HOLLLYWOOD, California – Manny Pacquiao’s humbling entry in the American soil in 2001 was one of the most humbling experiences he had. A time by which he had less contacts and less than credible resume’ than the other local boxers. It was his best moment when local fighters did not have a “good look” upon the native from Babay City, Leyte, Philippines, who took a lift to Mindanao en route to Sarangani with his parents at his early formative years and then unto the less than better streets of its one of the major cities, General Santos, and eventually ventured in the marred nooks of Manila, only to lift up his family from the bondage of poverty through his fiery fists.
For some, 2001 signals the ‘tectonic shift’ in boxing, as this writer coined it to connote the transformation of its key fighters that would revive boxing’s spirit among the American fight fans and the public world of boxing. Pacquiao wrote in the dusty lane of Hollywood hiking trails: No Fear. To note, he dropped his own ‘bombshell’ before 9/11 and shut off the might of Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in June 23, 2001 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since then, Pacquiao has been writing his own story in the hearts of men and women and children, even sinking down in the memory of the quasi-fans’ of boxing.
Now, Pacquiao won’t have that humbling entry anymore than just an elaborate manifestation. He will reenter the ring this November 13, 2010 as an honorable man being the newly-elected Congressman of Sarangani, Philippines. And it’s just right that Pacquiao should have his fight held again at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which drew over 51,000 fans when Pacquiao faced Joshua Clottey of Ghana last March.
On the other hand, Pacquiao’s opponent, Antonio Margarito, whose license was suspended because of the illegal wrap he was about to use against Sugar Shane Mosley early last year, of which he got caught and suspended after being questioned and uncovered by the latter’s trainer, Nazim Richardson, will have no problem facing off the Boxing Writers Association of America’s chosen “Fighter of the Decade” awardee. In an interview with this writer early of August this year during the Media Day for Julio Ceasar Chavez, Jr. at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Top Rank Godfather Bob Arum said, “Margarito has no problem(s) fighting in Texas and, in fact, I was told by Texas Athletic Commission he can fight in Texas without issues.” And so the story was told in favor of Margarito.
On one hand, the favor would not only be for Margarito but also for the boxing public to view the fight from the land where Pacquiao and Margarito became triumphant, America, and where Pacquiao chose to fortify his might even amid controversy with Mayweather on drug-testing issue, which his acceptance to submit to it does not really cleared his image before the public eye nor his widely publicized acceptance to submit to such willful demand of Mayweather camp for drug-testing as specified would make him justified nor sanctified at all. Abu Dhabi would appeal worldwide if only Margarito has worldwide appeal as well, as in the case of either Joe Frazier or Muhammad Ali when they both staged their respective fearless hearts at the “Thrilla in Manila” in the Philippines under the passion of former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1975.
Conversely, Pacquiao has to sustain the explosive population of his fans. His fans have afforded him the value added aura in terms of earning power. Whether it’s Top Rank’s choice to stage his next fight in Abu Dhabi, that only goes to show that such alternative is not based on popular demand. The demand is to have his next fight staged in the US. What Pacquiao has cultivated, fan-basewise in the mid-section of the US, must be sustained and cannot just be abandoned. Dallas Cowboy Stadium is still the boxing public’s choice, perhaps inequivocally of considerable rank of interest with the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas.
It’s just fitting to welcome him back and to address him distinctively in his “now-familiar turf”: “land of the free and the home of the brave”.
Then, Honorable-Congressman of Sarangani, Philippines Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will bring up his legacy even more intriquing and devastating over the might of the less than the less than brave citizen in Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Why retreat to unfamiliar world to stage one of the biggest fights of Pacquiao when the best of boxing is more festive for the media and boxing fans in “the land of milk and honey” called, America?
The choice of staging the fight of Pacquiao-Margarito at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium versus one in Abu Dhabi is a matter of intrigue and pride, much unto the matter of proper market segmentation.
Abu Dhabi would be the logical choice only if the fight being staged is between Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, who is of Islamic descent. Such geographical location is simply perfect but not for a Pacquiao-Margarito fight since Margarito is remotely known in the United Arab Emirates, except among the Filipino workers out there.
If Pacquiao-Margarito is staged in Abu Dhabi, it is all because of triangular dictates of Arum, Konz and Pacquiao in the midst of the latter’s less than zero financial liquidity, and all because not for the boxing fans and media who have anchored Pacquiao to the end. But, recent report has it from Arum’s text messages that Konz seems to be unproductive in his attempt to close a deal with the royal authorities of Abu Dhabi.
