There have been many legends that have graced the square circle over the years. Some of them are remembered as great fighters but not great people. Some of them are remembered as great fighters and great people for what they have done outside of the ring.
Floyd Mayweather will go down in history as a great fighter. What will the history books say about Floyd outside of the ring? Manny Pacquiao’s resume speaks for itself. Inside of the ring, he’s risen 7 weight divisions and conquered all of them. His accomplishments inside of the ring are clear, and so are his accomplishments outside of the ring. Pacquiao has given back in big ways. He will be remembered as someone who has greatly impacted many people in many different ways.
History will say that Manny has won 7 world titles in as many divisions. History will say that Pacquiao sold smokes in the Philippines, and rose to be an elected congressman. Will history also say that he became President of the Philippines? Who knows? Maybe.
Recently I was in Tunica, Mississippi for the boxing matches. The headline was Jr middleweight prospect Shawn Porter. During the interview I asked him what his experience was like sparring Manny Pacquiao. Porter described the experience as amazing, ” Sparring with Manny Pacquiao was an experience that I will never forget. The things that I have learned from that experience I will take with me for my entire boxing career and beyond.”
Mississippians across the state who follow boxing all respect Pacquiao. Even those who are not fans of Manny still respect him. Mayweather fans for the most part respect Pacquiao’s accomplishments. What is there not to respect? Stan Nichols, President of USA Boxing’s Southern Association, and Chief of Officials for Mississippi, has a lot of respect for Pacquiao, ” This guy rose from nothing to having everything. What is there not to respect about him? He’s won world titles in seven divisions, and is also a champion to his people outside of the ring.”
Pacquiao has changed many people. He’s humbled his opponents through action. Those who have been blessed with the opportunity to spar with him are much better fighters now. History will look back on Pacquiao and say nothing but positive things. As of yet, there just simply is not anything negative to say. People are trying to, those detractors of Pacquiao who like to accuse him of taking steroids have no proof of anything of the kind. Pacquiao has tested clean for his entire career, unlike a few other world champions that I will not mention here.
The history books as of right now can say nothing but good things about Manny Pacquiao. It is those in boxing that have done wrong, and those who are afraid of what the history books will say about them that are the ones who are trying to knock the pound for pound king down.
