MANNY PACQUIAO IN TOUGH SPOT
San Francisco, CA– Yesterday, our own Jarrad “Mr. Excitement” Woods was of the opinion that Tim Bradley needs to fight Manny Pacquiao next. I’m not of the same mindset, not if you look at this from the Pacquiao side of the coin. First of all, there was the fight with Bradley in June of last year. Some of the leaks that age and wear bring upon a fighter had snuck up on Manny.
WHAT FIGHT WITH TIM BRADLEY?
Team Pacman thought they could just ignore the Bradley results, act as if it never even happened. While the masses thought Pac won, Pacquiao lost on the two of the three scorecards that matter. Prior, there have been little nuances, indications that Manny was slipping, and not due to any fault of his own.
AGE HAS CAUGHT UP WITH PACQUIAO
People don’t realize how much Emmanuel Pacquiao has abused his body and I’m not even talking about the “in the ring” damage. While I ‘m referring to cutting weight, the impact on both joints and tendons from training in general, one can’t forget mental fatigue as well.
PAC HAD FEW OPTIONS
Suffering from amnesia in regards to Bradley, Pacquiao inks a deal to fight Juan Manuel Marquez for a fourth time. With Manny being up 2-0-1 against JMM, a non-boxing fan might wonder why they were dancing again. Truth be told, each fight was razor close, with the third encounter, in my opinion, given to the wrong man.
MANNY DUMPS CATHOLICS FOR “BORN AGAIN” SECT
So Manny goes into training while rumors abound that his religious fanaticism has him “drinking virgin blood,” praying in excess of three hours a day, some say five, and you know whether you are a believer of God or not that you can’t take a fighter “off the rails” while training. History has proved time and again this is a pugilistic recipe for failure.
MARQUEZ TRAINED FOR THE KNOCKOUT!
Juan Manuel Marquez on the other hand was bulking up his torso with strength conditioning and his training secret in the oral consumption of urine. Knowing that the invisible (but real) boxing Gods would not give him a fair shake, JMM trained and planned to win by knockout. His landing a single punch that rendered Pacquiao horizontal and unconscious is the shot that would silence not only Pacquiao, but a nation of followers.
MANNY CARRIES HIS PEEPS ON SHOULDER
When you are the icon of an entire country, being a Congressman, presidential hopeful with reportedly more money than he can spend in his native Philippines, how can you have the hunger that was present when this photograph of a teenage Manny was snapped.
ALMOST 20 YEARS OF PUNISHMENT TAKES TOLL
The Manny Pacquiao of then, and the Manny Pacquiao of today are two different beings. One is a hungry lion, the other is a well fed lazy, aging animal who is losing teeth as his mane turns gray. Unlike an automobile, you cannot raise the hood and install a new engine.
LISTEN TO JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ SR.
Personally, seeing the devastating manner in which Manny was obliterated as he was planted face first into the canvas by Marquez, that to me is enough to induce retirement. But seeing there is so much pressure on Manny to fight again, you know he will. Marquez is not all that interested in a fifth dance with Pacquiao, at least that’s what he is saying (and I believe him).
BRADLEY “MORE” DANGEROUS THAN EVER
Seeing the performance put forth Saturday night by Bradley vs. Manny Pacquiao need not fight Bradley next. A fifth Marquez fight would not be good for Manny either. The “right way” to go forward with Manny the boxer is to get him an “easy fight” as Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. recommends.
MANNY SHOULD JUST SAY “NO”
To face Bradley without knowing how much Manny has left in the tank, if anything, is tantamount to leading an ill prepared icon to the gallows!
Pedro Fernandez