The end of the year is here and its just a good time to look back at the year that had just ended, you know, both good and bad events, new life lessons, and the looking forward to the coming year with promise. As a boxing fan, I just couldn’t help but get excited for the possibilities of 2009. Margarito-Mosley in a few weeks, a looming Pacman-Hitman, a possible golden boy farewell and maybe, the same time next year we maybe talking about how Pacquiao dominated “Money” Mayweather.
But personally, the fight I would love to see next year is the Pacific Typhoon against the Tijuana Tornado. With the possibility that the Pacman having only three fights left before retiring for a political career, this will be the ultimate farewell fight with all the height, weight difference (especially if Margarito beats Cotto again). I can just see it, reporters asking Pacman or (maybe even Margarito himself) Will you fight Margarito? Manny will reply “It is not a problem for me, my job as a boxer is to train hard for whoever my promoter (Bob) wants me to fight”. The guy is fearless and we know he’ll fight anyone. I think he’ll even fight Marquez and Margarito at the same time, if at all possible.
The match up in paper will look lopsided in favor of the Tornado, but so was the last fight with the Golden Boy, and we all know what happened to that one. I’m sure, the usual chorus that the fight is a circus and all of that will be heard, once again. But the match up of Pacman’s speed (feet and hands) against the all angle power punches of Margarito will make for a really good fight. As I said before, this is Manny’s destiny, and he knows how this fight is going to end if it happens. This, I think is the very reason why the man is just fearless.
One of my favorite films, “When We Were Kings” chronicled the Rumble in the Jungle, the legendary Ali-Foreman fight. In one scene on the film, Ali talks about the reason that he fights is for his poor black brothers--- “to uplift the spirits of his little brother who is sleeping in concrete floors in America”, for people living in welfare and dope addicts. In another scene, he talks about having God in his mind, being the reason that he is not scared of Foreman, that with God, when he is fighting his opponent becomes “little” compared to his purpose and how he can help people with just one fight.
If this sounds all familiar, this is exactly what makes 2009 so exciting for me. Pacman seems to be the 142-pound reincarnation of this transcendent figure today. A man fighting not for himself, but for his people. We all know how “The Greatest” raised the bar, challenged and made everyone around him to be the best that they can be, from Foreman all the way to Holmes. Exactly what Manny is doing from Barrera all the way to De La Hoya.
Ali, most of all has inspired generations, regardless of their race and nationality to believe in their own selves. And today ask a Filipino, any Filipino that you know, for that matter, then you will understand. The amazing thing is it is now crossing over to all races and nationalities. There is no boxing statistic for this intangible; but it certainly measures the fight in a man.
I am not saying that the Pacman is our generations’ “greatest” but he is pretty close, and he is certainly the Philippine’s version of it. His last three fights in 2009 will certainly tell us the ultimate ending of this magnificent boxing story. Who knows? With his purpose, humility and charm, he may also put boxing back in the hearts of the people. Maybe put it back in its rightful place in sports, just before he retires. As a boxing fan, I want and I know there’s only got to be one good ending to Manny’s boxing story. It is seemingly a fate carved in boxing immortality. After 365 days, we shall all see. Happy New Year to all!
But personally, the fight I would love to see next year is the Pacific Typhoon against the Tijuana Tornado. With the possibility that the Pacman having only three fights left before retiring for a political career, this will be the ultimate farewell fight with all the height, weight difference (especially if Margarito beats Cotto again). I can just see it, reporters asking Pacman or (maybe even Margarito himself) Will you fight Margarito? Manny will reply “It is not a problem for me, my job as a boxer is to train hard for whoever my promoter (Bob) wants me to fight”. The guy is fearless and we know he’ll fight anyone. I think he’ll even fight Marquez and Margarito at the same time, if at all possible.
The match up in paper will look lopsided in favor of the Tornado, but so was the last fight with the Golden Boy, and we all know what happened to that one. I’m sure, the usual chorus that the fight is a circus and all of that will be heard, once again. But the match up of Pacman’s speed (feet and hands) against the all angle power punches of Margarito will make for a really good fight. As I said before, this is Manny’s destiny, and he knows how this fight is going to end if it happens. This, I think is the very reason why the man is just fearless.
One of my favorite films, “When We Were Kings” chronicled the Rumble in the Jungle, the legendary Ali-Foreman fight. In one scene on the film, Ali talks about the reason that he fights is for his poor black brothers--- “to uplift the spirits of his little brother who is sleeping in concrete floors in America”, for people living in welfare and dope addicts. In another scene, he talks about having God in his mind, being the reason that he is not scared of Foreman, that with God, when he is fighting his opponent becomes “little” compared to his purpose and how he can help people with just one fight.
If this sounds all familiar, this is exactly what makes 2009 so exciting for me. Pacman seems to be the 142-pound reincarnation of this transcendent figure today. A man fighting not for himself, but for his people. We all know how “The Greatest” raised the bar, challenged and made everyone around him to be the best that they can be, from Foreman all the way to Holmes. Exactly what Manny is doing from Barrera all the way to De La Hoya.
Ali, most of all has inspired generations, regardless of their race and nationality to believe in their own selves. And today ask a Filipino, any Filipino that you know, for that matter, then you will understand. The amazing thing is it is now crossing over to all races and nationalities. There is no boxing statistic for this intangible; but it certainly measures the fight in a man.
I am not saying that the Pacman is our generations’ “greatest” but he is pretty close, and he is certainly the Philippine’s version of it. His last three fights in 2009 will certainly tell us the ultimate ending of this magnificent boxing story. Who knows? With his purpose, humility and charm, he may also put boxing back in the hearts of the people. Maybe put it back in its rightful place in sports, just before he retires. As a boxing fan, I want and I know there’s only got to be one good ending to Manny’s boxing story. It is seemingly a fate carved in boxing immortality. After 365 days, we shall all see. Happy New Year to all!
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