In a profound way, what the failed Pacquiao-Mayweather negotiations meant was Pacquiao’s dashing the notion that he could stand his ground only in the ring. He showed that he also had what it took to deserve respect outside of the ring. He could break down situations and he had enough courage to stand by what he thought was right.
When the Mayweathers accused Pacquiao of using an esoteric drug or “A-side Meth” and demanded random blood testing when nobody knew how blood samples could be tested for such a magical drug, Pacquiao knew that—one, the Mayweathers wanted him psychologically battered even before the bell could ring in the event a fight with him would happen and, two, failing to snare him in a mind-game, they had to look for a way out of the fight.
What the likes of Mayweather refused to give Pacquiao credit for was his convictions—and his capacity to make informed choices in support of them. Pacquiao’s first American promoter, Murad Muhammad, often referred to Pacquiao as “the kid.” Early in Pacquiao’s career, people in dark suits often thought he lived by what others whispered to him; they underestimated his ability to comprehend on his own the kind of information that is not solely tied to boxing gloves.
When Pacquiao brought Murad to court for misconduct, he braved an environment that dramatized the inconsequence of those who sweat it out to make a living in relation to the awesome presence of the powerful. But he showed that he had full control of his facts, and went on to win an out-of-court settlement with Murad.
Still on the failed negotiations with Mayweather, Arum has quoted Pacquiao as saying that “I am a Filipino. I cannot be bullied inside and outside the ring.”
On March 4, 2010, some members of Philippine media covering a press conference in Los Angeles, USA, that was meant to promote the May 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr-Shane Mosley, felt bullied when they were barred from interviewing Mayweather.
FOR FILIPINOS WHOSE LEADERS throughout history have had little to show in terms of advancing the country’s interests in forging international treaties or agreements, Pacquiao’s off-ring exploits come around like a whiff of fresh air.
In a context where millions of his compatriots work as virtual slaves in other countries, Pacquiao has managed to highlight how far he has gone. He not only issues paychecks to clients and employees of other nationalities, he pays them in a way that makes them proud to be associated with a Filipino. Moreover, and in a more profound sense, many Filipinos overseas have felt having been accorded with a new-found respect from the rest of the world by virtue of sharing Manny’s nationality.
And it’s not only about nationality. Without saying anything, Pacquiao has been eloquent about the value of nationalism. For instance, unlike most big-time global athletes and celebrities who earned most of their incomes in the US and transferred their domiciles to the US to save millions of dollars from tax payments, Pacquiao has chosen to stay in the Philippines.
He has in fact fortified his citizenship. During the 2010 Philippine elections, he ran for and won a congressional seat, representing the Province of Sarangani.
Flashing scenes from Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao the boxer to Emmanuel D. Pacquiao the politician is one more glitter to a story that has captivated millions.
For the majority of his countrymen who continue to wallow in poverty, Pacquiao represents hope. For those who grope in the darkness of doubt, he is like the flicker that assures them of their capacity to succeed.
The man who had nothing early in life has now almost everything. He has money and all it can buy. With an estimated asset of close to 70 million dollars, he is number six in Forbe’s list of the world’s wealthiest athletes. He has a multitude of fans. He is famous. He has graced the cover of Time Magazine and Readers’ Digest. He has appeared in mainstream American TV talk shows. Hollywood celebrities have called on him. Former US Presidents Bill Clin-ton and George Bush had went out of their way to ac-knowledge him.
In a relatively so short a time, the Pacquiao legend has grown. And his celebrity status continues to soar.
Crusader in the Ring
Already a boxing icon and a political leader—and yet there is something more in being Manny Pacquiao.
With Cotto and Clottey—both top-level welter-weights—out of the way, it is time to contemplate the miracle that Pacquiao is, as Al Bernstein suggested. And as the Mayweathers have alleged about Pacman’s benefiting from either PEDs or magical potions, let’s delve on the intangibles of human (or superhuman, if you may) achievement.
In each of Pacman’s fights, there’s one usual sight that provides contrast to the boisterous atmosphere of the boxing arena. It is a sight of humility. It is almost an ex-pression of inner peace. The boxer makes a sign of the cross and marks himself as disciple of the Roman Catholic faith. The gesture not only affirms one’s faith in His God—that the Lord is with him every step of his way (“Emmanuel” means “God is with us”); it also acknowl-edges one’s inconsequence before God; that he is a crea-tion of no one (not even by the multitude who cheers for him inside a Las Vegas boxing venue) but by Him. The meaning of The Pac-man’s gesture resonates, and his being human shines through even more when he says “I pray to God that no one will get hurt.”
As a footnote, though, one may find madness in all of this if He was God. Why would people adore boxing in the first place if it risks the health of boxers? It is a question that demands answers, but one that may have to be addressed by another story. It resembles a question about the madness of war among countries, although this, too, is another story.
Turning back to Pacquiao, we find that as he enters the boxing ring before a fight, he searches his own corner and, upon finding it, kneels down in prayer. He does the same after the fight. He repeatedly makes the sign of the cross before, during and after each bout, sometimes during each round. Outside of the ring, his humble disposition makes it easy for the uninitiated to take his side.
Without an army, The Pacman is a Crusader. Both inside and outside the ring, he is a celebrity endorser of Catholicism. He is an untitled ambassador to the world—for present and future generations—from the Vatican.
Who Can Stop The Pacman?
Given his recent successes inside the ring, the question that is often raised is not what else he can accomplish. The question scans the horizon if ever there is a force on earth that can stop The Pacman.
Two possible answers. First, not only are people lining up to fight Pacquiao for the money (big pay goes to whoever is in front of him), they also look forward to relishing the honor of being the one to have stopped the Pacquiao juggernaut. Thus enormous material and psychic rewards await would-be Pacquiao opponents. Just the same, however, many boxing fans still believe that only a few active fighters today in Pacquiao’s weight class are capable of posing any serious threat to his dominance at the top. In this scant list can be mentioned the names of Floyd Mayweather Jr, Amir Khan and those who rule the higher divisions, like Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams.
Second, even the best of them fade to the sunset. Changes in psychological make up, not to mention physical wear and tear, can debase anybody’s desire to win.
In all his boxing life, Pacquiao has leaned on his prayers for self-assurance and self-confidence. Problem is, even stories of success have hints of under-lying limitations. The more successful one becomes, he or she might no longer feel the need for self-assurance. What one has become is the assurance. He or she believes he already has enough power to get things done. Old ways get lost in the scheme of things and, in Manny’s case, he can very well stop being superstitious, or cease praying the way he used to—that is, praying like everything has depended on His God.
If that happens, new ways of look-looking at things can affect his bio-rhythm, the pulse rate, the drive, the focus, etc. either in a positive or negative manner. When the next bell rings, will his fighting heart switch itself on like it always did before? If the overall flow of his bio-rhythm works differently like it used to, he is bound to make mistakes inside the ring. His motor apparatus can fail. Being slow in reflexes is a sure recipe for disaster in bouts contested at such a high level where he competes. A moment of weakness can be fatal; and he does not need a top-notch opponent to lose a fight. The Pacman can stop The Pacman.
Finally, there is one mighty opponent nobody can outlast—time. The greatest boxers may have tried to beat this adversary; none of them succeeded.
In his youth, Sugar Ray Robinson lost only once in his first 132 fights. After competing for 11 years at age 30, he lost 18 of his succeeding 68 matches.
Roberto Duran lost only once in his first 73 fights. But starting at age 29, he lost 15 of his next 46 bouts. And at age 43, he lost 7 of his final 18 fights.
Julio Cesar Chavez was undefeated in his first 90 fights. But after he turned 32 and being active for 14 straight years, he lost 6 of his next 25 fights.
Oscar De La Hoya never lost until his 32nd fight, at age 26. From age 30 onwards, he lost 4 of his next 7 bouts.
The examples can go on and on. But the message of each story is the same: nobody beats time. Old age may not be a curse. But like all properties of nature, it needs to be managed. Many legends were found wanting not be-cause of lack of skill or physical fitness. Rather, they embarrassed themselves for not knowing when to retire.
Manny Pacquiao will soon turned 32. And the legends like him have shown wear and tear at this point of their respective careers. He has shown none of it in his last 6—even 7—fights. But sooner or later something will have to give. If time—or age—had stopped the best of athletes, it could stop the Pacman, too. As to when it happens, however, only time can tell. Not a few well-meaning friends, like his Chief Trainer Freddie Roach, have in fact advised him to plan his exit while he is on top.
What can make retiring an easy decision for Pacquiao to do is the secure and solid standing he has established for himself in the sport. Excepting hecklers and those who just can’t leave so much money on the table (which may not necessarily be wrong), many people think there really is nothing left to prove himself.
Manny Pacquiao on the cover of the Reader's Digest, Asia Edition and Time Magazine. Photo by Google Images.
Has any fighter ever rendered more excitement, more stimulation and more enthusiasm for his job than Pacman has since he made his HBO debut on June 23, 2001 in Las Vegas against South Africa's Lehlohonolo Ledwaba?
No, the greatest fighter fighting the toughest opposition in HBO's brief ring his-tory (dating back to Mike Weaver-Larry Holmes in 1979) and producing the brightest sparks has been Pacquiao. -- Michael Marley, Examiner.com
This chapter is to be constinued
No comments:
Post a Comment