WILL Manny Pacquiao ever fight again?
No one can tell.
Only Pacquiao can tell.
Before Covid-19 knocked down the world—definitely no knockout—Pacquiao was reportedly set to fight either Errol Spence Jr. of Dallas, Texas, or Mikey Garcia of Oxnard, California.
Spence and Garcia, both unbeaten, fought on March 16, 2019, before a jam-packed crowd at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Spence was 24-0 with 21 knockouts, Garcia 40-0 with 30 KOs.
But Spence proved too skillful and smarter than Garcia, and easily scored a unanimous decision victory.
Two judges saw Spence the winner by identical 120-107 scores and the third judge 120-108. Although there was no knockdown, Spence clearly won it and, absolutely overwhelmed by his victory, he did some breast-beating.
Seeing Pacquiao in the ring right after Jimmy Lennon announced Spence the winner, Spence called Pacquiao to his corner. Then he told the TV lady interviewer: “I want to fight Pacquiao next!”
“Why not?” Pacquiao retorted.
Nothing came out of it as Pacquiao would fight Keith Thurman four months later on July 21, 2019, and Spence took on Shawn Porter two months later.
Pacquiao barely won, leaning on his first-round knockdown of Thurman to snatch a split decision. Two judges gave Pacquiao identical 115-112 scores while the third judge saw Thurman the winner by 114-113.
“I knew it was close and it was that first-round knockdown that saved him,” said Thurman, who lost for the first time in 30 fights, with 22 knockouts.
For Pacquiao, the win improved his record to 62-7-2 with 39 KOs, becoming, at 40, the oldest welterweight world champion to claim any of the recognized belts.
Spence also captured a unified world welterweight (IBF and WBC) by a similar split decision victory over Porter as two judges gave him identical 116-111 scores, with the third judge making Porter the winner by 115-112.
Before Spence scored his 26th straight victory (21 KOs), Pacquiao said he wanted to fight the winner of the Spence-Porter bout held at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on September 28, 2019. Months went by but no done deals between Pacquiao and either Garcia or Spence.
Then Pacquiao turned 41 on December 17, raffling off a brand-new car again to mark the occasion. Then the Covid-19 started striking the world beginning in February. Today, it has become pandemic, our now-grieving globe in the grip of the Chinese-born virus.
Will Pacquiao, himself a near-Covid victim and with time not very much on his side now, fight again? Only time can tell.
THAT’S IT Happy birthday (May 12) to Migel Antonio R. Mendoza, whom Francesco Dakila “Ikap” M. Sadiwa and Ikap’s sister Mayasoh love to call “Kuya Biley” but who is plain Migel in the household of Coach Dayong (San Miguel Beer). Kuya Biley’s one notable birthday wish is to pass the college entrance exams of the UP-Diliman, which he eagerly took filled with hope upon the spirited coaxing and coaching, in large part, of his Nanay Soh. The results have yet to be released as officials are still grappling with the sheer volume of examinees running into millions nationwide. Although Kuya Biley is already comfortable with the happy fact that he had passed both the entrance exams at Ateneo and De La Salle, he said he would always prefer entering UP so that he could join his siblings Mayo and Dada there. “Also,” Kuya Biley said, “I want to help unburden my father from financial matters as to study at UP would mean no tuition for me.” How noble, touching. May God grant your wish, Kuya Biley.
