With his dream million-dollar bout against Juan Manuel Marquez remaining just like that ? a dream ? and brilliant trainer-coach Freddie Roach deciding to step out of his prized fighter?s way, 2004 seems not to be too encouraging for Manny Pacquiao after a superb campaign last year.
In fact, he found himself beaten by James Toney, the man who blitzed the world?s best cruiserweight ? Vassiliy Jirov ? before humbling aged heavyweight legend Evander Holyfield, for the SecondsOut?s Fighter of the Year award.
Sure, Pacquiao?s a cinch to cop HBO?s own Fighter of the Year and Upset of the Year titles for his stunning, if impressive 11th round demolition of Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamodome last November. But the chain of events leading to the new year has somehow hinted at the coming of a struggling year for the Filipino boxing champion.
