MANNY IS S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
By Tonton Alcos-Antogop
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 15 Nov 2016
At 37, beating a boxer 10 years younger is something. That means the older pugilist is SPECIAL, one of its kind, a rare breed. And this exactly described Manny Pacquiao, Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, tormentor of the dethroned World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion, Jesse Vargas, 27. SPECIAL as he is, Pacquiao keeps on winning because of the seven following factors; S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
1. Speed - he can throw a combination of punches in the blink of an eye, something which his former foes and boxing analysts called "blinding speed." He throws the punches very fast that this opponent could not do anything to protect his body from being hit. Pacquiao's speed has been very evident during his peak that those who fought him averred they did not knew what him them. It has not faded, he is just more cautious these days.
2. Power - his punches are solid and heavy that even a straight punch has knocked down Vargas in the 2nd of their 12 round match at the Thomas and Mack Center. Remember how the retired Ricky Hatton was kayoed also in the second stanza during Pacquiao's prime. Hatton's debacle in May 2009 caused the downfall of the erstwhile unbeaten Briton.
3. Excellent coaching staff - the combination of Filipino and American coaching team of Freddie Roach and Restituto "Boboy" Fernandez did a lot. For years already, Fernandez as chief second fills the void during the early weeks of their training before a fight. So when Roach takes over, Pacquiao is already conditioned for the heavier regimen. Fernandez also has his able wards, his younger brother, Roger and Nonoy Neri, who sometimes doubles as plyometrics and conditioning coach when Justin Fortune is not yet around.
4. Character and attitude - the poverty and hardships that he experienced in earlier life molded Pacquiao into excellence in his craft. That explains his character, his determination and resiliency to succeed. So fast forward today where he is reaping success, until he became a Senator, the will to succeed did not stop. His preparation into the Vargas fight requires juggling from being a senator and boxer especially so that he made a promise that he will not sideline his being a senator for boxing. Having a solid character, his attitude towards his "legislating" and "boxing" tasks requires discipline and time management. It was not that easy but he did, doing the morning run, resting and recharging after, then rushing towards the senate for their sessions and committee hearings till late in the afternoon. In the evening, he reports straight to the gym.
5. Intelligence in boxing - he is virtuoso of the sport, reading his opponent well during fight time. This is the reason that he defeated a long list of marquee boxers. He did suffered losses too but all that could not offset his high boxing I.Q. His duel with Floyd Mayweather, could have a different result if not for the shoulder injury that he got prior to the fight. The other losses of Pacquiao were because of controversial verdict (the split decision against Tim Bradley in June 2012), carelessness and complacency (the unexpected 6th round TKO loss against Juan Marquez in Dec. 2012), among others.
6. Ageless - whether young or old, Pacquiao has keep on winning championships, doing it first at 19 years-old for the WBC Flyweight Title against Chatchai Sasakul in 1998 and still having the recent versus Vargas, spanning for 18 years already. Doing it still at 37 is something else. Once the sport's poster boy, Oscar dela Hoya got a beating from him in 2008 when Oscar was still 35. That devastating defeat led to Dela Hoya's retirement ending the glamor and reign of boxing's "Golden Boy." Where all else did not have it, Pacquiao is the boxing's undisputed "only eight division world champion."
7. Living a God centered life - Pacquiao's ultimate secret to success. Since he became a renewed Christian, he also quit his vices (i.e. drinking, gambling, womanizing). Of late, he admitted that he also used illegal drugs in his youth, all of that, no more. So none already of the nocturnal activities that could wore him out, sapping his energy and strength for vigor and vitality. It was reported then that the most destructive vice in some of the fights of Pacquiao in the past was his "womanizing", an incident that almost led to a wreck marriage. After that tumultuous chapter of his life, the fighting senator is now a "Man of the Bible," leading some bible studies even to his fellow senators in the Philippine senate. When he is back home in General Santos City, he preaches on Sundays in "The Word for Everyone" a church that he himself built inside his property. So when atop the ring, Pacquiao do not have the "emotional baggage" anymore as he and wife Jinkee, along with their children, are now living, harmoniously.
That is Manny Pacquiao in his spiritual conversion, a God centered public servant and boxer.
All told, that explains, the S.P.E.C.I.A.L factors that led to Manny Pacquiao's continuing success. After the Vargas victory he said that he could still fight depending on who his promoter, Bob Arum, would come to terms with. Coach Freddie also said that Pacquiao could still "box" for two more years. So on that note, will we see some others who will be pitted against Pacquiao including a Terrence Crawford bout or the rematch with Floyd? Another bout with his tormentor Marquez could also be but of the three, on his body language alone, even on retirement, Floyd's watching at the ringside on the latest victory of Manny against Vargas meant something. If that happens, and should Manny will win, expect a trilogy. That's boxing and Manny Pacquiao is S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Tonton Alcos-Antogop.
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