LAS VEGAS?If Manny Pacquiao were that type of person, if he was an insufferable egomaniac, he would be rubbing the faces of almost the entire boxing Establishment in embarrassment.
Rightfully so, as the vast majority of pundits and boxing types, all lined up in Oscar De La Hoya?s corner. I mean Oscar The Fighter, not Oscar The Statue athough the latter may have won more rounds Saturday night at the MGM Grand.
Please note the Oscar Brigade did not include myself (Pacman by decision) or the Young Genius (Manny by KO) John Chavez.
The King Of All Boxing is the humble hero from humble bed in the Phillipines. Long may he reign!
Does anyone now have any lingering doubt?remember I said doubt, not lingering resentment, as to who the 2008 Fighter Of The Year is? Pacman?s demolition surpassed Golden (Boy) Oldie Bernard Hopkins victory over young Kelly Pavlik and reliable Joe Calzaghe?s one-sided points victory over another ?shot? fighter, Roy Jones.
Combine Pacquiao?s mental toughness, his blazing speed and persistent ferocity and the Fighter Of The Year is the Pinoy Idol.
When it comes to going beyond the cash, when it comes to boxing honors, you can also back up the trophy truck for boxing?s preeminent trainer, the Boston Bad Boy Coach Freddie Roach.
Roach is Trainer Of The Year. Roach is also, unofficially but undoubtedly, Promoter Of The Year because he outworked both his former boss, De La Hoya, and Bob Arum in selling this big fight.
More importantly than selling it to the public, Roach sold it, lock, stock and barrel, to his fighter and Pacman bought into Freddie?s vision 100 percent.
Theirs is as strong a fighter-trainer relationship as I?ve seen in my nearly 50 years in boxing and it goes way beyond the pugilistic to a fraternal even paternal love and trust which has helped bring out abilities that maybe even Manny never knew he had.
Hey, whatever happened to the Pacman people used to constantly say was easy to hit, that had a porous defense? You know, the fighter who always looked to be off balance?
That defensively inept character has been replaced, through Roach?s constant gym lessons, by a smiling but lethal lefthanded jitterbug.
If Roach was a painter, a Rembrandt of the prize ring, his masterpiece was seen shining brilliantly on canvas in retiring Legend Oscar.
Manny the Magnificent can rise to even bigger and better things. But, unless Floyd Mayweather unretires, I don?t see much worthy opposition ahead.
The National Fist does only belong to the Pinoys any longer.
Now he?s the International Fist and boxing?s poster boy for a sorely needed New Generation.
Out with the old, in with the relatively new and boxing?s desperately need infusion of fresh blood could not come at a better time.
Back up that trophy truck.
You can park it at the Wildcard Gym and leave the motor running because Team Pacquiao might just be getting started.
PTP, Prime Time Pacquiao, will continue to be a marvelous thing to behold.
