It?s time for another piece on Manny Pacquiao, the only Filipino today with a glad hand, a bountiful vision of the future, and a probable place in boxing?s international Hall of Fame. The latest is that the Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya favors him over Erik Morales when they collide March 10 in Las Vegas.
This is only natural considering the changes wrought on Manny?s boxing style by his trainer Freddie Roach. Several months back, after analyzing Pacquiao?s pugilistic structure, we came up with three negative comments.
He had just one target in the ring ? his opponent?s jaw. Once Pacquiao landed with his left square on the mandible, you could say it and say it again in the vernacular ? tapos na ang boksing. This was the Filipino?s pay-off punch, his left on the kisser. It was swift, it was spectacular, it was as dramatic as a blacksmith?s hammer on a red-hot iron waiting to be pounded on the anvil.
But it had the disadvantage of avoiding other targets ? the ribs, the body, the belly for instance. This was demonstrated when Pacquiao fought IBF super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Floored thrice in the first round, Marquez in the later rounds learned how to elude Pacquiao?s left to the face, counterpunched brilliantly with a handspeed culled from Thor, the god of lightning himself, and earned a draw.
Now Freddie Roach has taught Pacquiao to aim his left down, to the breadbasket, and this should rattle Morales? aging ribs.
Another negative. Manny Pacquiao hardly ever used his right, except to jab, being a southpaw. Now he can hook with that right, the way another southpaw Gabriel (Flash) Elorde did. A hook, left or right, travels a shorter distance than a straight or a cross, and is harder to stop. Once perfected, it is also deadlier. A fighter so equipped, can now feint with his left or right, and draw his foe?s face closer. Once on target, that hook explodes like a rocket propelled grenade. Boy, I loved Elorde when he perfected his right hook. With that punch, he stowed away many of the world?s great super featherweights or junior lightweights, walking away from his floored victim with a cowboy?s elan.
What was the third negative?
Manny Pacquiao didn?t have the versatility of the Little Brown Dolls led by Pancho Villa who stormed American rings in the 30s and the 40s. They could slug and box at the same time. They had a virtuosity of movement, somewhat like ballet dancers. Manny Pacquiao charges before were predictable. He was out to crush his opponent?s jaw and often his approach was easily sensed and measured, since his kill weapon was his left. And he had to come in from the left.
Freddie Roach has succeeded in moving Pacquiao around.
This gives the Filipino the versatility of a bull-fighter who can move his red cape in the bull?s face whichever way he wants. This way the bull charges like a mistral while the torero gives him passage with the cape, often close to his groin while the crowd explodes in admiration. Such a cape master was the great Manolete, and so was Belmonte.
No, I am not suggesting that our Manny Pacquiao behave in the ring like a silken, smooth and suave bullfighter. He couldn?t even if he wanted to. But I have long advocated his use of wile and guile, the ability to tame or frighten or mislead. Oscar de la Hoya does this well. Except that he lacks the punch and the bludgeon, in the bullfight, the finishing sword delivered before a short and awful lull.
But hell, we already have a Manny Pacquiao. As was, he became a world-beater. As is, who knows? Pound for pound, he could be the greatest fist-fighter in the world.
