Jesus Christ
JOHN LENNON SAID: “BEATLES MORE POPULAR THAN GOD”
San Francisco, CA– Being the biggest international boxing star since Mike Tyson, Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao has handled the responsibility that comes with such recognition in a classy manner. While there are those that oppose him politically in the Philippines, the Congressman is a sure bet to run for President in 2016. Truth be told, Pacquiao has few detractors in his homeland when it comes to his boxing prowess. The naysayers, they point out two early losses, both stoppages when Manny was in his pugilistic infancy. On the flip side, millions of Philippine citizens adore Pacquaio to the point where he is probably second in popularity among his people, and that only to the possibly fictional biblical character Jesus Christ. This is not a debate on religion, but there are a lot of people who think religion is indeed the opiate of the masses. That being said, Pacquiao is a devout Catholic who has really cleaned up his act, this after having a girlfriend disapear from public view when rumors of her pregnancy spread faster than a sunami in the 7,000 or so islands that make up the Philippines. Having screwed around myself, I realize that men and women, religous or not, do commit infidelity. Unless you’re a Priest abusing young boys, I don’t have a problem with people having a fling.
MANNY WILL PROVE ME RIGHT THIS WEEKEND
Although some of you question my admiration for the Philippine Congressman born in Genral Santos City, there is little you can legitamately knock Pacquiao for. Yeah, he should have taken the blood tests and fight Floyd “Big Mouth” Mayweather in March 2010, and yes he has fought a string of men that could be considered pugilistic skid row residents, mainly Joshua “Handcuffed” Clottey, this instead of taking the blood tests and fighting Mayweather, and then his making the disgraced Antonio Margarito scale 150 lbs. for a 154 lb. title fight. But like the aforementioned Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali before him, this is what the boxing business is all about. Fighting the lowest risk opponent for the most cash. It has always been that way, with the exception of the 1980s and the likes of Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Marvin Hagler and a few others, the best has always tended to duck the best.
THE MANNY-FLOYD FIGHT HAS LOST THE LUSTER
While there are still plenty of people wanting to see Mayweather’s mouth meet Manny’s fists and visa versa, the interest in the fight has rendered some fight fans impotent when it comes to the match up. One year ago, Mayweather would have been favored. Now, some 14 months later, the oddsmakers feel that Mayweather’s being 34 years of age, having fought but thrice in four years, that he no longer merits being favored over the Filipino phenom. Skill wise, if it boiled down to pure boxing science and skills had they clashed in March 2010, Manny would have probably been out boxed from bell to bell. Now the general consensus is that Mayweather’s time off, his age, his big mouth, and the fact that the Pacman has gotten stronger physically, they now feel that Manny has the bigger set of stones and in a close fight, something that probably would have not been the case 14 months ago. Some experts think Pacquiao might run Mayweather out of the ring.
REALITY CHECK MAY DAMAGE SHANE PERMANENTLY
On Saturday night, Manny takes on Shane Mosley, a fighter who in his last fight had a draw with 154 lber. Sergio Mora. Before that he lost 35 1/2 minutes of a 36 minute fight with Mayweather in May 2010. At 39, with legs that haven’t looked good since Vernon Forrest nearly decpaitated him in their first outing nearly a decade ago, Mosley is like a car that has run out of gas and is sputtering along on pugilistic fumes. That being fact and not conjecture, Manny Pacquiao’s streak of being unbeaten since thst razor close loss to Erik Morales in 2005, will continue umimpeded. That being said, Pacquiao will fight two or three more times at the max and retire to get ready for his presidential run in 2016. While I wish both men good luck and hope that neither man gets hurt seriously, the miles on Mosley’s boxing pedometer prevent him from winning this fight, let alone make it competitive.
PROVING MY POINT TO THE FILIPINO FANS OF MANNY & GOD!
I’m willing to bet that more people watch Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley on television than go to church this weekend in the Philippines!
Pedro Fernandez
Pedro Fernandez