In a recent article in the Los Angeles times written by Lance Pugmire, Manny Pacquiao bared his future political ambitions which go beyond Congress (http://www.latimes.com/news/la-sp-manny-paquiao-20101110,0,5255557,full.story).
Still riding on the crest of his popularity as the world?s best pound for pound boxer, Pacquiao believes there is no boundary on what he can achieve in his now flourishing political career that will soon become his regular ?day job.?
Interesting how Manny, having won boxing titles in seven different weight categories, has become a regular fixture in the presidential palace. Before it was President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Now it is President Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III who is smitten by the Pacquiao bug.
The power and perks that go with the presidential office have, in return, brought a new glow in Manny?s eyes.
If anything, the Los angles Times article revealed the real persona behind Pacquiao?s carefully managed media image.
As Pacquiao moves along, we will also watch how Pugmire?s prognosis of Manny?s political future will unfold.
In the meantime, Manny has a job to do and a business to take care of this coming Sunday.
Antonio Margarito, a once disgraced boxer from Tijuana in Mexico, said he will bring the fight to Manny and dictate the tempo of their encounter.
I say, be careful what you wish for.
So far, only three fighters ever had the luxury of proving themselves again wrong the second time over. Margarito may not need that second chance.
Erik Morales caught Manny Pacquiao during his worst day in office when they first meet. Even at his worst, though, Morales was not able to stop the Filipino southpaw. The second and third time they met, they were decidedly no contests.
It took Juan Manuel Marquez four years to have his rematch only to be foiled yet another time after escaping with a draw in their first encounter.
And Marco Antonio Barrera? He avoided Manny for four years also until it was time to pick up his retirement pay. After being stopped the first time they met, Barrera laid the blue print on how to fight Manny without getting knocked out and badly bruised while absorbing a humiliating loss.
Margarito vowed to stop Manny in the latter rounds using his height and heft against the former flyweight campaigner.
It may not be a tall order for Margarito but he has to catch Manny having the worst hairdo of his life and waking up from the wrong side of the bed.
As Recah Trinidad of the Philippine Daily Inquirer said, and to paraphrase him, Manny?s worse enemy is himself.
I believe Freddie Roach was playing the mind games when he said Manny was less interested in his training.
But when has Manny ever trained without distractions?
