THERE OUGHT to be a legal limit to how far overage boxers should be allowed to sell themselves.
Kevin Kelley had bragged that his duel with Bobby Pacquiao in New York yesterday would be his showcase.
Promoters and gullible fans listened and believed every word of what Kelley had to say.
But look what a dismal show Kelley had succeeded in putting on at the storied Madison Square Garden. He clearly demonstrated that over-the-hill fighters should never engage in serious combat. If not in the infirmary, they should be confined at home, to mow the grass or watch over the beef roast.
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Bobby Pacquiao won by 4th round stoppage. Not bad. But, tracing the one-sided action, Pacquiao’s feat could be rated exemplary only because of what Kelley had been allowed to lie about himself.
It was more a case of Kelley being terribly soft and shallow than the younger Pacquiao being truly superb.
Kelley was a total contradiction of the fighter he said would manhandle Bobby Pacquiao.
The true Kelley was so wasted and ill-equipped he made Manny Pacquiao’s younger brod look as though he was indeed another Pacman in the making.
Not to play killjoy. But based on yesterday’s win, Bobby Boy would have a lot of plodding to do to break away from his brother’s shadow.
Tests of the Kevin Kelley kind could get merit in a circus, but don’t amount to much in world championship boxing.
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Of course, Bobby Pacquiao was not to blame.
He worked hard; he sparred more than the number of rounds needed.
Bobby Boy had every reason to feel rewarded.
But then, he cannot claim he was also fulfilled.
He will have to undergo a series of severe on-ring tests if he’s to truly follow Kuya Manny’s footsteps.
If anything, Kelley’s pre-fight verbal blasts had incensed and worried a good number of local fight fans.
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At the village fish market yesterday morning, there was common concern among the male vendors, mainly of Visayan descent, on the chances of Bobby Pacquiao against the over-hyped Kelley.
There was also this omen of how a line of Filipino fighters, headed by the great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, had fared miserably at the Madison Square Garden.
There was full awareness among these fight aficionados of Bobby’s capacity and this paled terribly against what drumbeaters had succeeded in bragging about the opponent.
Anyway, once informed that Kelley was already too old and should have been sent back to the barn years back, these Pacquiao fanatics turned their concern on the Pacman’s next fight.
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Truth is Oscar Larios, previously labeled here as recycled Mexican meat, has also succeeded in projecting himself as a worthy challenger to Manny Pacquiao.
How did Larios do it?
Easy. He did not only belittle Pacman as small and bloated. His handlers also swore Larios was a lot better than Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, if not better than the two Mexican ring greats combined.
Unfortunately, just like with Kelley, Larios & Co. have sufficiently worried local fight followers.
Which was just fine, as this would be great for the gates.
Just the same, these concerned fanatics were advised that, at the rate things are going, only Pacquiao should be able to beat himself.
If Pacman succeeds in peaking, and develops sufficient stamina despite a shorter training period, there should be no reason to worry.
Pacman could also end up having a picnic of the quality Brother Bobby had against Kelley come July 2 at the Big Dome.
