PACQUIAO: "I HAVE ONE OR TWO MORE FIGHTS LEFT"
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 14 Apr 2015
LOS ANGELES, Cal. -- This has been written over and over again. Told many times before.
Manny Pacquiao is too good to be true. He's more of a pastor than a boxer. Did one ever saw a fighter like him? Even Jack Dempsey boasted a little, Joe Louis, too.
Not Manny. He always talks in whisper. Says the right things. Pugs aren't suppose to be like that. Pacquiao even has good words for guys he sent kissing the canvas.
The 36-year-old World Boxing Organization welterweight champion is going to fight the 47-0 win-loss record holder Floyd Mayweather Jr. in what is expected a classic match up billed as the biggest in both the protagonists' career.
The 12-round showdown, the winner of which to be crowned the "Greatest Fighter" all-time, is set a little over two weeks from now at the posh MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada -- a culmination of five years or so on-and-off negotiations.
And what was Pacquiao's immediate reaction as soon as the undefeated World Boxing Council/World Boxing Association 147-pound title-owner consented to battle the Filipino ring icon:
"It's an honor to be in the same ring opposite him."
That's not, of course, the way a pug should talk. Prizefighters are suppose to say, "I'll kill him."
On several occasions that he lost or drew what could have been sure victories via judges decisions, he only said meekly and politely: "I accept their decisions."
Muhammad Ali referred to George Chuvalo as a "Washerwoman." Sonny Liston as the "Big Ole' Ugly Bear." Liston himself once said of his opponent, "If he runs, I'll cripple him, if he comes to me, I'll kill him."
The bravest words he uttered so far in his 20-year pro-career was in reference to Mayweather two weeks ago was: "He can run, but he can't hide," paraphrasing the remarks attributed to Joe Louis.
Indeed, Pacquiao is more of an altar boy and a home boy. Last Sunday, during an unprecedented live interview with Pastor Dudley Rutherford held to afford the Born Again flock to give him moral support for his coming duel with Mayweather, Pacquiao talked mostly about God, on how the Lord made him overcome poverty, his wife Jinkee and his family and his responsibility as a government servant to is fellowmen.
He spoke about how the now Sarangani Province Vice Governor guided him to really believe in Jesus and abandon his life of vices -- gambling, womanizing, drinking and all other life-ruining activities.
"That was the old Manny Pacquiao, he told his some 3,000 audience that packed the Westside Sheperd Church plus a thousand more outside the hall watching the proceeding on giant tv. "Now, the new Manny Pacquiao only reads the Bible everyday instead of spending the nights gambling, drinking in the company of different women."
"Before, my head turned at every time beautiful woman who passed my way," he recalled. "Now, I only looked at my beautiful wife."
Instead of gallivanting around like before, Pacquiao added, "I now spend most of my time, if not fighting, with Jinkee and my children, who we taught how to read the Bible and follow its teachings.
He was referring to his brood of five -- Emmanuel "Jimwell" Jr., Michael, Princess, Queenie and the youngest, Baby Israel, who will turn one-year-old this coming April 27.
Explaining his and Jinkee's involvement in politics, Pacquiao said, "Jinkee and I are in politics because of our common desire to serve our constituents (in Sarangani and General Santos City) and the Filipino people as a whole. We want to give them hope and inspiration that there is still life in the midst of poverty."
"I can no longer stay in boxing for long. About one or two more fights," he admitted. "But I will remain a public servant for as long as I can after retirement. Tha is one of the legacies I intend to bequeath our people."
Photo: Pacquiao and his family together with Pastor Dudley Rutherford during Sunday's service.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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