After the uplifting victory and title retention of Manny Pacquiao last weekend, the nation breathed a sigh of relief, and all seemed right with the world. Perhaps now, lacking any further accolades to give the people?s champion, fans are now attempting to raise the WBC super featherweight champion to another level. The emotional (and highly subjective question is: Is Manny Pacquiao one of the greatest of all time?
Answering in the affirmative would give the majority a feeling of calm, that the hero who gave the masses hope now dwells among the gods of our own Olympus, infallible and eternal. A response in the negative would risk the ire of a grateful country, which stops each time he climbs into the ring.
But, seriously, is Pacquiao good for the “best for all time” tag? May he be considered ? to borrow the term from Muhammad Ali ? the greatest of all time?
Let?s try to quantify the subjective with criteria that may allow the less emotionally attached among us to rank his feat among others of unquestioned stature in Philippine sports.
First, achievement. This is, of course, the most basic bottom line, and also where many greats fall short. To be considered able to stand the test of time, an athlete must have been the world?s best at his or her craft. There?s no other way around it. It?s the yardstick that matters. To pass our first test, the athlete in question must have been a world champion, Olympic gold medalist, or world record-breaker. Those are the plateaus upon which the greatest of all time stride. As of now, Manny has been a world champion, but currently is trying to become one again at a higher weight level.
Second, longevity. Another Waterloo, particularly for Filipino boxers. How many times have we had our hopes raised by boxers who would win a world title, only to surrender it in their first title defense, and never come close again? And how many have let fame and fleeting fortune get the better of them, and think they could mystically summon the endurance and sharpness that made them champions in the first place? This may be the toughest test of all for Pacquiao. Remember, Flash Elorde was undefeated for seven years as a junior lightweight king. How many have accomplished that feat since Marvelous Marvin Hagler? You could count them on one hand.
Third, quality of opposition. I remember when Sugar Ray Leonard won his fifth world title (the light heavyweight belt), he took it from Donny Lalonde, a tall, blonde slugger who had one shoulder held together by metal staples, virtually a one-armed fighter. Pacquiao doesn?t have to worry about that. He passes this test with flying colors, considering the sheer volume of quality Mexican fighters. He has also bowled over future Hall of Famers Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. This one is a lock.
Fourth, public admiration. You could be the best player in the world, but if the public treats you like a cold fish, then what does it mean? Roughly two decades ago, Ivan Lendl was considered the best tennis player on the planet. But his appeal was somewhat lacking, partly because of the clinical fashion with which he dispatched opponents. Well, this will be no problem for Pacquiao. Considering how he rivals the country?s busiest product endorsers (and also appeals to men) even without a world title, one may assume that he will never be lacking in admirers.
So, how do we rate Manny Pacquiao? At this moment in time, if he were a world champion, all he would have to do is hang on to his title for a couple of years, and there would be no doubt that he belonged among the pantheon of all-time greats. There are a handful of them who have maintained their peak at remarkable levels: Paeng Nepomuceno (four World Cups, congressional citations, TOYM Award); Efren Reyes (champion of almost all major billiards tournaments, and opened the door for other Filipino cue artists internationally); the aforementioned Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, who even went overboard trying to help the less fortunate; and perhaps even Victoria Manalo, aka Vicki Draves, who won both Olympic gold medals in diving in London in 1948, and inspired a teammate to outdo even her. And soon, we hope, Manny Pacquiao.
What do you think?
