Manny is Still a Hot Copy in Pro Boxing But Mysteries Surround Comeback
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 28 May 2021
Manny Pacquiao is really in his best elements in the sport of professional boxing.
Just the other week, in his other significant hat as a Senator, Manny looked unsure or unprepared as he stood there vainly trying to satisfactorily answer questions from his fellow but decidedly more seasoned colleagues, Senators Pia Cayetano and Franklin Drilon, regarding his pet bill calling for the establishment of a Philippine Commission for Boxing and Combat Sports.
Truth to tell, he was not a swell sight to look at, despite his dapper suit, particularly to a few sports scribes who are in attendance chiefly to cover how he would defend his sports related bill.
Sports media used to see a confident and very sure of himself Manny Pacquiao especially talking of his shall we say, main craft which is boxing.
However, Manny Pacquiao lately is back in his best elements.
And he didn't have to utter a word.
It is enough for him to post in his Instagram a facsimile copy of a poster announcing an August 21, 2021 fight versus unified WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence in a TBA site and the boxing world is sent a buzzing.
Barely minutes after Manny's Instagram post and Spence's own official announcement via a hastily assembled press briefings, the airwaves as well as cyberspace are already bursting with images and spoken words from people and personalities that matter: boxers, promoters, trainers and boxing experts, scribes and observers.
That somewhat stole the thunder from the biggest fight on tap for that weekend: The much awaited Josh Taylor vs Jose Ramirez bout for all the major junior welterweight straps.
Even as the big boxing media jostled for post fight interview with both the winner and the loser, questions also are invariably tossed around about the Pacquiao-Spence fight.
Some even wished Manny had not chosen to fight Spence and instead opted for the mercurial Brit, Taylor who has not hidden his supreme admiration of the fighting Filipino Senator and his desire to meet him atop the ring.
Without doubt, Manny's tiff with Spence is apt to cast its shadow on other major bouts on the immediate horizon, including archrival Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s exhibition boxing bout in June against another non boxer, worst only a Youtube star boxing wannabe. Floyd must be feeling how Canelo and Gennady felt when he spoiled their anticipated first clash by a preemptive boxing bout against his first non boxer opponent, Conor McGregor who is at least an MMA superstar, back in 2019.
No gainsaying, Manny's reputation very well precedes him.
And that lends mysteries to his comeback to the ring versus Spence this coming August 21, more than two years after his last bout versus then undefeated Keith 'One Time' Thurman in July 2019.
First off, his signing to face Spence came as a surprise to many, shocking even to some.
People are still quizzical what goes behind the scene.
Many were unconvinced when Manny first accepted Errol's personal challenge for a ring meeting two years ago after Errol had virtually manhandled then undefeated Mikey Garcia in a high profile title defense, saying that he would even be willing to fight Manny in Manila.
Nothing came out of that. And fans even became more unconvinced when Errol said "the fight is entirely up to Manny" even as Errol also vainly tried to pursue a super fight versus Terrence Crawford.
A Pacquiao-Spence was therefore farthest from the mind of most people. What goes down, really?
Another mystery that has yet to be unlocked is what sort of Manny Pacquiao will be coming out of his corner come August.
The Pacquiao that fought and defeated Lucas Matthyse, Adrian Broner and especially Thurman will be competitive to say the least against Spence who had mixed though still generally victorious results against Danny Garcia, Mikey and Shawn Porter.
This is to say that a better vintage version of Manny would be more than a match for Errol come August.
This is the reason Floyd, Jr, Bob Arum, Tim Bradley, Robert Garcia for example, while tending to favor Errol are careful to spice their predictions with a caveat ala Tom Hank's "life is a box of chocolates, you don't know what you are getting."
Indeed, Manny of today is an enigma that many boxing sages won't be caught dead betting against. Again.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
May 18: Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk UNDISPUTED Heavyweight Title Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV
Fri, 03 May 2024JARON ‘BOOTS’ ENNIS TO DEFEND WORLD TITLE AGAINST CODY CROWLEY AT WELLS FARGO CENTER ON JULY 13
Fri, 03 May 2024Sanman to help Samal Paddlers in dragon boat
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 03 May 20242024 Kiddies Chess Championships today
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 03 May 2024Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs Jaimie Mungia (Fight Analysis)
By Ralph Rimpell, Fri, 03 May 2024OSCAR DE LA HOYA AND GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO RETURN TO TURNING STONE FOR INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
Fri, 03 May 2024“Redemption Road: The Path Back to Glory” Debuts SUNDAY Ahead of Lomachenko-Kambosos Lightweight Title Showdown
Fri, 03 May 2024Star Boxing’s super welterweight contender Wendy Toussaint will travel to the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa to take on Shervantaigh Koopman
Fri, 03 May 2024Labor Lakers play Kickstarter MLCG in Sanman on May 3
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 03 May 2024DENNY VS. CASH LAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Thu, 02 May 2024Nattapong Jankaew Prepares for Career-Defining Match Against Former Unified World Champion Marlon Tapales in WBC Regional Title Showdown
Thu, 02 May 2024Boston Routs Miami Anew, 118-84 to End Series at 4-1; Dallas Demolishes LA Clippers, Moves Ahead 3-2
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 02 May 2024GOLDEN BOY STATEMENT ON RYAN GARCIA'S POSITIVE TEST FOR BANNED SUBSTANCE
Thu, 02 May 2024LORENZ DUMAM-AG STOPS RAMEL MACADO JR IN FIRST ROUND IN BATTLE OF UNDEFEATED (VIDEO)
By Dong Secuya, Thu, 02 May 2024Croft wins by UD
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 02 May 2024