By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

AFTER two years of inactivity, the long-awaited world’s boxing legend Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will fight his next foe World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion Errol Spence, Jr. to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 21. Yes, negotiations for the proposed blockbuster battle between Pacquiao and World Boxing Organization (WBO) belt holder Terence Crawford came to naught because of money matters.  The fight was supposed to be held in Abu Dhabi.

Pacman, 42, who has not fought since flooring then defending World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight titleholder Keith Thurman en route to win by split verdict held in Las Vegas in July 2019, was stripped off his WBA welterweight title due to inactivity. He was eventually declared “champion in recess”. After brief negotiations, the only eight-division world boxing champion Pacman who loves challenges and keen on fighting the best boxers in his division and doesn’t duck any prized fighter, finally selected a formidable foe again – the unbeaten 31-year-old Spence with a mark of 27 wins, 21 of them via the short routes. Spence last fight was in December last year when he won a unanimous decision over former world champion Danny Garcia.

As expected, many of Pacman’s fans predict a victory for the fighting lawmaker. One of them, a friend of Pacman, the former PNP police officer retired Colonel Pat Piñol and was once the chief of police in Urdaneta City, forecasted Pacman’s victory via knockout. A friend of mine sports YouTuber Dwain Badua of Dwainformation also predicted Pacman’s win via decision. I agree. That is also my prediction. However, as expected from the Mexican side, Mikey Garcia, who was also rumored to fight Pacman but this was derailed, favors Spence to win but respects Pacman’s capability inside the ring having had more experience and highly motivated. YouTube veteran boxing reporter Elie Seckback added in his post last May 23, he still has his fast fists, despite his age.

MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said the Pacquiao versus Spence will be a legacy brawl for Pacman, adding that this might be Pacman’s last step inside the ring. Yes, that could be true if Pacman losses. But if Pacman wins, the much-awaited Pacquiao-Crawford clash might still happen and that will be a best-seller event in this decade especially if the pandemic is finally over. And if that happens, it’ may still be too early to pick Crawford to win. The three-division world champion (lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight) Crawford, 32, has unblemished record of 37 wins and 28 of them via knockouts.

By style, Crawford is known for his exceptionally fast hand rapidity and very clever (like Pacquiao), with telling punching power, counter-punching power abilities (like Juan Manuel Marquez who luckily knocked out Pacquiao by a counter-punch), with lots of defensive skills.  He has the talent to switch comfortably from conventional right hand to southpaw, which Pacman doesn’t have. And if the fight happens, I guess it could be held next year with Pacquiao already 43 years old. I believe ‘father time’ will play a big role for the two. But if the age runs the same for the two, I pick Pacman to win. No why and how.
We saw the super moon this season last Wednesday night (May 26), and we’ll see a super fight this year come August 22 (PH time).
Let’s wait and see.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: ‘My eye shall not spare, nor will I have pity; I will repay you according to your ways, and your abominations will be in your midst. Then you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes. EZEKIEL 7: 9

 

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