LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Manny Pacquiao is many things to many people: a once-in-a-lifetime athlete, a deeply spiritual man, a devoted husband and father, a generous benefactor, a striving public servant. But to the many who have made their regular pilgrimage to this city whenever he has a fight, he is a man of many other virtuous qualities, as well. And, as usual, they have converged on this loud, blindingly bright city to watch this master at his craft once again. And they are all unrestrained in their admiration. They are all fans, even if you wouldn?t expect them to be.
?I remember the first time I fought him, whenever he would throw a punch, I could hear sounds, like I was being shot at,? says Timothy Bradley, who has fought Pacquiao thrice. Bradley?s only two career losses have come at the hands of Pacquiao. He demonstrated how he would bob his head as if he were the target of machine gun fire. ?It was like he was shooting at me, and the punches were bullets! I was dodging and moving like ?Oh, oh, oh, oh!? I could hear the punches.?
Bradley was supremely confident coming into his first fight against the Filipino champion, and even when almost everyone doubted his chances, he believed in himself and was able to carve out a decision upset win in their first bout. But Pacquiao won both the rematch and the rubber via decision, as well.
Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer, who even recalls in detail the first time he introduced Pacquiao in the US, and sheepishly recalls how he got the young fighter?s name wrong, which has obviously corrected since then.
?I think what has impressed me the most about Manny Pacquiao is how he always comes prepared for a fight,? reveals Buffer, who has also appeared in Hollywood movies. ?I have never seen him out of shape. Some fighters have, but never Manny. He is always in great shape. That?s also why he has been able to do what he does for so long. And I have never seen a boxer who is a senator. I?ve seen senators who think their fighters, but never a fighter who is actually a senator.?
Ana Julaton, the first female world boxing champion, has also found great inspiration from her countryman?s accomplishments. Julaton tells all Filipinas who aspire for greatness to be proud of who they are, proud of their color, proud of their noses, and be proud of how they look, regardless of what standards of beauty, femininity or excellence are imposed by society.
?As a female boxer and a Filipina, there are so many other things I?ve been told I couldn?t do, and many other things I have to worry about that I otherwise wouldn?t have to,? says the former WBO world champion and mixed martial artist. ?But seeing Manny?s dedication to his craft, and his perseverance in training, he?s broken down so many walls, and it?s really inspiring.?
Pacquiao?s best friend and trainer Buboy Fernandez, meanwhile, was prepared for the end of the road when his friend asked him to run for public office. Pacquiao told him to be prepared in case this was the opportunity for them to retire from the fight game. But he was happily surprised when, after their proclamations, Manny called him up.
?As soon as we sat in office, he called me up,? Fernandez told this writer. ?He said ?Prepare yourself. We still can make many people happy. Superman will fly again.?
Fernandez also recalls the many times that they have looked back on the tremendous struggles they went through together, and first time they were in a Las Vegas hotel room and couldn?t believe their good fortune. Pacquiao always reminds him to never let their children forget where they came from, so that their feet will always stay firmly on the ground. But their continued triumph also brings new challenges. Now, more and more, his opponents try to play the age card against him. Jessie Vargas repeatedly stressed that he was 10 years younger, and that their fight was the passing of the torch.
?Age, what?? Bradley exclaims. ?Why don?t you try to get into the ring with him?? I fought him three times. I thought I knew everything there was to know about Manny Pacquiao. But he?s such as dynamic fighter that he keeps getting better and better.?
So much for age.
