The Bohol Standard Online Edition
A Moment like This
Boxing is boring, that is if we watch fights of the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. or Bernard Hopkins. Overrated and unworthy of our precious time, the two have been known to be lousy boxers who fight with reluctance and over-protectiveness.
Not with the likes of Manny Pacquiao, who is expected to explode from start to end when he clashes for the third time with Juan Manuel Marquez today (Philippine time) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
One boxing analyst once said that when you watch Manny Pacquiao fight, you don?t watch him because you expect him to win but you watch him in order to appreciate the science of boxing, the surprising styles and techniques and all that. That makes the 8-division champion Pacquiao the most exciting boxer in the world today.
The only time we were disappointed with boxing was when Pacquiao was fighting with ring cowards, those who are only interested in claiming their fat take-home pay to the tune of millions of dollars courtesy of their never-ending boxing marathon game plan.
That being said, Sugar Shane Mosley comes to mind. Mosley was never interested in fighting, but in running. Another disappointing boxer was Joshua Clottey who refused to engage trade blows with Pacquiao but covered himself from beginning to end.
It brings national honor to us Filipinos that many are interested to fight Manny Pacquiao not because they want to defeat him but because they want to have a share of his fortune and fame and glamor and all that.
What makes Pacquiao separate from the rest of the fighters is that despite his stature and wealth, Pacquiao always puts his fans and even his critics in the forefront of his fighting plan.
At this stage of his illustrious boxing career, the Filipino boxing icon is not so much interested in making money in the ring but in giving his fans a profound moment, that moment of wonder and awe on how a David can manage to slay a Goliath.
Yes, boxing is business, but Pacquiao, without deliberately doing it, makes the sports a spectacular learning experience amid all the fun and excitement.
Today we watch another page of history in the world of boxing to be unfolded before our eyes. Our pride in having Manny Pacquiao is not so much about his long list of victories. It is about his very personality, a man whose rags-to-riches story never gets into his head, a man who is by default generous to many, a man who practices genuine humility even in the face of what is seemed an unacceptable insult and humiliation spewed by his critics, a man who fights for the prestige and honor of his country. such is the kind of man who deserves to be remembered long in the annals of Philippine history.
Pacquiao has expressed his intention to retire from boxing come 2013. if he intends to expand the horizon of public service, the nation can remain confident that Pacquiao will display as much humanity and brilliance in 2013 as he would today when he ends his trilogy against Marquez.