Bleacher Report - Articles by Huwebes Fernandez

Through It All, Manny Pacquiao Dominates the Boxing Headlines

Huwebes Fernandez — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:09:38 -0400

Many events have transpired since Manny Pacquiao's May 2 annihilation of Ricky Hatton. On that day, Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced his return to the ring for a July 18 showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez. A month later, Andre Berto defended his title in a lackluster performance against Juan Urango.

Shortly after, Miguel Cotto barely squeaked out a split-decision win against Joshua Clottey. And now the latest news, Mayweather vs. Marquez has been postponed due to a rib injury that Li'l Floyd suffered during training. Despite all of these events involving so many different fighters, the one name that continues to dominates the headlines is Manny Pacquiao.

Although Mayweather and Marquez tried to steal the limelight hours before the Pacquiao-Hatton clash, it was Pacquiao who received the final round of applause with his crushing left hook that left fans in utter disbelief and astonishment. Since that day, people are still talking about the fight.

While there have been discussions regarding Mayweather's sudden emergence from retirement and his upcoming fight with Marquez, they pale in comparison to the conversations about the obliteration of Hatton and the prospect of who's next in line to face the Pacman.

In those conversations, several opponents have been discussed. In fact, many have emerged themselves to express the desire of landing the fight. There's Shane Mosley, coming off his own victory over Antonio Margarito earlier this year, who practically begged an opportunity to face Manny.

There's Edwin Valero, the knockout king from Venezuela, who called out Manny after his own recent win over Pitalua. And there's Cotto, who just recently beat Clottey and is the current frontrunner to be Manny's next opponent.

No matter what, it appears as though all roads and conversations seem to lead back to Manny Pacquiao.

I can't even remember a time like this when Pacquiao had no fight officially scheduled and yet the headlines were dominated with tons of news about him. From his celebration in his homeland to his appearance at the BWAA Awards, it's as if his every move is being reported by the media on a daily basis.

Even now, just days after Mayweather was force to postpone his bout with Marquez, there's still more talk about who Manny's next opponent is going to be. Despite the fact that Mayweather insists that he's a bigger draw, all the talk, all the focus, all the attention has been and continues to be on Pacquaio.

As a Filipino saying goes, "times are changing and the only thing that doesn't change is the word 'permanent.'" So with all the incidents that have happened in the short amount of time since May 2, does Mayweather really deserve the lion's share of the purse if he fights Pacquiao, or is it really the other way around?

Manny Pacquiao: Boxing's Saviour at His Best

Huwebes Fernandez — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:38:12 -0400

All the stories have been told and all articles have been written. Someone said boxing is already dead but look at it right now. It's selling like hotcakes because of this man, who has already achieved his place among the boxing legends and all-time greats.

We are talking about Manny Pacquiao, who we once never cared about or been interested in back in the old days when he was still building his name in the United States of America.

Who could have known that this Filipino Tasmanian Devil would save boxing after Oscar Dela Hoya, the greatest pay-per view king in the history of boxing had retired. Many thought that boxing would drop into the quicksand and be entirely over-shadowed by the emerging success of the UFC, but that is utterly wrong. Boxing once proved again why the sport is here to stay for a very long time.

Thanks to Manny Pacquiao, all the upcoming journalists like me have been inspired to write about boxing and boxing alone. Thanks to him we still cherish that finishing lefthook punch that brought Hatton down to the canvass for almost five minutes, and will go down as one of the most vicious knock-outs any combat sport has ever seen.

Very often we always say that boxing has lost it's glory because of the bad officiating and the governing bodies that always milk money from boxers whenever they put their lives on the line, but it's as if we never learn.

Boxing has been there and done that. No one can ever make boxing go away in this world. It's because of the excitement, the drama behind the fight-scenes and highlight knockout reels that we have always waited for.

Manny Pacquiao is planning to run for a Philippine Congressional seat next year, and the sad thought about that is he is also speaking about his retirement before the elections. I hope that he would not continue his plans on doing that because the boxing world is still not ready for his early departure just when he is making it big in the US.

Boxing fans and writers will surely miss his excitement and knockout reels that he always brings in the ring. He must not leave the sport yet, as he can still do many things and achieve greater glory for him and the sweet science.

As he said, "it's nothing personal, I'm just doing my job"—I hope you can do it just a little bit more Manny, just a little bit more.

Will the Ricky Hatton Wonderland Survive the Pacman Typhoon?

Huwebes Fernandez — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:56:56 -0400

You got it right. The Hatton fan club has the most famous song in the whole boxing world; Hatton and his army of Brits heading once again to Las Vegas, our ears will be ringing and the Hattonnites will be singing:

"There's only one Ricky Hatton,
One Ricky Hatton, Walking along,
Singing a song,
Walking in a Hatton wonderland.”

The wonderland that Ricky Hatton created survived numerous typhoons in the years of its existence; however, not too long ago it was smashed by a hurricane called “Mayweather.” Since then, Hatton’s wonderland developed itself into a more complete and much stronger Kingdom under the watchful eye of Mr. Mayweather Senior.

Now with a defense like no other combined with power that has colonized and defeated every known light welterweight in the world, Hatton is now considered one of the most vicious body punchers in the sport.

Meet Ricky “THE HITMAN” Hatton. The reigning and defending Ring Magazine's light welterweight and IBO light welterweight champion of the world.

On the other hand, a much stronger typhoon is heading towards the wonderland with a speed of 120 knots or 220 kilometer per hour, which will test the Hatton kingdom’s ramparts if indeed ready to face its next bigger challenge.

This major typhoon only started in Far East as a tropical cyclone but today is the most dangerous typhoon that conquered every known superstar in Mexico. Now he is aiming for the great land of the Brits to once again cause a great deal of damage to one of the Brits most illustrious superstar today.

Meet the people's champion, the reigning number one pound for pound boxer in the sport, the national hero and the fighting pride of the Philippines, Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao.

Exaggeration it may seem, but this is one of the most awaited fights of the year the matchup between Ricky “THE HITMAN” Hatton and Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao. These two gentlemen are the most celebrated and most supported superstars of boxing today carrying the load of their nation’s great expectations on top of their shoulders, Behind their punches they carry a strong desire to defend and win for their dominions.

This fight doesn’t need much hype anymore because this is the fight that everybody wants and a contest that is in the highest echelon of all contact sports.

The drama behind this fight is enough to trigger the fans to become restless and more passionate, trainers already started their verbal toss and expect that this will be one of those most classic fights that will vindicate the real meaning of true professional boxers and champions on their own rights and for their own native land.

The “Pac-Man”, being called the Pacific typhoon, has ruined those who tried to prevent him of his boxing immortality. Most of those who tried to cross his path are now shattered on their stools, may it be physical or emotional, and only a few prevailed during his younger days. He has that kindness outside the ring that may beatify him as a “SAINT.”

Inside the ring, he is a monster that always brings fear on his opponents, a possessed Tasmanian devil and a berserk who unleashes an out of control and powerful bombardment on his enemies, leaving them a question “what kind of punch had just hit them?”

Manny Pacquiao with only three loses in his career. The loses were eye openings for Pacquiao and with each lose Pacquiao moved one step higher on his career ladder.

Loses that urged him to always train harder than ever. His last lost against the great Erik “El Terrible” Morales even made him stronger and taught him an important lesson. No matter what happens, he must always focus, focus and focus.

Remember Manny in his first meeting and lose to Morales had many distractions in his training camp, a lot of people would hangout inside the gym watching his moves, while his previous promoter Murad Muhammad and his business managers bilked him out of more than 30 percent of his purse and left him with a huge tax liability.

Afterwards, Pacquiao made a promise to himself and to his countrymen that none of these distractions would bother him nor would he let his fans and his country be disappointed again.

On May 2, 2009, we are going to witness who will rise up and snatch that most renowned and invisible belt of being the Ring number one pound for pound king of boxing. Each pride and passion will get the attention.

One fighter will sit on his bench and the other will be raising his hands in triumph. One will crumble and the other will be victorious. Who will cry and who will smile. The road to Las Vegas is now shining and eagerly waiting. Let the Pacific typhoon enter Hatton’s wonderland. Let one of the most anticipated fight of the year begin!

Meantime, let’s just all wait until May 2 and see if the Pacific typhoon has what it takes to ultimately annihilate and exterminate the entire Hatton wonderland.

Coach Freddie Roach Just Did the Right Thing: "Prevention Is Better than Cure"

Huwebes Fernandez — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:35:07 -0400

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the brain that frequently damages speech, motor skills, and other functions of the body. It is also characterized by muscle stiffness, shaking, and, in severe cases, a deficiency and slowing of physical movement.

As we knew, Muhammad Ali represents this one of a kind disorder that is often blamed on his late boxing career.

Consecutive blows in his head in his semi-retirement fights led to this treacherous time bomb that he did not anticipate. No one knew in those days that his great and legendary career would only be marred by this type of perilous malady.

No one knew back then that this type of disease would hit boxers who are always willing to take a shot to their heads so that they can also give a punch every time they fight in the ring.

Boxers back then had to fight for the whole 15 rounds. Imagine this: You have to take strong punches in your head and body for about 45 minutes, and you’ll always have to fight in every week or maybe every month, and boxers back then have a long career that lasts for about 15 to 25 years! Wow!

So it’s not really hard to be a boxer back then? Well if you fight like that right now, maybe you could die early and not see your grandchildren grow and be an adult and that is so depressing if you know what I mean.

One boxer who have experienced it way back then, who also doesn’t care for his health and when to stop his ailing career is Freddie Roach who is also known as "La Cucaracha" (the cockroach) and "The Choir Boy."

Roach spent most of his entire career as a Lightweight journeyman pugilist, and was on the losing end on of most of his high profile bouts.

He lost fights to former champions like super lightweight Bobby Chacon and former lightweights Greg Haugen and Hector Camacho Sr. Roach relied on a resilient fighting style, and tried to outlast rivals in the ring.

Freddie Roach only went 13-12 win-loss state in his late career after he started his career having an impressive 26-1 record.

Roach definitely got that disease after many years of retirement away from the sport he once loved and participated into.

After what happened last Saturday in Puerto Rico, where Gerry has fought with much valor and bravery against a young and hungry wolf in Juan Manuel Lopez, (the current WBO champion in the super bantamweight division) Freddie Roach stopped the fight before the round 10 was commenced.

Accumulation of 444 punches to the head and body of Peñalosa, Roach didn’t think twice what he should do. He knows that history might repeat itself if Coach Roach didn’t stopped the fight.

Though Gerry has too much bravado in him to continue the fight whatever happens, Roach doesn’t want it to be that way. Roach want it to be stopped already in round 8 but he knows that Gerry was not this type of fighter who surrenders after he tasted the punch of the most fearsome puncher in the 122 pound division.

Although he gave in to Gerry’s request to continue round 9 (after he successively absorbed so many punches to his head and body) he did not want it to be continued after round 10 after seeing Peñalosa can’t do some miracle no more.

Gerry was begging for Roach to still continue his fight for glory and victory but Freddie Roach, who has been there and done this knows that if this bout will still be prolonged, Gerry might suffer that precarious disease that he has acquired, also after he has extended his career that should have been finished if he was just listening to his trainer back then.

Freddie Roach was just doing the right thing. He’s not doing this just because he is the trainer of Gerry Peñalosa, but he is doing this as a caring friend who doesn’t think twice if Gerry will become the champion or not.

What is significantly running on Freddie’s mind at that time is what will happen to Gerry after he had absorbed consecutive power punches in his head.

Gerry could have rewritten the history of boxing if he did continue to fight after round 9, but the right question is what will happen to him in the future if he did survive this vicious onslaught brought to him by the current champion. He could have a killer disease like what Freddie Roach and Muhammad Ali has.

Thank God Freddie did what he is supposed to do in that place at the right time. He stopped the circulation of the bad saying that “history repeats itself.”

In doing this Freddie not only did make himself a better person and a trainer but also as a caring friend or brother or whatever you might call him. Freddie Roach didn’t do his job that night.

What Freddie Roach has done that night is the prevention of an uncertain future that might cause a dreadful disease for one of Philippines legend in boxing called, Gerry “The Fearless” Peñalosa.

One thing though, there is a saying in medicine that Coach Roach has certainly applied in that heart breaking loss, he had positively proven that “prevention is better than cure.”

Devil Pacquiao: Awakening the Dark Side of the Pacman

Huwebes Fernandez — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:05:50 -0400

“Neither gods nor men can foresee when an evil deed will bear its fruit.”

—Bodhidharma

Transform, seek, and destroy.

These are three significant terminologies that are are always associated with Manny Pacquiao whenever he fights in the square ring.

We know that outside the fight arena, he resembles a man who has a personality equivalent to a modern saint. I know this because he sometimes shares some of his vast wealth to unfortunate people who always need some blessings from him anytime they wish.

He always does these kind of things because he knows the feeling of being poverty-stricken. He also suffered this kind of fate when he was still a young kid wandering the murky streets of General Santos City.

Not getting enough food for his family merged with his miserable experiences when he was still an unknown human being. This triggered and awakened the monster living inside of him, which, in the near future, will convert him into one of the deadliest finishers of the sport.

No one could have foreseen this astonishing occurrence except him.

Every time he steps into the ring, a complete transformation of him takes under control. A once respectable and benevolent individual becomes an absolute unstoppable beast whose only craving for blood and carnage can satisfy his sheer hunger.

Many have tried to stop him but only few have survived the severe onslaught that the dark Pacman has brought to them.

Can you imagine this?

You’re standing inside a ring where only you and the devil would fight for the whole 36 minutes of your life. For me it sounds terrifying enough to imagine and undergo, but what if the demon you’re fighting with has inhuman power and speed, and can punch you like someone is hitting you with a baseball bat in the head and the body?

What in the hell are you going to do?

For me, well I can’t really say but to think of it, I could go and pee in my pants right now, no kidding.

On May 2, 2009, we will again see this total transformation and domination that we, fans, are eagerly awaiting. The awakening of this legendary figure is a dangerous indication for the Hitman, Ricky Hatton.

I pity him not because Pacquiao will fully devastate his dreams of becoming the best fighter in the planet, but his beautiful white face will also be damaged and busted come fight night.

I’m not predicting it will really happen but all the warning signs have been constantly appearing in everyday news.

Trust me, news never lies.

The Hitman getting some black eyes in his sparring sessions are already an enormous signal that Pacman can do much more if he can actually taste and feel the precarious fists of the pound-for-pound king of boxing.

We’ll just see it to believe it. It’s only two weeks away and I am getting very hyped for the battle that will test who from both sides of the world is really the best among the rest.

“Violence isn't always evil. What's evil is the infatuation with violence.”

—Jim Morrison

Manny Pacquiao shows who he truly is...inside the boxing ring. A devil who looks straight into your eyes, that's what he is. Are you scared right now? You should be.

Photo credited to Mr. Drain Brain of www.pacfans-corner.com.

Fearless Huwebes: Anderson Silva Must Bow Down to the Real King of War

Huwebes Fernandez — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:05:22 -0400

After watching what happened last Saturday during UFC 97 at the Bell Centre, I was totally stunned.

Anderson Silva is supposed to be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world of mixed martial arts after getting some brutal knockouts in the octagon and defending the championship belt at middleweight many times in his legendary career.

He was supposed to be the face of the sport he represented, but look at what happened.

The crowd, which expected to get its money’s worth, repeatedly booed his dull performance, jaded expression, and frustrated attempts to provoke his challenger into fighting, and in the fourth and fifth rounds took to dancing, lowering his guard and whacking his rival without retribution.

UFC President Dana White was utterly embarrassed and infuriated at what Silva did in his latest defense of the belt. Even I, a non-UFC fan, was annoyed at what he has done to his reputation.

His mythical ranking is also identical with his boxing counterpart, Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao, who embodies what a true pound-for-pound king is.

Silva must watch all of Pacquiao's fights just so he can get back to what he really is: a monster who always gives the fans what they pay for—excitement, drama, and highlight-reel knockouts.

Pacquiao doesn’t lack any of those three factors whenever he fights. That’s why neither his promoter nor his fans all over the globe complain about his style of fighting.

He doesn’t have boring fights, even before he became a bona fide superstar. He earned the right to be a true pound-for-pound king through hard work and dedication.

If there was a true symbol of every sport we watch, Pacquiao would have to represent boxing. He is one of the reasons why boxing is the most electrifying and exciting sport right now.

He is a real king of war.

Pacquiao transcends the sport that he personifies every time he fights. He always fights for the fans and when he does, even the most casual boxing fans around the world stop and appreciate what he is doing in the ring.

There is no one in combat sports right now that can match his overall status and appeal to all of us.

Silva must do his homework before he can even call himself a king in the sport that he supposedly exemplifies.

What really matters most is not how you win the fight, but whether or not hordes of fans are cheering deafeningly on your side because they got what they were looking for—real action, and lots of it.

“Boxing is the ultimate challenge. There's nothing that can compare to testing yourself the way you do every time you step in the ring.”

—Sugar Ray Leonard

Exclusive Pacfans Report on Global Supremacy: Filipinos Invade the World

Huwebes Fernandez — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:53:48 -0400

The Historical Araneta Closeum or the "Big Dome" as it is called, where the famous "Thrilla in Manila" which was the Ali-Frazier World Heavyweight Championship Fight was held, with still many seats left before the undercards. The venue of the "Global Supremacy" where Filipinos will test there mettle and fight for victory.

Begin Slideshow

Edwin Valero: The Explosive "Señorita" from Venezuela

Huwebes Fernandez — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:16:24 -0400

"Señorita" is clearly defined as a Spanish title of respect or a formal address given to an unmarried woman or a girl. Another description of it is a .22-caliber pistol that, when fired at any part of a person’s body, especially the head, can become really lethal and perilous.

Edwin Valero, a rising star who hails from Venezuela, is a vicious knockout artist who never fails to make his opponents kiss the canvas.

He has an undefeated record and all of his 25 wins came from brutal knockouts, and no one (no one!) has ever made it through the fight to raise his arms in the air.

None have survived the onslaught brought to them by that explosive señorita who always fires his bullets straight into the heads of his aspiring adversaries.

I think that, in the near future, if he can fine tune all his skills in boxing, he will be the king of the sport, and he can take the load from Pacquiao to be the next darling and pound-for-pound king of the boxing world.

Yes, the colossal power is there. All he must do is improve his defense, speed, and his technical skills. If he can complete this step by step process like Pacquiao did, he could easily conquer higher weight divisions and imitate or surpass what some of the great fighters have done in the past.

He could be a legend. It all depends on whether or not he has what it takes to be a great champion in the future.

I can see that every time he fights. He has that unique look in his eyes that only ferocious predators have. His willingness to trade is one of the most essential factors in the sport to be a bankable star.

He also puts his full power behind each and every punch he throws at his enemy.

In his last fight against Antonio Pitalua we saw how Valero used his feet to launch his attacks from a distance until that fatal second round, when he unleashed that perfectly timed right hook into the chin, almost knocking out Pitalua.

Smelling blood like a wild animal, Valero continued his assault on Pitalua to register his second knockdown of the fight. After that, a barrage of multiple power punches came.

Wasting no time like always, Valero battered the poor Pitalua until his body and face couldn't take it anymore. The referee waved off the fight.

Edwin Valero won the WBC lightweight championship belt that Manny Pacquiao (his dream match) just recently vacated, and with that victory comes a lingering road to greatness.

He can be an excellent pugilist, or he can be horrendous chump. But what really matters most is his passion to do the best that he can while he is still a young champion.

I hope that after Manny Pacquiao retires, this one dimensional boxer will be the king and the carrier of this combat sport in the future. And though I am not one of his countrymen or avid supporters, Valero must represent the sport well because, as Pacquiao and the Uncle of Spiderman said, “with great power comes great responsibility.”

MP-JMM III: The Rivalry That Will Push Boxing Into It's Continuous Immortality

Huwebes Fernandez — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:07:56 -0400

It is the privilege of posterity to set matters right between those antagonists who, by their rivalry for greatness, divided a whole age. - Joseph Addison

We look beyond the future.

Pacquiao after having a difficult time in the early rounds adjusting to Hatton’s dirty tactics, have suddenly found a way to destroy what is left of the Hitman.

A bloody Hatton suddenly went down like a tree cut in half because of the lightning fast combinations of Pacquiao, so fast he thought he was being hit several times by a baseball bat in the head.

Meanwhile in the ringside, a rival is silently watching, stalking, and observing the crucial victory that will catapult their destinies into a single road of greatness. His heart is beating faster and faster like an F1 jet fighter in It’s maximum speed.

He is so excited the look in his eyes is comparable to a dangerous tiger hunting for his prey.

This is the moment he is waiting for and time is running out. His days are nearly over and he knows that if he doesn’t act now all his chances vanish into thin air. This is the fight that he is waiting all his life.

He is now the lone torch bearer of Mexico when it comes to boxing, second only to the pound for pound king that he thought he almost beat the last time. He is the current Ring Lightweight champion of the world in his weight class according to Ring magazine.

He also holds three alphabet belts, the WBA, WBO and the minor title: the IBO lightweight championship belt. His name is Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez.

On the other hand the victorious one is kneeling on the corner, silently praying and thanking the one who has helped him achieve again this momentous victory of his life. It is a triumph that everyone else is hoping and praying for back in his homeland.

After the astonishing knockout, Larry Merchant interviewed the national Hero of the Philippines, and the excerpt goes something like this,

Larry Merchant: So Manny who do you think will be the next victim of the “Pacman Typhoon”? Do you want a Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout for the Pound for pound King of the decade?, or do you want to fight your ultimate rival, Juan Manuel Marquez?

So that you could end this world query on who is the best fighter between you two and finish this trilogy once and for all ?

Manny Pacquiao: Hhhmmm, I, I don’t know Sir, It’s my promoter’s job to negotiate whoever I, I am going to fight next.

My job is only to train hard in the ring and I’ll just wait the next boxer who will be chosen by my promoter , and by the way I want to say thanks to all the politicians who watched my fight here in Las Vegas (actually all these leeches here who always pose for the camera even though I don’t know them) my supporters watching in the Philippines, and especially to the President of the Philippines, Madam Gloria Arroyo and many, many more.

Larry Merchant: Good luck to you Manny, You are really one of the greatest fighters I’ve watched in my entire life Manny, I hope you will be a good politician in the future.

Manny Pacquiao: Well I thank God for giving me the strength to have this victory and to all the boxing fans around the world thank you to all of you.

Larry Merchant: By the way Manny I forgot, can I kiss you just once only before I perish in this world?

Manny Pacquiao: Sorry Larry but I think you will still live longer and see my kids grow to be a future politician like me, bye Larry my fans and these leeches (ehem) this politicians are waiting for me. Bye Larry.

Larry Merchant: Bye Manny. Don’t forget my kiss in your next fight!

After the interview many fans saw Marquez approaching Manny and suddenly Marquez again made a proposal for a third fight with Manny. Holding all his four belts in his shoulders, Marquez suddenly grinned and said,

“Hey Manny I’m the true champion now and your just a paper champion. You still did not beat me in our recent fight. Fans all over the boxing world are intelligent and they know I won the fight.

How about this Manny, let’s do this again, a final fight to the road of all time greatness, so boxing fans all over the world will know who is really the legitimate victor in our last fight!”

And then, fans in the arena abruptly saw in the big screens what is happening between the two protagonists. The fans we’re urging Manny to give an answer back to Marquez.

Manny Pacquiao, known for his audacity in choosing his opponents in the squared ring unexpectedly gave in to the massive crowd that is cheering him on. Manny Pacquiao replied to Marquez and said,

“Ok if the fans want this fight and our different promoters want to have this fight then we have a deal! November is the date let’s sign the papers after two moths to be exact! Let this fight end this turmoil of who is the greatest pugilist between us. You are now the greatest Mexican right now and I am the greatest Filipino right now.

We must put an end to this unfinished business. I will show you the true meaning of fear. I will show you why I am called the people’s champion! I will show you why I am called the “Pacific Typhoon.” Hey Marquez let’s get it on!”

Suddenly fans in the stadium went wild and crazy after hearing this statement from Manny. They saw Pacquiao and Marquez shook hands, took a smile in the cameras, and boom! Another classic trilogy is born in the making.

A trilogy that will make boxing reach further heights in all of the sports we all knew. This trilogy is the completion of a long struggle that must end.

This is the fight that will determine on who will actually carry the invisible belt of being the Pound for Pound King. The fate linking these two boxers where there even before they we’re born. The stars have are slowly but surely aligning.

This is a predetermined event that will never be prevented at all by neither you nor I. They must draw a close to this bloody and final conflict, because this is where they will know the true meaning of the word called “greatness.”

This fight is what all boxing enthusiasts are waiting for. All leaves have fallen and all words are spoken. Let this fight answer all the lingering questions that boxing fans has always asked for. This is the fight for freedom, respect and pride.

One must succumb and the other must prevail. There's no stopping this vital battle for superiority. This is the fight that will open the gate to all-time greatness.

A classic trilogy that will propel boxing into It’s continuous immortality. This is what boxing has been waiting for all this time.

“Dreams are like stars...you may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny.” - Anonymous

“Julio Cesar Chavez Jr: in Daddy's Daycare”

Huwebes Fernandez — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:22:14 -0400

Yet another beating happened at the hands of the junior!

Make no mistake, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. had beaten yet another "bogus" contender to make it to the top. Imagine a six foot guy with visible muscles fighting it out with a flabby 5'8" tall boxer and can't even produce a single knockdown.

The opponent is Luciano Cuello, a Spaniard who has a record of 21-1, 10 KO’s, and hasn't beaten a credible fighter. His record indicates that Bob Arum is just feeding Chavez Jr. a bunch of bums, one after another.

The fight is exciting and competitive. It’s an all-out inside fight between the two from start to finish, with Chavez Jr. holding his ground and throwing multiple combinations to the head and body.

Cuello stood up to the bigger Chavez Jr. with a mixture of punches, pressuring the taller Chavez to move backwards often times. One thing I observed from Cuello is that he doesn’t possess a power to knockout his foe. It is noticeable that in the late rounds Chavez Jr. was already tired and Cuello could have changed the tempo and won the fight.

After the fight Bob Arum mentioned three possible adversaries that Julio may encounter this year. He mentioned three boxers and one of them is the current No. 1, pound for pound, in boxing namely John Duddy, Oscar Dela Hoya, and the fighting pride of the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao.

Yes John Duddy is a legitimate contender (at last Bob, job well done) with a record of 26-0 with 17 wins by knockout. He is scheduled to fight in New York on April 24, 2009 undefeated, good, durable boxer, and the better opponent for Chavez Jr.

Next is Oscar Dela Hoya, a proud boxer and a wealthy promoter. Ten time, six division champ and an all time great, no, not in boxing, but in the history of cash fights. A disposed protagonist by Manny Pacquiao last December and just recently announced that he is thinking of retirement and is not planning to return in the squared ring, specifically if it’s for Chavez Jr.

The last name that the Bob father brought in was a surprise to the fans all over the world. I don't know what he is thinking when he told the media that his last proposed opponent is the pound for pound king, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao. For me it’s just a mere hype to introduce Chavez Jr. as the new Mexican hero after the loss of some of the Mexican greats like Morales, Margarito, and Arce.

We can't blame Bob for what he said, but it's still a major possibility, as he is one of the most powerful promoters in boxing today. Right now, Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions holds ground a few notches higher than the Golden Boy Promotions when it comes to big and quality fights. Top Rank has been there for a long time, even before Oscar Dela Hoya learned how to wear boxing gloves.

Manny Pacquiao versus Julio Cesar Chavez is a dream fight for Bob Arum because it can revitalize the famous rivalry between Mexico and the Philippines. But for boxing fans (including me), this fight is a complete idiocy.

We have seen how Chaves Jr. stormed his way to the top beating bums. His stamina almost betrayed him in most of his fights that only lasted for the first few rounds. Now, can somebody explain how a fighter, who always looses steam in late rounds, can become a contender to an energy bunny like Manny Pacquiao, who has an incredible stamina and can last for 20 rounds.

Manny Pacquiao is a living ball of fire with energy and pure power that can beat anyone in his weight class and can inflict the beating of their lives. Ask those 48 folks who had just been annihilated by the pacific typhoon and compare Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fights against Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao's.

If Manny Pacquiao badly beat the famous Oscar Dela Hoya, how much worse would it be if he was matched with Chavez, who just fought a no name in his division and only won a UD against Matt Vanda?

I have seen how Chavez Jr. fights and I know, deep in my heart, that even Manny Pacquiao with one of his arms tied can, inflict pain and damage or even knockout Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.. I will bet my two hefty balls on it. How about you, want to bet?

Can Manny Pacquiao Handle the Pressure of Being a Future Political Figure?

Huwebes Fernandez — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:05:55 -0400

Looking way beyond 2010 elections here in the Philippines, we see a man in a formal suit. Neatly groomed look with a bunch of political and financial advisers (suckers maybe the right term for that).

After winning the elections in his wife's hometown in Saranggani, he already got a ton of problems emerging here and there. He has already embraced the foul stench of one of the most dirtiest politics in the world.

He is the people's champion, the national hero, the fighting pride of the Philippines, Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao. I really can't seem to imagine what will really happen if Manny Pacquiao still continues his political ambition.

Though I'm Flipino and a die-hard Pacfan, I can't still figure it out if whether he can still be the best he can be after he retires in boxing and after he enters the political arena here in the Philippines.

Even a non-boxing fan here in the Philippines knows that he will never ever be a good politician that can change a small speck of the filthy politics here in the Philippines.

I'm just being true to my word because every people here in the Philippines knows that once he enters politics he will risk his image that he has hardly worked at to attain.

And I'm not giving him my benefit of the doubt because he has done what a traditional politician has done, and that is by not keeping his promise on his word. Just like what happened back then when he signed the contract for Oscar Dela Hoya's Gold Boy Promotions.

Back then he we know that he has signed the contract for Oscar but after a few days what we're about to find out is that he suddenly jump and signed a contract for Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions just because of the money matters that is involved.

Now all of those events that have happened way back then was just a memory that maybe forgotten in the near future, but right now, at the present time we're like seeing again the same situation.

We are seeing Manny not honoring the live contract that he and Solar Sports have dotted way back then.

What is happening with Pacquiao? I thought advisers that are closely hugging his balls are people who advise you so you will not run into a simple mistakes like this one.

But guess what happened, not even a single one of those so called "ADVISERS" did not even help him or advise him about what consequences he will suffer after that illegal contract signing.

Maybe Pacquiao thought he will gain much public exposure in the coming elections if he will go out and be a "kapamilya" in the other station. He did not really even give much thought to that decision because everyone knows he has still that live contract with Solar Sports.

I hope Manny Pacquiao still reconsiders his decision in running for a Congressional seat in his hometown. If he wanted to help his own countrymen there is so many ways, like donating your excess money in foundations and institutions.

Building structures that will benefit the poor and the old.

There is so many to chose in the list and maybe the last thing you will choose is being a political bitch who even your own countrymen can't even give their full support and trust on you.

Because I, no, but we boxing fans will be really so pissed if Manny Pacquiao, the torch bearer of the sport, will just allow his carefully built image be tarnished in just a one blink of an eye.

I know deep within myself (and I know I'm not alone), that he can never ever really handle the pressure of being a political figure in the future.

The answer is really too much advanced to be known but I'm saying this right so even Manny Pacquiao will think that before he chooses a decision he must weigh all the consequences that will go after you've done that decision.

Manny Pacquiao just please stay in the sport and don't let your image be tarnished by these political crocodiles. I'm not saying this as an individual person but I'm saying this for the love of the sport and for the fans like us who have loved the sweet science since you came into the boxing limelight.

I am not one of your so called "ADVISERS" but my advise to you is just plain and simple, "you better think well Pacquiao, you better think well this time around."

Manny Pacquiao Fans Respect the Anthem, but Do Hitman Fans Deserve Respect?

Huwebes Fernandez — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:08:24 -0400

I was shocked at how Mr. John Benz of DoghouseBoxing.com belittled us “PAC-FANS” about how we can’t afford to watch pay-per-view fights and just watch it live streaming on the internet or delayed on our local channels.

He also said that the media is over exposing Manny Pacquiao to the world. Damn, how can he write like that? Is he really a boxing journalist? Doesn’t he know that Manny Pacquiao is the No. 1 superstar in boxing right now?

From what I saw in his writing, he doesn’t understand that being a superstar and a national hero in our country means Pacquiao is public property right now.

All those write-ups about him are the payment that he has achieved through the hard work and passion that he always delivers in the squared ring. He will not have that much attention if he is not a boxing superstar that will save boxing.

Today and in the near future he is carrying the torch of boxing passed to him by “Golden Boy” and “Pretty Boy.” Now he is the face of what boxing is all about: hardworking, passionate, heart, aggressiveness, speed, power, footwork, and the will and determination to go on and fight no matter what critics say about him.

He is right now the most complete package of boxer that anybody and everybody wants.

You no longer enjoy the media coverage he always gets because you can’t accept the reality that a man from a third world nation is carrying the sport right now and is bulldozing his way into boxing immortality and all-time greatness.

Yes, we Filipinos love Pacquiao, that’s a fact, but it doesn’t mean that if he retires all his fans will stop watching boxing. Damn, almost all of us loved boxing because of him. Most of us have loved the sport since he carried our nation to greater heights.

Manny Pacquiao opened the boxing world to our very own eyes and said to us that a Filipino also can conquer the world if he believes in himself and works hard like all the Filipinos in the other countries are doing.

He lifted our spirits in a time of hopelessness in our country. You can’t accept that fact, Mr. John Benz, because Manny Pacquiao is a man that comes out in this world just once in a century or maybe in a millennium.

We “PACFANS” learned to love the sport thanks to Manny Pacquiao. It’s not just because Manny Pacquiao is in a fight, and it doesn’t mean we only watch him and him alone.

Hey Mr. John Benz, come out of your cave and do your research because now we are also watching other fights and supporting other boxers, like what you have said of the English fans.

Mr. John Benz, how can you say that we “PACFANS” are not good for boxing? What the heck, we are one of those people that supports boxing and boxing breathes and lives because of us fans, so don’t go on saying that we are not good for the sport.

Well, I think, maybe you are related to Joe Calzaghe because you are all in one in saying that the sport of boxing is dying and saying that fans like us are not good for the sport.

Well Mr. John Benz, tell that to the promoters and executives of HBO and to the hotels that make profits because of us “PACFANS.” Hell, we also can afford to stay in a bedroom in a five-star hotel or watch the fights live in Las Vegas.

You’re also saying that you can’t wait for Pacquiao to retire. What the heck, are you even a supporter of the sport of boxing?

Boxing will not be as lively as today if not for Pacquiao. I will make you remember that Pacquiao is the most exciting fighter today in boxing. You saying that you can’t wait for him to retire is foolish and retarded indeed.

We are not bad for the sport. People who think like you are the ones who are bad for the sport. Writers like you kill the sport that we love. Your foul stench of self agenda is so exposed, I can’t imagine people like you still write articles like that and are published on a respectable boxing site.

And you say you support boxing? I would kill myself if you really meant that. “Plastic” is the right term for you, Mr. John Benz. That is what we called here in the Philippines when someone says something and doesn’t really meant it.

Do you remember this, Mr. John Benz, when the fight of the “Pretty boy” and the “Hitman” where watched by the whole world? Don’t you remember that those British fans you are praising booed your national anthem?

You know what? All I can say to them is that they don’t deserve even an ounce of respect. Yeah, I know that they are white people who are well respected in the world in terms of military and economics, but the way they booed your national anthem, they must be punished at least for that.

I cannot do what they are doing. Even us Filipinos when we watch in Vegas don’t boo someone’s national anthem because we are applying the “Golden Rule.” What if someone else booed our national anthem? Of course, we would be hurt, so that’s why we don’t do it to others.

At least we show some respect to others while the ones you are praising are the ones who don't deserve the golden word: respect.

So I will now throw the question right in your face, Mr. John Benz, and to all who will read this article: Which is better—“PACFANS” who can’t pay PPV fights, but respect others and respect their national anthem, or the so called “true British boxing fans” who can pay for PPV fights and can go to Las Vegas, but don’t respect others and don't respect their national anthem?

I think even a first grader can think of the right answer to that.

"The Genesis of the Modern Eon"

Huwebes Fernandez — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:42:12 -0400

History was made when a regular Paclander behind the handle of “yodz_2874” announced a thread about the chatroom on the 24th of January 2009, entitled “Pacman’s Fan Chat room.” On behalf of my colleagues, we can’t really say that this thread about this amazing chat-site will be momentous in turning a simple chat room into a dominating website about Manny Pacquiao. Not until the concerned ex- and regular members of Pacland, who were the first On-Liners, made the sudden move, creating the chat room, and turned it into a sophisticated website so that Pacman fans can get together in real time. Paclanders “Lloydangelo,” “Rastaman,” and “cracko_gold” facilitated the development of this website, or “Pacfans Corner - the ultimate tambayan site,” as we call today. Many members from then on joined the chat room.

With the confidence that the site's creators are getting from the chatroom members, who are now called “the PacFans,” “Lloydangelo” created the new-found main site on the 31st of January 2008 for the enjoyment of the delighted members. Different features such as live streaming links for boxing and other sport events, and jukebox, where we can hear our most-requested songs, were successfully added, and further features were included, thanks to brilliant suggestions from the Pacfans.

The site’s destiny did not just end with those improvements: another chapter of Pacfans Corner's history had just began when “cracko_gold” on the first day of February 2009, added a forum which made the site one step higher and became one of the best sites ever created for Filipino boxing fans. Everybody can post different threads about different subjects from boxing to computer world discussions, posting movies and favorite jokes that can get rid of somebody’s dire mood. Every post is being taken into serious, and sometimes funny, discussions. And what really excites us here is that we can post our different ideas and discuss everything in a Filipino way. Quite often, other chat sites don’t really use our own language, though they were made by fellow Pinoys. Chatting with our fellow “kababayans” using our own tongue is easy and cool, expressing what we really have in mind.

The lower part of the site shows the usernames of those who are the biggest part Pacfans Corner’s history by becoming the first “tambays” of the chat room, a group of creative people who only wants to relax while at work, after work, and when boredom prevails, who want to conceptualize extra features that can be added to the site.

Right now, we can say that we have a place that we can call our “tambayan,” where we can communicate and get to know our fellow “kababayans” around the world. No matter where we are or whatever ethnic groups we belong to, but as long as we are talking and assisting each other, holding each other’s arms, we can now do everything that we want to.

The site, www.pacfans-corner.com, is looking forward for more upgrades in the coming days to improve the quality and increase the valuable features that may let our fellow Pinoys enjoy their stay on this wonderful site.

As I will say, things like this do not just happens once in a lifetime; things like this also happen because there is something good in them. I’m so proud and happy to be part of the team that contributed to this site, in my own little way. I hope all of us stand together and bring unconditional love and respect, keeping this website amazing for us.

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao: What Heroes Are Made of

Huwebes Fernandez — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:02:10 -0400

Sometimes I think to myself, what are heroes really made of. When you play a computer game where a hero you are playing makes mistakes and dies it always come to a point that you can go back again to the past and rearrange your destiny in the game because on the first place, you have saved the game.

But in real life, it is so much different when you are gunning for your own destiny. All choices you make will have so many consequences that will make or break your destiny.

And when one choice have been chosen you must expect that there will never be turning back and there will never ever be a saved game that will save you from redirecting your destiny to you the one you have dreamt of the most.

So right now we will go back in time when Manny “PAC-MAN” Pacquiao was still a young kid who traveled on a ship from General Santos City to Manila City.

I remember one of his documentaries in one of the largest TV network here in the Philippines, he said that when he was still a skinny kid and an aspiring amateur boxer he decided that he wanted to go to Manila to continue to earn more money so that he can continue his financial support to his family.

Though he was anxious of what his adventure will bring, Manny still continued not thinking what will happen to him in the near future.

Little did he know that his little adventure would be one of the greatest adventures of all time that his name will be etched in the history of our native country and in the history of boxing.

Destinies sometimes make you reflect that for you to attain something that you really sought, decisions must first be carefully chosen, but Manny as always chose to follow what he wanted, he chose to follow a path that only a hero does.

He chose that decision not knowing what is in store for him, but still he followed his heart and he followed what a great story must follow.

He really doesn’t even know that from the time her mother has given birth to him until the day he rode that ship little did he know that his legendary saga will be one of the most talked about occurrence in the history of this country and in the history of the sweet science.

Courage, skill and passion, maybe that’s what a hero needs for choosing to strive harder to achieve his ultimate goals in life. But protecting his love ones and fighting for people that pins their hope on you that’s where the hero really gets this unexceptional strength to go on and push himself to his limit.

Sometimes writers in different boxing Web sites tend to forget this major factor that only winners and legends has.

They always choose what they see right before their very eyes. They choose only what they see in the records, but all this time how many of them has been wrong in the end, and how many of them have eaten crows in their morning breakfast. We will never ever know that’s for sure.

But still they continue to bring these predictions and speculations that still have a biased but broken tune. Until now they still cannot accept the fact that this man is unbeatable on whoever he fights.

And one vital factor that they still tend to forget whenever they give predictions and speculations is the people behind Manny’s punches. Every punch Manny throws carries the hope and pride of the people of the Philippines.

And if you are fighting for only money or your own self accomplishment you cannot, I mean you can never ever win to this man.

Even though you are a large opponent or you are even a stronger guy than this man it still goes down to what you are really fighting for.

It’s like in the movies, in the books and in the fantasy games where a hero not only fights for what he believes for but he is fighting for a much bigger stake and right now we are seeing that in a real world where you cannot imagine that stories like that still exists and captures our very own imagination.

Manny “PACMAN” Pacquiao turns this hope and prayers into an extreme and extraordinary human strength that in turn will make him so unbeatable and so ferocious even the biggest of the biggest heart will slowly burn into ashes.

This was proved so many times in his career, though many so called “boxing writers” still tend to forget this amazing factor that has made “PACMAN” win his famous fights among boxing legends.

It’s like reading a fairy tale book by yourself and in the end you will still smile because that hero still has that happy ending that you had wished for.

...And a “HERO”, that’s what the “PACMAN” is to us.

You may disagree or agree with me, but in these times, where there is still this recession going on in every part of the world and crime rates here in our country are scorching like wild fire on our everyday news, we still need a hero that will make us happy and make us remember once again to be proud of our roots, and make us believe that we can be the best that we can be in this world if we only just believe in ourselves no matter what.

And someday, this legendary “HERO” will be imprinted in storybooks and fairy tales like a true “HERO” that have save us once upon a time in this deep chasm of darkness.