BY any Olympic standard, Manny Pacquiao is the Norse deity Thor, the superhero who wields the enchanted hammer and takes care of thunder and lightning, and the protection of mankind.
Pacquiao is, in fact, proof that perfection exists the way myths must also be true, as he becomes the only fighter since man sanctioned violence in the ring to win eight world titles in as many weight divisions.
In nearly a decade of sheer, sweet courage and magnificence, the Pacman has changed the landscape of the savage sport, introducing new styles and strategies that made him boxing’s biggest draw.
Boxing as performed by Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is a ceremony of ring craftsmanship and a recital of polished skills and talents rather than a brutal fight of two gloved gladiators in the ring.
Pacquiao is esteemed as the symbol of good, parlaying his elegant gifts and incredible speed with calculated ferocity to turn the cruel carnage into a ballet of controlled competitive fury.
Manny is always larger than the ring in which he conquered his foes, and built his fame and fortune. He is far and away the most endearing personality to rich and poor, and an icon to young and old.
All things being equal, the Filipino appears headed for a date with history and a place in boxing’s pantheon of greats when he tangles with undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Sunday in Las Vegas.
First, Pacquiao is confident he would hand Mayweather his first defeat in 48 bouts because of God’s power. Next, he would bring to the megafight the collective support of his fans all over the world.
It will no longer be Pacquiao vs. Mayweather, but Mayweather vs. the Filipino nation and the rest of the Pacquiao world that is enthralled by the compassion and grace of the beloved humanitarian.
And Pacquiao’s hands are simply too fast and too fierce, and the bang, bang, bang combinations that he has mastered could hit a moving target like Floyd with rapid accuracy and strength.
Boxing pundits have acknowledged that Pacquiao’s tough conditioning, tremendous courage and superior hand speed would prove decisive in their megabuck welterweight showdown.
Curiously, Pacquiao’s medley of punches, skills, agility, durability, truculence, zeal, rhythm and grace are in great abundance, and he could slug and knock out Mayweather with either hands.
Admittedly, the brilliance, the dancing legs and feet, the keener eyes and instinct, and the array of defenses are all there to protect him from the unabashed swagger and the highest-paid athlete on earth.
Mayweather maybe undefeated in 47 bouts, but that’s probably because his vanquished opponents had made their jaws available and reachable for the American to hit with his vaunted “check hook.”
But boxing is sweet science and a superb mastery of attack and counterattack, and a lot of stamina and camouflage. The poor man’s game is not defense, after all, for it does not win fights.
Described by Freddie Roach as a “different Manny,” the Pacman may yet summon back the sting of his sensational victories in the past to once again feint and assemble a variety of speed and strength.
Bringing to a higher level his preparation for the unification bout, Pacquiao would be ferocious this time in going face-to-face and toe-to-toe with Mayweather in the corners, along the ropes, anywhere.
The same killer instinct that forced Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto into submission is back, the Pacman quipped moments after setting foot in the Casino City on Tuesday.
He displayed a preview of his heavy arsenal, his great truculence, his amazing pugnacity and his patented aggressiveness during a final workout at the Wild Card gym before breaking camp for Las Vegas.
Despite the slim 2-to-1 odds in favor of the cocky Mayweather, it’s virtually a toss-up as the countdown closed down to fight day of this epic clash of styles and personalities that took five years in the making.
The much-ballyhooed “Battle for Greatness,” estimated to pool a record $400 million in revenues, would finally determine who between Manny and Floyd is the world’s toughest and strongest fighter.
But win or loss, no one has lived a better life than Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, and his immortal story would continue to echo for years in the footnotes of history of the world of sports.