Seeking Greatness
Bleacher Talk
June 29, 2008
Seeking Greatness
Today is going to be the greatest day in the history of Philippine boxing. You and I are a lucky bunch to be part of what is going to be a big day in Philippine sports. When Michael Buffer makes that final announcement on top of the ring, the entire Philippines is going to celebrate the Manny Pacquiao’s successful quest to win a world championship in four different weight divisions.
Pacquiao is seeking greatness in a different manner from the way previous Pinoy greats have gone. While the great boxers of the past chose the path of longevity in a specific weight division to carve their names in the halls of sports history, Pacquiao is taking it a notch higher. He’s going for longevity as a boxer but doing this in four (or five) different weight classes.
Flash Elorde will always crowd Pacquiao for the tag as the greatest Pinoy boxer ever. The Flash made the Philippines proud by dominating the super featherweight division (130 pounds) from 1960 to 1967. He had his own taste of testing the lightweight division (135 pounds) but wasn’t successful at it.
All the talk about comparing Pacquiao to Elorde can’t be avoided since they both made their mark in the super featherweight division where many other Pinoys have also won world championships in the past. But the unique feature about the Pacman’s run to fame is that he started boxing in the much lighter flyweight division. Many analysts say that this particular aspect about Pacquiao’s career is what will make him nip Elorde for the unofficial tag as the country’s best ever.
Looking back, Pacquiao won his first world championship as a flyweight (112 pounds) when he won the WBC flyweight championship in devastating manner when he knocked out then champion Chatchai Sasakul in eight rounds in Thailand in 1998. Earlier in his career, Pacquiao had fought as light as 107 pounds or the light flyweight division.
After having difficulty making the weight as a flyweight, he jumped straight up to the super bantamweight division (122 pounds) where he won the WBC International super bantamweight championship. He then won the IBF super bantamweight championship of the world in another demolition job, this time a KO win over erstwhile champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in 2001. This win introduced Pacquiao to the U.S. market and served as a stepping stone to greater things that we’re seeing today.
Moving up in weight to the featherweight division (126 pounds) where the bigger names were plying their trade was the next logical step for Pacquiao whose biggest win in this weight class was an 11th round TKO win over Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003. After this win, Pacquiao earned Ring magazine’s title as world featherweight champion even if he didn’t win an official belt of any of the world boxing bodies. Remember that if a judge had not erred in scoring Pacquiao’s featherweight championship fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, the Pacman would’ve had his third belt.
The quest for more world championship belts reached a third weight class when Pacquiao defeated Juan Manuel Marquez last March, making him part of an elite cast of champions who have won championships in three different weight divisions. Before the much-awaited rematch with Marquez, Pacquiao was content with defending his WBC International super featherweight championship, clashing with Erik Morales three times and a host of other Mexicans.
And today, Pacquiao goes for his fourth world championship in the lightweight division (135 pounds) when he goes after David Diaz’s WBC lightweight championship. At this point, he didn’t even think about having to go through a tune-up fight as a lightweight, confident that he can overcome Diaz on his path to seek greatness. There is no doubt that Pacquiao will be successful again just around noon today when he defeats Diaz by decision or a late-round KO.
Already the country’s richest boxer ever, the Pacman is also the country’s biggest superstar whose popularity has crossed borders. Some are already saying that he could be boxing’s biggest draw today, with the retirement of Floyd Mayweather. Oscar de la Hoya will have something to say about that but the mere fact that Pacquiao is now being mentioned in the same breath as Mayweather and de la Hoya is already a feat by itself. Never before has a Philippine boxer received so much accolade and following from across the globe.
Raise that mug of beer. Rejoice. Celebrate. We’re joining the Pacman in this ride to greatness.
oOo
Time-out: To all members of ASMS Batch 1983: The three-day 25th Anniversary Reunion is on from June 27-29. >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
June 29, 2008
Seeking Greatness
Today is going to be the greatest day in the history of Philippine boxing. You and I are a lucky bunch to be part of what is going to be a big day in Philippine sports. When Michael Buffer makes that final announcement on top of the ring, the entire Philippines is going to celebrate the Manny Pacquiao’s successful quest to win a world championship in four different weight divisions.
Pacquiao is seeking greatness in a different manner from the way previous Pinoy greats have gone. While the great boxers of the past chose the path of longevity in a specific weight division to carve their names in the halls of sports history, Pacquiao is taking it a notch higher. He’s going for longevity as a boxer but doing this in four (or five) different weight classes.
Flash Elorde will always crowd Pacquiao for the tag as the greatest Pinoy boxer ever. The Flash made the Philippines proud by dominating the super featherweight division (130 pounds) from 1960 to 1967. He had his own taste of testing the lightweight division (135 pounds) but wasn’t successful at it.
All the talk about comparing Pacquiao to Elorde can’t be avoided since they both made their mark in the super featherweight division where many other Pinoys have also won world championships in the past. But the unique feature about the Pacman’s run to fame is that he started boxing in the much lighter flyweight division. Many analysts say that this particular aspect about Pacquiao’s career is what will make him nip Elorde for the unofficial tag as the country’s best ever.
Looking back, Pacquiao won his first world championship as a flyweight (112 pounds) when he won the WBC flyweight championship in devastating manner when he knocked out then champion Chatchai Sasakul in eight rounds in Thailand in 1998. Earlier in his career, Pacquiao had fought as light as 107 pounds or the light flyweight division.
After having difficulty making the weight as a flyweight, he jumped straight up to the super bantamweight division (122 pounds) where he won the WBC International super bantamweight championship. He then won the IBF super bantamweight championship of the world in another demolition job, this time a KO win over erstwhile champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in 2001. This win introduced Pacquiao to the U.S. market and served as a stepping stone to greater things that we’re seeing today.
Moving up in weight to the featherweight division (126 pounds) where the bigger names were plying their trade was the next logical step for Pacquiao whose biggest win in this weight class was an 11th round TKO win over Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003. After this win, Pacquiao earned Ring magazine’s title as world featherweight champion even if he didn’t win an official belt of any of the world boxing bodies. Remember that if a judge had not erred in scoring Pacquiao’s featherweight championship fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, the Pacman would’ve had his third belt.
The quest for more world championship belts reached a third weight class when Pacquiao defeated Juan Manuel Marquez last March, making him part of an elite cast of champions who have won championships in three different weight divisions. Before the much-awaited rematch with Marquez, Pacquiao was content with defending his WBC International super featherweight championship, clashing with Erik Morales three times and a host of other Mexicans.
And today, Pacquiao goes for his fourth world championship in the lightweight division (135 pounds) when he goes after David Diaz’s WBC lightweight championship. At this point, he didn’t even think about having to go through a tune-up fight as a lightweight, confident that he can overcome Diaz on his path to seek greatness. There is no doubt that Pacquiao will be successful again just around noon today when he defeats Diaz by decision or a late-round KO.
Already the country’s richest boxer ever, the Pacman is also the country’s biggest superstar whose popularity has crossed borders. Some are already saying that he could be boxing’s biggest draw today, with the retirement of Floyd Mayweather. Oscar de la Hoya will have something to say about that but the mere fact that Pacquiao is now being mentioned in the same breath as Mayweather and de la Hoya is already a feat by itself. Never before has a Philippine boxer received so much accolade and following from across the globe.
Raise that mug of beer. Rejoice. Celebrate. We’re joining the Pacman in this ride to greatness.
oOo
Time-out: To all members of ASMS Batch 1983: The three-day 25th Anniversary Reunion is on from June 27-29. >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
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