Manny Pacquiao: The Campaign Continues

By Francisco Argueta



As the Philippines’ biggest star embarks on his second political campaign, he has unfinished business vying for a far greater seat not located in any nation’s congress.

On March 13, 2010 Manny Pacquiao squares off with his greatest foe, Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a battle for the pound for pound throne. Having recently become the first boxer to win a world title in his seventh different weight class, Pacquiao seeks to venture into more uncharted territory.

His opponent on March 13, is Floyd Mayweather Jr., the previous resident atop the pound for pound list whom has never tasted defeat and has very seldom encountered adversity in the squared circle having far outclassed his opponents. Manny Pacquiao has blown through his last four opponents (Diaz, De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto) with little resistance, but in Mayweather he faces a different challenge.

Mayweather will not fight with his hands down, chin exposed, nor will he concede to drain himself and meet “The Pacman” at a catch weight. Instead he will bring an ironclad defense and an efficient offense along with cat- like reflexes and incendiary speed at a weight of his choosing, 147 pounds. As Mayweather himself has put it, “Forty have tried and forty have failed”.

Pacquiao himself brings attributes which pose an interesting dilemma for “Money” Mayweather. First, his blazing speed which matches if not bests Mayweather’s will make exchanges dangerous for both stars. Moreover, him being a southpaw qualifies him as an instant nightmare for Floyd, as demonstrated in his fights against “Chop Chop” Corley and Zab Judah, the angles that southpaws punch from create openings in Mayweather’s otherwise impenetrable defense. Further, Pacquiao’s power and high work rate are problems Mayweather has never encountered.

Both first ballad hall of famers pose threats that the other will have trouble overcoming. This fight is being billed as the event of the century, and rightfully so, Manny Pacquiao is a living legend not only in the Philippines but around the globe. On the epic day of March 13, Manny Pacquiao will seek to not only defend his pound for pound crown but make his bid to go down in history as not only his generation’s greatest boxer but history’s greatest athlete.

Source: maharlikantimes.com