MANNY PACQUIAO, INVIGORATES BOXING
by Rod Mijares, January 11, 2009
www.Fil-AmBoxers.com

Photo by Rod Mijares. Manny on a pensive mood waiting for the weigh-in
before his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15, 2008 in Las Vegas.
Joe Calzaghe said in one of his interviews that boxing is a dying sport. Calzaghe (46-0-0, 32KO) is the undefeated Welsh boxer who held the WBO super middleweight world titles for 10 years. He moved up to light heavyweight where he won over Bernard Hopkins on a 12-round split decision last April 19, 2008 and won over Roy Jones, Jr. ,convincingly, on a 12-round unanimous decision just recently on November 11, 2008. A month after his last fight, he said boxing is on its ropes, with so many champions but so few stars.
Perhaps, Calzaghe has not heard of Manny ”Pacman” Pacquaio, the Mexican assassin. The diminutive boxer from the Philippines whose unprecedented feat has no equal as he won in three weight classes and captured two world titles all in one year. He won the WBC super featherweight title on March 15, 2008 against Mexican Juan Manual Marquez and the WBC lightweight title against Mexican-American David Diaz on June 28, 2008. Most significantly, perhaps, he has not heard when the world was shaken on its feet and stunned on its face when Pacquiao so magnificently displayed what a great boxing warrior he was by stopping the legendary Oscar De La Hoya in their non-title welterweight bout on December 6, 2008 at MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas when De La Hoya quit after the 8^th round of their scheduled 12-round fight.
Maybe, Calzaghe has not heard that Pacquaio is the Ring Magazine’s current world’s best pound for pound boxer in the world as of December 14, 2008 wherein Calzaghe is only third in line for the throne next to Mexican hall of famer, Juan Manuel Marquez. In the process, Pacquiao is now a household name not only in the Philippines, not only in America but all over the world and he accomplished this before turning 30 years of age. Calzaghe, on the other hand, is in his early thirties before becoming a household name even in his own country. Pacquiao, no doubt, is now synonymous to boxing as boxing is synonymous to him and who said boxing is a dying sport when Pacquiao just injected new life to it.
Furthermore, Pacquiao has awaken the sleeping giant’s interest to fight again . His spectacular win over Oscar De La Hoya raised curiosity from Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s camp. As if Pacquiao raised Mayweather from his slumber and Mayweather found himself totally awaken with Pacquiao comfortably sitting on a throne he previously held. This could be a challenge that might unretire him in the future and the boxing world could not wait for it to happen.
Mayweather (39,0,0) announced his retirement on June 6, 2008 after his consecutive wins against Oscar De La Hoya at 150 pounds to capture the WBC Light Middleweight title on May 5, 2007 and Ricky Hatton at 147 pounds on December 8, 2007 for the WBC welterweight title both at MGM Grand Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather won six world titles in five different weight classes while Pacquiao won 4 world titles in four different weight classes. If the fight materializes, it will settle the contention as who is the best pound for pound boxer in the world.
Bob Arum, Top Rank Promotions big hancho and Golden Boy Promotions President, Richard Schaefer, agreed in principle, although, not in official writing yet that Manny Pacquiao will fight Englishman Ricky Hatton on May 2, 2009 to a venue not decided yet in Las Vegas. They agreed on a 50-50 deal based on both fighters equal drawing power.
However, the boxing world was momentarily shock even up to this writing that Pacquiao turned around and decided that a 60-40 revenue split on his favor is a fair deal. He said he has more drawing power than Ricky Hatton after his win against Oscar De La Hoya.
While Bob Arum wanted to assure that a 50-50 split is a done deal, Manny Pacquiao, his protégé insists on a 60-40 deal or no fight will ever happen. It is said that Manny is giving Hatton’s camp until February to accept it or there is no fight between them.
If ever the fight with Hatton will materialize or Manny will fight somebody else the whole world will be watching because the whole world knows that with Pacquiao at the ring, boxing will be alive, more exciting, exhilarating and yes, more entertaining.