TO A country spoiled by Manny Pacquiao?s spectacular knockout victories, Sunday?s slam-bang fight against a game Antonio Margarito may quickly recede into the second rank of our favorite Pacquiao matches. It was ?only? a unanimous decision. But there is one important reason why the second Pacquiao fight at the mammoth Dallas Cowboys Stadium should be remembered for a long time, and classed together with the ?Pacman?s? victories against big men Oscar de la Hoya (eighth round TKO) and Miguel Cotto (12th round TKO). Pacquiao showed mercy.
Pacquiao administered a beating to both De la Hoya and Cotto?and he knew it. The De la Hoya bout ended too soon, but in the Cotto fight, Pacquiao could be seen looking at the referee, expecting the third man in the ring to stop the beating. It happened again Sunday, and on at least two occasions: Pacquiao whaling away at a defenseless Margarito, and then looking at the referee. They say you need a killer instinct to be a champion boxer. Turns out you also need a mercy instinct to be an all-time great.
