Is Pacquiao’s knockout power gone?

By Jesus A. Garcia, Jr.

WE saw how our boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao battered the ambitious American Chris Algieri in 12 rounds to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title last November 30 in Macau. We broke into cheers every time the flamboyant Algiere was floored (six times) but Pacman was unable to finish him off and instead won a predictable unanimous verdict from all of the three ring judges.

After the fight, many observed and said that the aging Pacman no longer has the knockout power anymore unlike when was still in the lighter weights especially in the featherweight (126 lbs), super featherweight (130 lbs), lightweight (135 lbs) and junior welterweight (140 lbs), almost knocking out all his opponents including famed boxers Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, David Diaz, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, to name some. Experts said the welterweight division where he belongs now is not compatible with his 5’61/2” height while others believe his age (turning 36 years old on December 17) is one also of the major factors.

“Mahirap kontrahin ang edad. Maaaring ma-minimize natin pero hindi completely na ma-kontra,” – said boxing fanatic Danny Soriano of Mangaldan. “Nandiyan pa rin yong speed, experience at footwork niya pero obviously nag-diminish na yong bigat ng kanyang mga suntok dahil umi-edad na rin siya at ganuon din ang nangyayari ngayon sa inaasahang makakalaban niya sa hinaharap na kapwa niya kampeon na si Floyd Mayweather, Jr.,” echoed Mangaldan election officer Johnny Valencia. I have to agree. That is also my perception after his fight against the Mexican warrior and former world lightweight champion Brandon Rios. Rios remained standing throughout, boxed toe-to-toe and lasted the full 12 rounds despite the seeming powerful blows from Pacman in November 24 last year.

Same thing happened to Antonio Margarito but unlike Algieri who just kept on running, and used his five inches reach advantage but to no avail. Well, that’s professional boxing. “Use your head (be smart) more than your hands and your feet,” as the saying goes. “What your mind conceived, the body achieved,” once said by former world heavyweight champion the late Kenny Norton when he upset and broke Muhammad Ali’s jaw after his first of their three fights held on March 31, 1973 in San Diego, California. Norton won the first but lost the second and the third.

Before the Pacquiao-Algieri fight, well-known boxing commentators and analysts Chino Trinidad and Ronnie Nathanielz said the title fight will be a mismatch in favor to Pacman. They did not say if it will end via knockout but just said it would be a mismatch.

Why? Because according to the two, the Italian-Argentine Algieri is still too inexperienced to match the level of Pacman. And they were right. Algieri with a record of 20 wins sans defeat with only eight knockouts prior to the clash, just rose to prominence when he beat world junior welterweight titlist Ruslan Provodnikov via split decision to wrest the WBO junior welterweight crown.

And now the question of the world is: Will the much-awaited Pacquiao versus Mayweather, Jr. push through next year? Pacman head trainer Freddie Roach said it will never happen despite the taunting of the Pacman’s camp including Pacman’s promoter Top Rank czar Bob Arum. Mayweather has many conditions that are very unrealistic.

My reading is Mayweather doesn’t want to stain his impeccable record of 47 wins without a single loss knowing that Pacquiao might beat him convincingly as many Filipinos predict. Let’s wait and see. Who knows, he might yield to the pressure and agree to fight Pacman next year. If it doesn’t happen next year, it may be never. And so be it.

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My deepest condolence to the family of former Bonuan Gueset barangay captain Angel C. Gumarang who lost his wife the former Laida Prestosa, 49, last November 25 due to a chronic ailment. Angel and Laidz have two children named Mark Anthony and Bianca Victoria. Interment will be on November 30 at 9 a.m. May she rest in peace.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. MATTHEW 1: 20

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