In anticipation of his November 23 fight against Brandon Rios in Macau, China, Manny Pacquiao, along with his promoter Bob Arum, met with the press this week via teleconference call.
As teleconference calls go, it was not among the most memorable. Pacquiao can be scintillating in the ring, but he can be less-than-scintillating on a cell phone. That may be because the presser was in English and not Tagalog. Or perhaps Manny?s modest, low-key, self-effacing manner is not conducive to bombast.
But, still, according to the standards by which these things are judged, the teleconference call was a bit of a flop. There were no bombshells. There was no breaking news. There were no headline grabbing declarations.
Sparks flew for a second when ESPN?s Dan Rafael pulled rank on Bob Arum, but that was as long-lasting as a sparkler and almost as significant.
It?s all about style. Chest-thumping and one-upmanship are not for Manny Pacquiao. If he has something to say he will say it, but he tends to play his cards close to the vest.
Pacquiao believes his accomplishments speak for themselves. And if his accomplishments speak for themselves, what?s the point of mentioning them again and again and again?
It?s refreshing that Pacquiao isn?t compelled to compare himself to Pancho Villa and Flash Elorde. By the same token, Manny rarely gives us much to work with.
Of course one can beat a dead horse. However unsightly and inhumane, it?s as common as bedbugs in a brothel. But Pacquiao, more graceful than he is eloquent, refuses to stoop to that level.
