Manny Pacquiao, 45-3-2, 35 KO?s, is on top of the boxing world. With only two, possibly three, exceptions he is the largest draw in the sport. The style in which he fights only promises to endear him to anyone who has been living under a rock since 2002 and not yet managed to see him fight. He is multitalented and ripe with crossover appeal. In his native land of the Philippines, Pacquiao has tried his hand at just about every career congenial to his celebrity status, and has met with success at just about each of them. Singing, dancing, acting, running for public office; Pacquiao seems to be able to do it all even while juggling one of the most active and exciting careers in boxing’s upper echelon today.
To say that the Filipino fans love him for it would be like saying that Rosie O?Donnell likes to hear herself speak: the simplicity of such a statement simply cannot begin to convey the intensity of the affection at work here. It is this type of love which enables Pacquiao to sit with a broad smile on his thinly mustachioed face at the negotiating table. No matter what, he knows that a veritable legion of fans march behind him, willing to pay what little money they have in order to watch him whenever and whomever he fights. Few other professional fighters can boast of inspiring this type of devotion.
However, this love was not simply given. Pacquiao?s birth did not fulfill some ancient Eastern prophecy regarding him as the human manifestation of Apo Laki come to defend his people against Aswang, and have the love of the people dropped in his lap by default. No, Pacquiao won the collective heart of his countrymen by carrying himself with honor and pride in the ring. In doing so, he honored the proud people of that island nation with is victories, charity, humility, and tenacity. He honors them still with his character. He won their hearts by winning with his fists in the ring. Though this love is freely given, it is not unconditional. Should Pacquiao?s dominance suddenly disappear, his admirers will become his detractors. In order to maximize on this drawing power before it inevitably fails, as well as continue to please his fan base, Pacquiao needs an opponent of similar superstar status. In short, he needs a Super Fight. Is there one out there for him? Allow me to play ?Magic Eight Ball? for a moment and answer: ?Sources Say No.?
Seriously, this is difficult to determine. The boxing world is rarely finite. What is true today may not be true tomorrow. As it stands now, the only two fighters in his immediate weight class capable of giving him such a fight have both retired this year after fighting the Pacman. In case you don?t already know who I mean I?ll go ahead and fill you in: Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. With these two legends of the modern era departing for good the question becomes not ?Who?s next?? but rather, ?Who?s left??
The list of quality opponents is a much easier one to make out. Many insiders have already begun calling for bouts against such burgeoning young stars as Joan Guzman and Edwin Valero, as well as a showdown against talented but often overlooked veteran Humberto Soto. Any of these three match-ups would make for intriguing, exciting fights wherein Pacquiao would likely be challenged in ways that he has not recently been challenged. Personally all of these possibilities make me as giddy as a hyperactive two-year old at Disney World, but this doesn?t change the fact that not one of these mentioned here could be labeled a true Super Fight; especially not in a day and time when 2.15 million viewers have forked out their hard earned cash in order to watch a highly anticipated bout. In the case of Pacquiao versus any of these fighters, interest outside of the boxing faithful simply isn?t there.
Recently there has been speculation regarding a possible Pacquiao rematch with one of boxing?s best kept secrets in Juan Manuel Marquez. Indeed it appears as if the puppet masters are busy pulling the strings behind the scenes at the negotiating table, and if all goes well we may get to see this fight sometime in early 2008. This is good news because ever since their first bout in 2004, there has been a strong demand for a rematch, and why not? The two fought to a highly controversial draw in what was a damn good fight, and this is the biggest fight that can currently be made at Super Featherweight.
Unfortunately, and as a long time Marquez fan it pains me to say this, despite the recent surge in popularity Marquez may not have drawing power sufficient to qualify their rematch as a Super Fight. I could be wrong. Maybe with the departure of both Barrera and Morales, Mexican fans will jump on the Marquez bandwagon and finally appreciate him for being the brilliant boxer that he is. Somehow, I doubt that they will. As good as he is, Marquez doesn?t? exactly fit the mold of a ?Classic? Mexican fighter; a mold established by Julio Cesar Chavez.
Marquez simply boxes too much and slugs too little. Though to be fair, Marquez has altered his style in recent years to become more of an action fighter, he remains a boxer/counter puncher by nature and no amount of money will be able to change that. Yet even if the Mexican fans do get behind Marquez and hail him as the second coming of JC, it probably won?t matter much. The American public will still ignore the 130 pound maestro, just as they have ignored every weight class beneath welterweight since time immemorial. The only real saving grace for this fight will come if Golden Boy Promotions puts all its advertising muscle into promoting this fight as they have done with Floyd Mayweather ? Oscar De La Hoya in the past, and are doing now with Floyd Mayweather ? RickyHatton.
This means doing the 24/7 docu/drama, Sports Illustrated covers, as well as spots on The Tonight Show and The Best Damn Sports Show. Something tells me that the financial guru?s at Golden Boy won?t anticipate a return for this type of investment, so we shouldn?t anticipate that type of investment for this fight. This match-up, though likely the best match-up that can currently be made in this weight class, approaches the border of becoming a Super Fight, but just doesn?t make the cut.
That does it for Pacquiao?s prospects at super featherweight, so what?s next? A move down in weight won?t find him the marquee name that he?s looking for, so let us head five pounds north to lightweight. Juan Diaz is currently the biggest star in this division, and many hardcore fans have recently begun expressing interest in watching these two square off. Unfortunately, this pairing suffers from the same terrible affliction as all the others thus far have: it is a great match-up which would likely generate explosive results, but it wouldn?t manage to make it onto the distraction riddled radar of the general American public. Since Juan Diaz is the biggest star at lightweight, and we have already established that a bout with him wouldn?t be termed a Super Fight, and we can?t move back down in weight, the only place to go is up.
I see only two possible Super-Fights available to Manny Pacquiao at this time, and both fighters have already been mentioned in this article. If you guess Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton, then you?ve just won yourself a big ol? self inflicted pat on the back. Regardless of the outcome to their own Super Fight, either man could feasibly face Manny Pacquiao by mid 2008 if not sooner, at a catch weight near the 140 pound marker but, if I?m Pacquiao, definitely not above. Neither fight would be advisable for the Pacman, nor would likely be winnable, but from a monetary and viewer ship standpoint both could be classed as a Super Fight.
The sheer amount of money that could likely be made may be enough to entice Manny to go against his better judgment and jump up a weight class or two in order to take on two fighters who would likely give him trouble if all things were equal. Being that things, meaning size and strength, are not equal these would be terrible match-ups that Bob Arum would not likely make as long as Pacquiao has some viable, money making opponents left who are more his own size. This is the course I hope team Pacquiao takes. They could chase the immediate big pay day and risk the future of their fighter, but it would ultimately be better for Pacquiao, his fans, and pretty much everyone involved if Manny stays beneath 135 pounds. where he belongs, where there are still worthy challengers to face, and hope, in the meantime, that someone else will rise head and shoulders above the rest and brings the Super Fight to him.
