Featherweight Champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, 44-3, 35 KO’s, is the best super featherweight in the world and an undeniably essential player in the discussion of Pound for Pound rankings. His performances have included victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales (twice), Oscar Larios and prior undefeated Jorge Solis, a list unsurpassed by any of his peers in any weight division. He can hit with the hardest and very few are able to withstand his speed and power. His movements show a high bodily intelligence for boxing, his muscle memory whirling perfect patterns at opposition.
Pacquiao is favored by most to defeat any fighter with which he can make a match. To sit from an ivory tower and claim to really and truly know more about what goes on inside the ropes than Manny Pacquiao requires more than mere journalistic interest.
To criticize his knowledge of politics is much easier. Manny Pacquiao may be an informed and passionate citizen when it comes to the happening in the Philippines. In fact, it was proven that he is indeed that when he made his congressional run. His openness and declarative nature in front of the microphone is one of the many causes of his downfall in that election.
Politics is a field of plenty of nasty, delusional people. In the US, that experience is represented by the dualist bantering of two groups that are closer in ideology and farther from progress than they would ever defend. On the other hand, the US is certainly civil as a while when compared to countries that have no concept of democracy or at least the theory of a representative republic. Recent Philippine history points to a much more topsy-turvy situation. While the US has dealt with the extension of fights over Civil Rights and evolving foreign policy dilemmas that place it as the center of world military supremacy (and all that comes with that title), the Philippines have seen a revolution against an iron-fisted dictator in Ferdinand E. Marcos and an alliance between Marxists and Muslim Separatists in opposition to the privatization programs pushed by the political descendant of Coazon Aquino (Fidel Ramos). They have had a revolving door of corrupt governments since then, including a long line of descendants from Aquino.
Everyone who runs for office anywhere in the world must definitively go negative on the enemy in an attempt to maintain an offensive game plan. The only way to destroy someone is to take advantage of weakness.
The next move is to make nice with John Q. Public, something a pro prize fighter can do very efficiently if he’s as big as Michael Jordan was during his reign in America. Pacquiao instantly pointed to his locals as his purpose for running. “I’m doing this not for myself but for them. They won’t regret it. I will do everything I could to help my town mates in the first district of South Cotabato.”
It helps establish difference from those you attack. If nothing is wrong, there is no reason to run. If you are not likable, there is no reason to run. Worst of all, if you are the same old slop that comes around the corner with the same old suggestions as the last few guys, there is no reason to run.
That’s why your opening statement when you run for office is something along the lines of, “I want to run for the good people of (wherever). The current government is corrupt and does not represent them. I will fight. I am a new wave of new programs.”
This was exactly what Manny Pacquiao did, and it seemed political. It may have been an honest dialogue with the heart of a boxer truly engrained in it. “I am running [for Congress] because I have a good plan to help the people because there’s a lot of people who are poor. They need my help and because there are some politicians in place – they’re always promising, promising and they didn’t do anything. There are a lot of people – poor people – that need help,” said Pacquiao in April before the election.
Regardless, his run failed because of some fundamental flaw in his staff’s inability to read people. The response of the people was that Manny Pacquiao is a hero, but hardly a statesman, a fair response from the population. If every celebrity was fit for office in the Philippines, the place would become the US. While there are plenty of good things about this country, the fact that a big name trumps smart policy just is not one of them.
In the end, incumbent Darlene Antonino-Custodio knocked him out by over 37,000 votes in a downright landslide. His fans had disagreed with the run in the first place and rejoiced when he was beaten, a problem for him that was identified and utilized by Antonin-Custodio. They knew The beauty for us- you, me, and the Pacman Nation, the lifeblood of the sport- is that the Manny Pacquiao we know and love can continue his career and bring us plenty of classic fights that will define our generation. In politics, the key is to use mostly soft power to achieve ends. That format makes half-truths a destiny and a near necessity for victory. In boxing, there are two men and a referee, four hands prepared to throw all known motions. The only lies in boxing come from politics itself.
Forcing a fighter to pay sanctioning fees sixteen times before a bout gets pulled off hits the fighter X-fold over. First it hits his pocketbook directly through the tax. Then it hits his gate total because the details don’t get settled until the last minute. By the time the opening bell rings, he has to rip his opponent limb from limb to land anything near a television gig. Beyond that, any title shot handed to a fighter contains a heavy element of luck and the ability to impress. Once he gets to the top, fighting his way to a belt he may or may not deserve, there are still an infinite number of unjust ways that he could lose it. Plenty of time, it’s actually as much personal as it is business. If that isn’t flat politicking, I don’t know what is.
The closest thing to a forceful push into the political side of boxing is Oscar De La Hoya’s idea of representing the fighter first. As a boxer, it is easy to see how that goal can stay in tact for the “Golden Boy.” It can only be hoped that he does not change with age and give into the dark side of business. It can also be hoped that he is a trend setter rather than a paradigm follower.
The other major event that can happen is for Manny Pacquiao, the sure fire first ballot Hall of Famer and boxing legend, to carry his same will power to help those around him when he retires from the sport. Charity is a positive value no matter when it comes. At a time in his life when Pacquiao will be able to accomplish lending a helping hand without monetary restraints, he can do more for the helpless than ever before. Becoming a leading philanthropist and the athletic idol of an entire nation is just as effective as becoming a congressional leader. His position could help those at home and those in his profession, bringing a stability to the power structure of boxing and the power structure of an ever-shifting political landscape at home.
Vote Pacquiao… for Super Featherweight Champion.
