(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
I’m sure that my title sparks up a certain point in boxing history, when excitement was limitless. That title, and what it means, is something a boxing fan will never forget or overlook.
Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier made that specific geographic region go through everyone’s mind. Manila was the direct source, from where the extreme excitement radiated to out TV’s, radios, and hearts. A tremendous amount of people, were interested and emotionally attached to Manila, where on October 1st 1975 the two biggest boxing names went to battle.
Today, the Manila region is back. It’s back in our minds, hearts, and is radiating that same excitement as in 1975. Except this time, there is no actually fight in the city of Manila; there are no cameras and radio personnel there for any events as well. What the Manila region gave to us this time, is a fighter who stands 5’6”, weighs 140 pounds, and goes through competition like a freight train; that boxer is Emanuel Pacquiao.
I am not going to go into details about his record, and style of fighting, but what I will do, is tell you about what I think of his past, present and future.
The first fight I saw Manny in was against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003. After the win, I thought nothing of it. Sure he was good, looked fast, and beat Barrera in the 11th round, but I thought of it as nothing more than a slip up for the loser of the fight.
Since then, “Pacman” has taken down Marquez on more than one occasion, Erik Morales had the pleasure of facing him a few times with bad outcomes, David Diaz, and of course the latest victim, Oscar De La Hoya.
Think about, Manny took out the very top of the competition, some on numerous occasions, in about five years time.
Not only that, but he keeps going. He looks better with every fight.
Manny seems unstoppable these days. He has the attributes, trainer Freddie Roach, and his prime to count on.
In the past and recent present, only a few fighters were able to put up some sort of a fight. Most legends were dominated, and beaten fast without chance or mercy. So what’s next?
There are a few more fights that he needs to win. First of all, let me say this: if he is able to beat the fighters that I am going to mention in the upcoming paragraph, he will become the greatest of all time. Move over Ali, Marciano, etc.
In just about a week, Manny will be taking on a very dangerous fighter in Ricky Hatton. Hatton is aggressive, fast, and really wants to win this fight. I don’t expect Manny to do as well as other people do. In any case, if he beats him, he will have to face the undertaker, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather is the only fighter who, in my opinion, is way more advanced in every single attribute that Manny possesses in his arsenal.
Floyd Mayweather is unbelievably fast, blessed with unparalleled defensive skill, and has the age and trainer on his side. Stepping into the ring with him will be a different experience. The ring will not feel like home and it will not feel comfortable, because the boxer on the other side is top shelf material.
Discussing how I see the fight going is not of importance just yet. Beating Mayweather though, is all Manny would need to earn the “greatest of all time” tag from me.
I have heard people saying that he needs to
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