AFTER STOPPING Miguel Cotto in the 12th round of their welterweight bout, Manny Pacquiao has established one thing that no pundit can perhaps argue about – that he is a boxing phenom.
It is no mean feat to move up in weight after every fight and beat every opponent convincingly. Every time, Pacquiao would prove wrong the so-called Nostradamuses of boxing who give excuses for his opponents and doubt his ability to box with the best fighters in the ring.
Angelo Dundee, who sided with Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto against the Pacman, can now keep his mouth shut. The old man of Ali is maybe just jealous of what a Pacquiao victory would give to Freddie Roach’s reputation as a trainer. Roach has solidified himself as the best boxing trainer of this era after what Pacquiao had accomplished, while Dundee is now just part of history.
Bernard Hopkins could not have been more correct in saying that Pacquiao “is the Bruce Lee of boxing.” Cotto confirmed this statement after the fight.
“I didn't know from where the punches were coming,” Cotto said. Exactly the same thing said by David Diaz when he was knocked out by the Pacman. Like how Bruce Lee can strike the bad guys anywhere and from nowhere, so did Pacman when he is at the ring.
Speed was a factor in Pacquiao winning the Cotto bout. Indeed, it was. But we cannot discount the fact that Pacquiao’s power is also very potent. How else could Cotto, a man of stamina and sturdy build, be knocked down as early as the 3rd round and again in the 4th?
Pacquiao is no methodical fighter that is why he is not earning that much respect from guys like Dundee. Pacquiao fights with his instinct and natural skills (speed and power). Combined with Roach’s discipline and tactic, however, Pacquiao turns into a different breed of boxer –unpredictable yet efficient, unconventional yet effective.
Short of saying that Pacquiao is a big surprise in boxing and a big success at that.
He has become a phenom.
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AN INTRIGUING point was said by Michael Rosenthal of Ring Magazine about the Pacman after his recent victory. He said: “Pacquiao is truly great. We should enjoy this while it lasts because one day soon he will be gone.”
This was said in the afterthought of Pacquiao being considered as the all-time best boxer or where he will land in the all-time best list. Not yet said Rosenthal because while Pacquiao may be great at the moment, he said that “greatness is fleeting.”
I tell you Mr. Rosenthal, what Pacquiao has achieved, how he did it, and from where he came from before that, would not be matched or even be experienced by any boxer from now and for the rest of your life.
And every time a boxer would accomplish something unexpected and extraordinary, people will remember Pacquiao even after he is long gone.
That is the true meaning of greatness.
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QUESTION: What makes a Pacquiao fight a thrill to watch regardless of one’s nationality?
The answer is the anticipation of a surprising outcome. We never know when a Pacman opponent would be sent down to the canvass and so we relish every second of the exchanges on the ring. It would also be interesting to see if Pacquiao would get tagged hard and be knocked down. How he would react thereafter would be a thrill to watch.
Of course, we cannot discount Pacquiao’s unique charm. The guy is a natural for showbiz. Anyone disagree? Go argue with Mommy Dionisia.
