MANN-IFICENT: An Appreciation Of Mr. Pacquiao

Tears of joy and tears of pain were shed last night after the highly anticipated mega fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.  A highly emotional crowd filled with proud Filipinos, Puerto Ricans, and hard core boxing fans knew that they both would be shedding tears by the end of this bout.  We now know they indeed cried, and for what reasons.  Manny Pacquiao is arguably the most exciting fighter in the entire sport of boxing, and to many he proved that he has been rightly “coronated” as the Pound-for-Pound King of Modern Prize Fighting.   

He was simply “Mann-ificent”.  Using a combination of hand speed, foot speed, ring savvy, and bravery, he did what many believed Manny could not do.  He becomes the first man to win 7 titles in 7 weight divisions, and did so against a true “heavy handed” welterweight—by Technical Knock Out.  We saw this man dart in, dart out, land lead lefts and lead uppercuts.  There were no angles of assault left unexplored or unscored.   At one point we saw him adopt the “Clottey-esque” shell defense, and allow the solid former Puerto Rican Champion a chance to unload.  But it was to no avail.  He evaded, he escaped the ropes, and he made the slightly bigger man look small—INFINITESIMAL!

The recently dethroned, Miguel Cotto, is a fighter who is hard not to like.  He’s a boxer, a puncher, a proud father, a warrior, a former champion, a marketable face, and a probable victim of the sport of boxing.  He is becoming the quintessential “tragic hero” figure of modern pugilism.  The probability of betrayal by the “loaded hands” of Margarito, have undoubtedly left physical and emotional scars on the psyche of this former World Champion.   And just as these scars appeared to be in their final phase of the healing process, we fed this man to a “Lion” for the sake of our own viewing pleasure.  Cotto has now been “sacrificed” twice.  Once justly, and once unjustly. 

Unfortunately, for Miguel Cotto, this kind of dramatic win is exactly what Mr. Pacquiao needed.  The kind of win that quiets the naysayers and gives “peripheral” boxing fans a reason to once again become loyal viewers.  No one can make reference to Pac Man fighting an “old man” like Delahoya, or fighting a non-technical (dumb) fighter in Hatton.  On Saturday night, Pacquiao obliterated a true welter weight that has been feared in his division since he defeated Sugar Shane Mosley.  And he did it in devastating fashion. 

In a country dominated by Facebook, the iPhone, and Reality TV, 24/7 and Mr. Pacquiao have allowed the possibility for boxing to once again compete on the stage of American Pop-Culture.  The Pride of the Philippines is no longer a super star, he’s a Mega Star.  The protagonist that the antagonist, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., has been patiently awaiting.  I am unashamed to say that I will be running out to Best Buy to purchase my copy of WAPAKMAN as soon as it becomes available.  With 21 seconds left in the 4^th round, I knew I was watching history.  7 Titles in 7 Weight Divisions.  Now that is simply, MANNI-FICENT. (smh)