the sweet science always looking to close the show by finishing off his opponent.
As of right now, Pacquiao is undoubtedly not only the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world but he’s also the most exciting. While some people might characterize his style as being more violently sour than sweet, there’s no doubt that the Pacman’s fights are about as sugary as any when observing the “sweet science”.
