Manny Pacquiao: Why He's More Important to Sports Than LeBron James

"I think boxing is a dying sport."—Joe Calzaghe

Retired but undefeated light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe thinks boxing is a dying sport. This was his assessment a few months before he announced his retirement from boxing after beating American boxing champions Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins in 2008.

"I think boxing is a dying sport. Globally—in America for instance—you've got UFC, which has taken a lot off boxing, business-wise," Calzaghe said, referring to the mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship.

"There is too much politics in boxing, too many belts and too many champions, which dilutes real champions like myself," he said. "There are four world champions in each division and it's bad because there are no stars any more. It's a big problem."

Calzaghe's statement serves as a grim reminder for boxing stakeholders to do something about the sport before it dies a natural death.

Before the sport slides down to the point of no return, world's top boxing promoter Bob Arum has started reviving the dying sport by partnering with CBS/Showtime to bring boxing back to homes by featuring boxing events on regular TV programming.

However, Arum may have a hard time promoting the sport without the help of someone who can influence viewers to watch boxing shows or events that are included in regular TV programming.

This is where pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao can help.

Here are five reasons why Pacquiao can help revive the dying sport of boxing and why he is more important to his sport than LeBron James is to his.

Basketball Would Go on Without LeBron; Boxing Would Die Without Pacquiao

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AUBURN HILLS, MI - FEBRUARY 11: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat calls out a play from the sideline next to head coach Erik Spoelstra while playing the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills on February 11, 2011 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE T

Boxing fans are saying boxing will die without Manny Pacquiao, while basketball would go on without LeBron James playing for his team.

They also think Pacquiao is the reason why boxing is still alive and holding on to dear life. Why is this so?

There is hardly anyone, even in the welterweight level where Pacquiao currently campaigns, who would come close to the Filipino boxer's crowd-drawing power.

Pacquiao is averaging a bit more than a million in pay-per-view buys whenever he fights. MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, where Pacquiao usually fights, are almost always filled to the rim regardless of who his opponent is.

But the real reason is boxing fans want to be entertained, and they know they will get their money's worth with Manny's display of skills, power and speed.

Manny Pacquiao does his thing alone in the ring, while the Miami Heat can win a game even without LeBron James in the team's lineup.

Manny Pacquiao Is a Good Role Model for the Youth of the World

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MANILA, PHILIPPINES - NOVEMBER 20: Boxer and congressman, Manny Pacquiao attends his concert in Manila with wife Jinky and youngest daughter Qeen Elizabeth following his win of the WBC super welterweight crown against Mexican Antonio Margarito on Novembe

Boxing has lost to UFC and other MMA events in terms of popularity and viewership in recent years. The reason for its survival despite the ongoing intramural among and between promoters is Manny Pacquiao's brand of boxing.

Inside the ring, Manny is a symbol of professionalism in his chosen sport. He fights fairly and squarely. No illegal blows, head butts and dirty tricks. Only clean boxing at its best.

Most of all, he shows respect and concern for his opponents inside the ring and out. He never speaks ill of his opponents, even when his character is being maligned.

On many occasions and even in his most recent fight, millions of boxing fans around the world who were glued to their television sets have seen how Manny Pacquiao showed his concern for Antonio Margarito during the late rounds of their fight, when he signaled the referee to see if Margarito could still defend himself with his shut vision.

Pacquiao's concern for fellow boxers was evident in his fight with Margarito and in previous fights. In every fight, Pacquiao would always cross to the other side of the ring to show his concern for his opponent.

For the youth of today and for amateur and aspiring professional boxers, Pacquiao serves as their inspiration and role model.

Pacquiao Fights to Win and to Entertain Fans

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ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 13: Manny Pacquiao (white trunks) of the Philippines fights against Antonio Margarito (black trunks) of Mexico during their WBC World Super Welterweight Title bout at Cowboys Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Ph

Most boxers enter the ring to win the fight. It does not matter how the fight goes insofar as his audience is concerned, so long as he wins.

Manny Pacquiao wants to entertain with his display of superb fighting skills and entertaining moves in order to satisfy boxing's most discriminating fight fans.

Pacquiao fights are always entertaining. There are a few Pacquiao fights, though, that did not please the crowd, and one of them is the Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight. But boxing fans knew Clottey was happy with the biggest prize of his career, so he refused to engage Pacquiao. It was a boring fight, and the crowd complained.

Pacquiao's Soaring Popularity Keeps Boxing Alive

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: (R) Manny Pacquiao and his wife (L) Jinkee Pacquiao are presented with a Valentines Day cake at a press conference to promote his fight with Shane Mosley at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers on February 14, 2011 in New York City

What makes Pacquiao so popular?

One of the reasons why Pacquiao remains popular is his natural character as a person. Early in his boxing career, he became very popular with helpless and poor people as he served as their inspiration.

Outside the ring, Pacquiao is the same caring and concerned person. Most of all, he is humble and low-key. He will go out of his way to help a person in need. He is God-fearing and a religious man. He prays hard before the start of every fight and does the same to thank God for all the blessings.

Now Pacquiao is not just popular with the poor. He is even more popular outside his country, including in the US, where he captivates the young and the old.

In his latest press tour, which has just ended, he was practically mobbed by people to shake his hand and get him to sign autographs.

His popularity continues to soar in the US with his guesting on popular talk shows like 60 Minutes, Jimmy Kimmel Live, etc.

If Pacquiao remains popular, his popularity will keep boxing alive.

Pacquiao Provides Opportunities for Boxing Stakeholders

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Manny Pacquiao addresses the media at a press conference to promote his upcoming fight with Shane Mosley at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers on February 14, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Boxing stakeholders, which include promoters, trainers, event venues, TV networks and related establishments, will probably suffer in terms of income or revenue when Pacquiao leaves the sport, as there will be fewer attractive events that will bring in the needed revenues to keep the stakeholders going.

When more boxing fans continue to leave and find satisfaction in related sports like wrestling or MMA, the sport will probably die a natural death.

So why is Pacquiao more important to his sport than LeBron James is to his?

Basketball will survive and will remain popular without LeBron James, while boxing will suffer or continue to decline in popularity without Manny Pacquiao.