Pacman redeems image

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

THE KNOCKOUT victory that we expected to happen, as predicted by Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s head trainer Freddie Roach, did not materialize, despite Pacquiao’s dominance over Mexican Brandon Rios last Nov. 24 in their international welterweight title bout held in Macau. The world watched the fight on TV (I watched it thrice) where the ‘come-backing’ Pacquiao pummelled the former world lightweight champion, winning all the twelve rounds to score a lopsided unanimous decision. Pundits said Pacquiao who is an avid reader of the Good Book was obviously on the verge to finish his foe in the last two rounds but decided to take pity on his opponent and simply finished the round to take the crown. Others said see Pacquiao as a dominant force in the lightweight and junior welterweight divisions knocking out almost all his rivals is no longer the Pacquiao that we knew four years ago.

Critics said Pacquiao still has the speed and guile but his knockout-punching power is gradually diminishing because of his age. His last stoppage victim was Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14, 2009 to win the welterweight tiara of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and defended his crown all by decisions until he met Timothy Bradley on June 9, 2012 to whom he lost his title via split verdict. Then there was the unforgettable shocking knockout defeat to archenemy Juan Manuel Marquez on Dec. 8, 2012. I believe his victory last Sunday after two straight setbacks resurrected his boxing career and redeemed his image as one of the greatest fighters of all time.

“He’s now wary unlike before na kung minsan sumuntok ay parang bara-bara kaya nasingitan tuloy ni Marquez nuong last fight nila,” said Jojo Lajera of Mangaldan, an avid Pacquiao fan and promised to vote for him in 2016 if Pacquiao decides to run as senator. “I dined with Pacquiao with some scribes at Macau after his latest fight and the Sarangani lawmaker told us that he got no phobia after his knockout loss against Marquez and promised not to be careless anymore,” said my friend Alex Billan, a noodles magnate and sports-minded fellow especially cycling and boxing. (Billan sponsors some cycling races here in Pangasinan, particularly the executive-master division). “Pacquiao is now a preacher in his new found religion and apparently that will be a conflict to his boxing career kasi kung minsan may mga pagkakataon na parang ayaw niyang saktan gaano ang kanyang kalaban like what happened in his last fight,” Mangaldan election officer Juan Valencia observed. “May mga suntok siyang tentative na dapat sana rock-hard pero parang naawa siya sa kanyang opponent.”

A rematch between Pacquiao and the undefeated Bradley is in the making and is being proposed to be held in Las Vegas on April 12 next year, this according to Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum. I believe that will be an epic return bout for the two knowing that the victory of Bradley before is disputable. WBO itself refuted the verdict but cannot do anything because as the rule says “Judges’ decisions are final”. If successful, probably it’s ‘high time’ for the much-awaited Mayweather-Pacquiao clash to happen. A Pacquiao-Marquez fifth battle will no longer be possible. “Parang iwas-pusoy na si Marquez kasi ayaw na niyang mabawian pa siya,” said my neighbour Armando Lalata. The best that could possibly happened in this decade would be the much-touted Mayweather-Pacquiao match. There’s no substitute for that.

Back home, it is unfortunate that Pacquiao is being hounded by a tax evasion case. The BIR said Pacquiao owes the government P2.2 billion that prompted the freezing of his bank accounts. Pacquiao fans said it’s pure political harassment since Pacquiao is known to support Vice President Jejomar Binay for the highest position of the land in 2016 while Pacquiao will join the senate slate under Binay’s UNA ticket. Pacquiao has a battery of corporate lawyers and I know he can fix his money problem. Let’s just wait and see.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Therefore, as I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you; My eye will not spare, nor will I have any pity.” EZEKIEL 5: 11

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