The memory of greatness lasts forever.
This was not its all about when the self-proclaimed, “The Best Ever,” Floyd Mayweather Jr.,recently logged his 49th win of his undefeated career in a self-described farewell fight against former welterweight boxing champion Andre Berto.
The unanimous victory, which had one judge giving Mayweather all 12 rounds, became his worst Showtime pay-per-view haul, estimated at only 550,000 buys. For sycophants in his employ, however, it was a significant win because it tied the record of the legendary Rocky Marciano who retired at 49-0 in 1956.
But the shocking news that Mayweather had used an IV treatment to deal with dehydration before his fight against Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao tarnished the claim and stirred debate that dampened his megabuck victory, considered as boxing’s richest fight ever in history.
My faint memory of greatness begins with the late world junior lightweight champion Gabriel “Flash” Elorde. Bloodletting, the kind that boxers must always take, marked his exploits in the ring. It pained his fans, but Elorde endured the agony because he loved boxing.
Bay, as he was intimately known to his family, suffered busted eyebrows, slashed lips, broken ribs and a mangled face that wailed and agonised his fans. But he refused to buckle down, even against Love Allotey of Ghana, Suh Kang Il of Korea, or Yoshiaki Numata of Japan, among them.
Flash Elorde had the dignity of a laborer who was proud of his mean occupation that demanded that a pug must endure suffering for so long as the referee allowed him. The only time that he stopped was when he was knocked out by Puerto Rican Carlos Ortiz for the lightweight title.
“He’s down! He’s been hit! Elorde’s down! He’s out! Elorde’s out!,” was the haunting voice of the venerable Ronnie Nathanielsz, who was then broadcasting live from the Madison Square Garden in New York on November 28, 1964, after a left hook to the chin by Ortiz in the 14th round of their 15-round title bout.
Interestingly, the greatest fighter of modern times is the Filipino icon Pacquiao, undisputed owner of eight division world titles, and at 39, instead of being incarcerated in athletic senility, declared he is still good for more major fights, including a rematch with Mayweather.
Compelled to fight by economic pressure, Pacquiao fought from obscurity to instant fame, heralding his glorious ascent to global recognition with a dramatic victory against Antonio Barrera in 2003 where as a four-to-one underdog he completely demolished the Mexican.
Fight fans were never bored of a Pacquiao presentation than they demanded not only a rematch but even a trilogy in the ring. He ended the careers of Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton, and even boxing’s golden boy, Oscar de la Hoya, to name a few.
In fine, the intimacy of greatness stressed the immense difference between Pacquiao and Mayweather. It is offense against defense, stallion against elephant, rock concert against choral ensemble, thunder against lightning. Pacquiao fires rapid punches, Mayweather counters with jabs.
The direction is always forward for Pacquiao, it is backtracking for Mayweather. Pacquiao rolls his head, twists his torso and slides in. It is side and back for Mayweather, shoulders feinting, head hiding behind a glove held up against his face, and his whole style is choreographed so he will not be hit.
Fans are always eager to watch Pacquiao because he is a thrilling boxer. He never went to college to earn a degree. But now, he is a representative to Congress of his district in Sarangani, and a preacher propagating the gospel in his unsophisticated evangelism and Christian philosophy.
In training, Mayweather is heavily guarded, away from the prying eyes of the public. Pacquiao is tailed by his fans to share selfies, jogs with his dog and the crowd in public parks or spars at the Wild Card gym of Coach Freddie Roach in downtown Los Angeles like there is a photo shoot.
Put it all together and we see a study in contrast between Pacquiao and Mayweather. A shoulder injury incurred in training robbed Pacquiao of his poised style and the ferocity of his rapid punches, speed, agility, zeal, competitive fury, rhythm and grace against Mayweather.
But he did not ruse when Nevada officials turned down his request for a painkiller treatment before his bout. Now, whether he gets a rematch against the brash American champion, Pacquiao will still be the greatest fighter I’ve ever seen.
Up front, a distinction must be made. The Pacman is far and away the most fascinating personality in the ring, the symbol for a whole generation. His greatness, as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world, is cast in stone.
1 comment
This article should be trashed. How did they ever let this atrocity be released on the Internet for people to read? The memory of Pacquiao that I and many many others will remember about Manny is Marquez knocking him cold…and Mayweather beating Pacauiao 9 rounds to 3…against the two best fighters he has ever faced.