General Admission
Zeroing in on Camacho, Hatton and Pacquiao
By Al S. Mendoza
IT’S one week from today when the Pacquiao-Marquez fight is on in Las Vegas on December 9 (Manila Time).
Knowing Pacquiao’s undiminished drawing power, boxing will be on the world stage again even as the sweet science has just lost a legend in Hector Camacho.
Camacho, 51, known as “The Macho,” had died from gunshot wounds in a hospital.
The Puerto Rican, one of boxing’s toughest and greatest, was also known for his flamboyance and jolly nature and who had famously exposed his butt in a bar in a fit of drunken joy.
Before Camacho expired from the fatal wounds following a brawl outside a bar, Ricky Hatton suffered a disastrous 9th-round knockout at the hands of a Ukrainian whose name, besides being hard to remember, is a tongue-twister as well.
Hatton was the famous Briton that Pacquiao had knocked out with six seconds remaining in the second round with a left to the chin on May 2, 2009.
It was one of the most devastating wins ever scored by Pacquiao and the worst debacle ever suffered by Hatton, who was given an even chance against PacMan.
“After this defeat, I must really retire for good,” said Hatton, crying unabashedly after losing to the Ukrainian on Sunday.
Hatton’s career had actually taken a nosedive after his loss to Pacquiao, quitting boxing and next drowning his sorrows in alcohol and drugs. He went to rehab.
Like Hatton, Camacho also couldn’t cope up with a life not bathed in spotlight, figuring in numerous troubles and messing up with the law before he met his fiery death.
I believe Pacquiao will not suffer the same fate that had befallen both Camacho and Hatton as the Sarangani congressman is known to be upright.
His stature as a law-abiding citizen and a Good Samaritan is known worldwide.
The question foremost in everybody’s mind today, especially among Pacquiao’s rabid Filipino fans, is, can he finally put an exclamation point in his fourth fight with Marquez?
I mean, can he knock Marquez out this time, a performance that will absolutely delete all doubts as to PacMan’s ability to put away the Mexican for good?
Honestly, Pacquiao can. He is 33 and Marquez 39. The huge gap in age, as I had been saying all along, will finally make the difference.
But as to Pacquiao’s willingness to kayo Marquez, with all his might and mind, is the question whose answer hinges on PacMan’s strategy of the fight.
Will Pacquiao revive, finally, his crowding tactics, his machinegun punches that he had been famously known for?
If the answer is yes, then Marquez could be in deep trouble.
Anyway, if it’s any consolation, Pacquiao has promised he will knock Marquez out. He should as that would finally erase doubts to his controversial wins on points in 2008 and 2011 after the draw in 2004.
I insist a knockout for Pacquiao isn’t an issue. It’s a must.
