Manny Pacquiao is the best active boxer in the world; the mythical Pound for Pound King, if you may.
Yet in his last three fights, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has been able to smother much of the excitement surrounding the Filipino.
Pacquiao incredible rise in boxing was highlighted with three impressive victories from 2008 to 2009. During that time, Pacquiao faced men who were supposeldy bigger than him and defeated all three in impressive fashion.
First Manny took the box office title from Oscar De La Hoya by making him quit on a stool within eight rounds. Many experts doubted Pacquiao’s ability against a larger, older De La Hoya, but Pacquiao cemented himself as one of boxing’s true stars.
Following the humilation of De La Hoya, Pacquiao whipped the fighting pride of the United Kingdom, Ricky Hatton, by knocking him out in the second round. The knock-out of Hatton will remain in the minds of those who saw it for years and years to come, it was display of power and speed few had ever seen.
To punctuate his presence, Pacquiao then took out Puerto Rico’s best man, Miguel Cotto, bloodying the proud warrior for twelve rounds before finally putting him away.
Pacquiao had arrived, the sky was the limit, but what Bob Arum has done since the Cotto fight is match boxing’s best fighter in bouts that have provided little excitement in the ring.
First came Joshua Clottey, who clearly did not deserve a crack at Pacquiao and responded with an uninspired performance where he was just happy to share the ring with Manny. Pacquiao took a clear decision in a glorified sparring session.
Arum then did something many still have not forgiven him for, giving Antonio Margarito an opportunity to fight again – after having attempted to use loaded gloves against Shane Mosley. Margarito who was coming off a one-sided scrubbing by Mosley, could do little against Pacquiao. The Filipino controlled the fight for twelve rounds and scored another ho-hum decision.
This past Saturday, Arum recycled one of boxing’s most re-used and undeserving fighter, Shane Mosley. If you saw the sparring session this past Saturday, it was clear Mosley came to survive twelve rounds with as little harm as possible and collect five million dollars. Oh, and Pacquiao scored another unanimous decision.
What happened to the knock-outs and thrills provided against Cotto, De La Hoya, and Hatton? They have been taken away from us by Arum, who is just interested in protecting his commodity by pitting him against fighters who have no business in the ring, and little opportunity to win.
If you do not challenge Pacquiao, or any other fighter, they become complacent – training and performing at a level which produces victories, but little more.
Unfortunatley for fight fans, Arum will likely continue to feed Pacquiao lifeless opponents and rake in millions of dollars of revenue, while stiffling excitement for the fans and keeping Manny from reaching true greatness.
After Pacquiao’s legendary three fight run, Arum will be remembered for killing the momentum of a fighter who was creating the most excitement boxing had seen in thirty years.
