Tungod, Inabanga, Bohol? ?Manny Pacquiao?s Biggest Fight Is NOT Floyd Mayweather? The Pacman Could Go For Nine!? This would have been the title of an article I was about to write the other day, as I was discussing the rematch between Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez with esteemed boxing writer Unofre Pili, in relation to all-time great Manny Pacquiao?s next probable foe. We both agreed that Williams was a beatable fighter despite his overwhelming height and reach advantage over Pacquiao, but we also thought that Martinez would probably beat the six-foot beanpole in the rematch, reason why I opted not to write the article instead, secretly hoping that Williams would score a victory. But lo and behold, Martinez just put the lights out of Williams and virtually ended my fantasy for Pacquiao?s 9th world title in as many weght divisions? or so I thought.
HOPKINS? COMMENTS MADE ME WISH FOR WILLIAMS!
Bernard Hopkin?s said that “Floyd Mayweather would beat Manny Pacquiao because the styles that African-American fighters — and I mean, black fighters from the streets or the inner cities — would be successful.” Mayweather isn?t showing any signs of interest in sharing the squared circle with Pacquiao, so we look for another option. I have not been following Williams? bouts, but decided to check on his previous fight videos leading into his middleweight showdown with Martinez. The fight videos brought a mixture of excitement and hope. He is African-American, relatively young, much taller, and would have been a legitimate middleweight champion had he won against Martinez. Pacquiao would have had the chance to put to rest all pending questions about his greatness with a victory against Williams. With it, he would have added another title to his already imposing resume to once and for all silence his critics. But then again, Martinez exposed what Pacquiao would have done against Williams.
WILLIAMS WOULD HAVE BEEN WILLING TO FIGHT PACQUIAO
Banking on his superior height, reach, and overall size, Paul Williams would have been dying to iron out a ring date with the little legend from the Philippines. He has even openly expressed his willingness to strut his stuff against the Pinoy firebomb long before the Martinez fight came about, something ?Pretty Boy? Floyd Mayweather, Jr. isn?t inclined to do.
WHY PACQUIAO WOULD BEAT WILLIAMS? AND BEAT HIM BAD
Williams? is a southpaw who, despite enjoying tremendous height and reach advantage all the time, doesn?t really throw telling jabs. When he throws the right jab, he leaves himself open for a left hook and we all know what Pacquiao?s favorite weapon is. One other thing, Williams needs space to be effective. When an opponent forces him to fight toe-to-toe, he?s at a disadvantage because his long arms would eventually work against him. He is huge, just essentially due to his height. His lanky body frame is something that will eventually fold when hit by Pacquiao?s stinging body punches. And by the way, the knockdown he scored against Martinez in their first bout should have been ruled as a slip.
BERTO IS TOO RAW AND MAYWEATHER DOESN?T WANT TO FIGHT
Andre Berto and Floyd Mayweather are both undefeated. But Berto is too raw and untested to deserve a multi-million-dollar paycheck against the king of the hill and despite being African-American, doesn?t really fight the way Hopkins described as one that would give Pacquiao fits. Mayweather is probably the only fighter who fits the bill, in Hopkins? eyes? or does he want to fight Pacquiao himself? Oh well, Pacquiao, with all his accomplishments, doesn?t really have to live by the rules and requisites that a few jealous people set. He has done so much to deserve the respect that these people continue deprive of him.
SERGIO MARTINEZ FOR PACQUIAO?S NINTH?
At this point in time, I would not recommend Pacquiao ever attempting to challenge Martinez for his belt. It?s too huge of a risk to take? but knowing Pacquiao, I wouldn?t count it as a definite impossibility. On the other hand, fighting Mosley achieves absolutely nothing, in my opinion. If I were Pacquiao, I would rather wait it out until Mayweather finally comes out of his shell and mans up against the fighter who?s probably become his nightmare as of late. The flamboyant African-American is the only remaining sensible bout left for the man they call the ?PacMan?. Nothing more, nothing less!
