NEW YORK, NY- There has been much speculation in the online boxing world about the respective successes and failures of the great champion Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), including a heated debate about the possibility of his unprecendented victories being “enhanced” by steroids. Envious colleagues like Brooklyn pillow-fisted loudmouth Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KOs) have been using Pacquiao’s success as a stepping stone for their own fame and fortune, eating up the scraps of attention from a biased media that will publish anything the can find against the South Pacific legend. And since they can’t find anything, they’re flinging the mud, hard.
STEROID TESTING IS FOR JOURNEYMEN
It is about time we in the media realize that our desire for top stories is what led us to spread the scurrilous rumor that Pacquiao may be juicing up, not the fact that he’s packed on 30 pounds and keeps growing without showing any signs of being in over his head, nor the fact that Pacquiao and his honorable coach Freddy Roach refuse to undergo testing. Of course they should refuse! Steroid testing is for mere journeymen boxers, like Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (40-0, 25 KOs), not for a man of Pacquiao’s caliber.
A TRIPLE THREAT: ACTOR, SINGER, BOXER
What Pacquiao’s critics fail to understand is that the scope of his influence extends far beyond the boxing ring, to the hearts of millions of fans who understand the magnitude of his successes and the blessing that is having a being like Pacquiao live among us. Pacquiao is a role model to millions of children around the world, even beyond his boxing abilities– not only can he “get the ladies,” if you know what I mean, he is the greatest action hero to ever come out of the Philippines. Anak Ng Kumander is one of the greatest war stories of our time, rivaling only Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket in its glory. Wapakman makes the original Superman look like Catwoman. And let’s not even talk about Pacquiao’s tremendous success in the recording artist industry.
THE SILENCE WAS DEAFENING A DECADE AGO
But back to boxing because, at the end of the day, people only care about what Pac does in the ring. It is the only place where, if it were possible for him to fail, it would matter if he did. The steroid accusations are false, unsubstantiated, cruel, and only a measure of his greatness. Just as no one questioned Antonio Margarito’s (37-6, 27 KOs) gloves until he started beating “boxing industry insiders,” the steroid speculation only started when the Pacquiao train first broke the speed limit. Have you noticed no one said anything about steroids when Pacquiao defeated the great Serikzhan Yeshmagambetov (20-12-1, 10 KOs)? Because it wasn’t convenient to say so.
REAL PINOY HERO
It is sad that we spend so much time talking about the negative when, in reality, there are so many great things to say about Manny Pacquiao. It’s time we gave it a rest. Today, future US President Sarah Palin will premiere her series “Real American Stories,” about inspiring people around the world. We should take her lead as a boxing community and observe today, April 1st, as Manny Pacquiao Appreciation Day.