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Manny Pacquiao has bent boxing sense.
Just last December, people were crying foul and saying that the Dream Match between Oscar De la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao was nothing more than a circus freak show, and yet today, all everyone wants is to see is a Mayweather Jr. and Pacquiao mega fight. Some have even dubbed it as the fight that could resurrect boxing. It?s amazing what a year can do, and even more amazing I guess is what Manny Pacquiao has done and is capable of doing.
Pacquiao has rearranged the reasoning behind boxing. Juan Manuel Marquez can thank Pacquiao for indirectly helping him land the biggest payday of his career against Mayweather Jr. on July 18. The fight after all only makes sense under the merit of Pacquiao destroying De la Hoya and Hatton (whom Mayweather Jr. also faced but defeated in less spectacular fashion) and the fact that Marquez has given Pacquiao the hardest 2 fights of his entire career. Some even say Marquez beat Pacquiao in both occasions. Outside of that, why the hell in the world is Marquez going to be in the same ring as Floyd; Because Marquez beat Dikembe Mutombo?s fellow AARP member Joel Casamayor at 135? Yeah right.
Logic is such flighty whore. You thought you had a grasp on her until you realize you never did after all. What seemed illogical a year ago appears to be common sense today. All everyone is talking about is a Floyd and Pacquiao fight. Honestly if you asked me then, even I would?ve told you Pacquiao hardly would?ve had a chance against Floyd, but that is why I am a mere human being like the rest who could do wrong. And that is why sometimes it?s hard for me to justify that Manny Pacquiao isn?t superhuman. Pacquiao has redefined what logical means in boxing. His sensational performances against bigger and accomplished men in the past year have opened doors in boxing that have been shut since the days of Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Robinson.
Just look at the list of Pacquiao?s challengers and possible opponents that has prompted for the Pacman himself to say ?Isa-isa lang, mahina ang kalaban.? (English translation: Slow down, there is only one me) You have Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez of course who are now joined by ?Sugar? Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Joshua Clottey, Zab Judah all the way down to Edwin Valero, Nate Campbell, Michael Katsidis and pretty much every tough hombre that has laced up some boxing gloves before. If you look at the size difference of his challengers, it?s almost as if you can start a Pound-4-Pound division in boxing wherein Pacquiao is the current belt holder or something like that. It?s hard to figure out what makes sense anymore. I mean, if it?s logical for someone like Katsidis to challenge Pacquiao, can you imagine Katsidis fighting Antonio Margarito? I don?t know anymore, and it?s all Pacquiao?s fault.
That?s why athletes like Pacquiao should be appreciated while they?re around. Phenoms like him come only once in a lifetime. Last time I checked, Kobe Bryant is still trying to be like Michael Jordan and Lance Armstrong and his one testicle is still the only cyclist the world has ever heard of. Amongst the commotion Pacquiao has created, we must all remember that not everyone is as good as the Pacman. If I was the likes of Valero and Campbell, I?d concentrate more on making a name for myself by beating the best competition and sweeping their respective divisions rather than hope to get a crack at the Pacman right now. It?s simply not happening because Pacquiao has bigger and better options.
Love him or hate him, Pacquiao is a special and unique fighter, not to mention the fact that as great as he was when he went through the 130 division and became popular by beating the three Mexican legends in Morales, Marquez and Barrera, logically, he wasn?t supposed to still keep getting better- but he did. His last three fights have all been above the 130 division and yet he?s been as dominant as ever against bigger and supposedly stronger fighters. That?s why anything is really possible with Pacquiao as of the moment until somebody lays him on his back for good. Don?t be surprised if Wladimir Klitschko starts calling him out next. (That?s a joke? or is it? Like I said I don?t know anymore)
Ultimately, I guess in boxing and fight sports, money is what makes the most sense. If the right amount money is there, any fight can be made. If they were able to have a 10 feet tall Korean giant fight a former baseball player turned snitch, I mean steroids scandal book writer, then you already know anything can happen.
