‘The  Mexicutioner’

By Al S. Mendoza

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Coach Dayong tomorrow, June 2.

***

THE LATEST IS, Manny Pacquiao is training furiously in Los Angeles.

He has to.  David Diaz cannot be taken lightly.

As the world lightweight champion, Diaz, of Mexican descent but living in Chicago, Illinois, is made of sterner stuff and should pose as the greatest threat ever to the seeming myth of invincibility of Pacquiao. Yes, Pacquiao has beaten all Mexicans he has faced. All six of them – Velasquez, Larios, Marquez, Solis, Morales and Barrera.

Twice he had beaten Morales and Barrera, Mexico’s greatest fighters the last 30 years or so. Because of their embarrassing defeats, Morales and Barrera elected to quietly leave the scene; they are now semi-retired, if not effectively sent to pastureland.

By demolishing Mexico’s most active boxers the last 10 years or so, Pacquiao has been invariably dubbed “The Mexican Assassin,” “The Mexican Murderer” and “The Mexican Mauler.”

I call him, “The Mexicutioner.”

But against Diaz, Pacquiao has to do a lot more than being a Mexican destroyer.

For one, Diaz is so pumped up in this fight that he started training on April 19, almost exactly one month ahead of Pacquiao. Diaz even kept his training secret, away from the prying eyes of Pacquiao’s spies.

For another, Diaz has been and will always be a natural 135-pounder.

Pacquiao is not.

For the last seven years or so, Pacquiao has been fighting as a 130-pounder and his encounter with Diaz will be his first as a 135-pounder.

The weird thing is, Pacquiao’s first fight in the 135-lb category is against the world champion himself.  Why he didn’t first have a tune-up fight before meeting Diaz boggles the mind.

Money?  Pride?  Ego?

Could be all of the above.

Pacquiao is reportedly assured of a $7-million take in this fight, more than double his purse in his March 16 epic duel against Marquez that ended in a controversial split decision win for the Man from Gensan.

That is not to include shares from pay-per-view revenues, which could earn him at least $2 million more.

Pacquiao has been raking it in the last five years or so with his ring exploits that he has become a certified millionaire – if not a billionaire – by Philippine standards.

At 29 (he will turn 30 in December), he can rest from his laurels, having already won three world titles (flyweight, bantamweight and Jr. featherweight).

Pacquiao’s wealth for now can also already carry him to five lifetimes – thanks mainly to a wife (Jinkee) who seems to know how to handle prosperity as she has been seen investing wisely on real estate and other sound business concerns like groceries and apartments.

So, what’s egging Pacquiao on to fight more fights when he could now call it a day and simply sip lemonade while watching sunsets by the shores of his Gensan beachfront home?

Well, a win against Diaz – which, I strongly  believe isn’t far-fetched – would make him achieve another record for the country as well as for Asia as it would earn him   the distinction of  being  the first Asian to win four world titles in four weight categories.

For Pacquiao, the possibilities seem limitless and, at this stage, only Pacquiao can beat Pacquiao.

That will happen if Pacquiao isn’t well-trained when he finally battles Diaz, who has lost just once in 31 fights, on June 29 in Las Vegas.

(Readers may reach columnist at also147@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/general-admission/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments