PACQUIAO'S DRIVE FOR FIVE
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 22 May 2008
For the past ten years Manny Pacquiao has distinguished himself in four weight divisions. He has won three alphabet titles namely the WBC flyweight title (1998), IBF superbantamwieght title (2001) and the WBC superfeatherweight title last March.
In 2003 he won Ring Magazine's linear historic world featherweight title by handing the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera a one-sided beating. This was a historic achievement for Pacquiao; winning a world title by being "the man who beat the man."
His close controversial win last March against Juan Manuel Marquez earned him another Ring Magazine world title. But this one had an asterisk. The statement coming from the Ring magazine editorial staff and writers: "We thought Marquez won but we'll hand Manny the belt."
Pacquiao will need to erase this asterisk soon. Marquez can always say, "You won, but you didn't beat me."
History beckons the Pacman once again as he has his sights set on WBC lightweight titlist David Diaz. He is ranked number two by Ring magazine in the 135 lb. division. The Bible of Boxing recognizes Joel Casamayor as its champion.
The lightweight title has been the bane of Filipino boxers from the great Flash Elorde to Andy Ganigan and recently Randy Suico. Will Pacquiao break the jinx?
Diaz' blue collar fighting style will present a whole new set of problems for Pacquiao. He is an experienced fighter who will not just wilt under pressure. Plus, Manny's power has never been tested yet in this weight category. At least the question about the provisional rule that has been used for the past couple of years in Nevada about the 10-ounce gloves has been settled and they will be using eight ounce gloves.
Pacquiao winning a world title at 135 lbs. will put him a par somewhat with the achievements of the great Sugar Ray Leonard. Leonard won titles at welterweight (undisputed), superwelterwieght, middleweight, supermiddleweight and light heavyweight. His last two titles were won in a rather peculiar fashion. In 1988 Leonard knocked out Don Lalonde in the ninth round to win two world titles in one fight, the newly created WBC super middleweight championship, and Lalonde's WBC light heavyweight championship. This was controversial because light-heavyweight LaLonde had to weigh-in at or below the super-middleweight limit of 168 pounds for their encounter. Nevertheless, Pacquiao will raise his ?future Hall of Famer? stature several notches if he beats Diaz.
But Pacquiao has not looked impressive since his November 2006 blitzkrieg of Erik Morales. He has fought at the highest levels since 2003. The question needs to be asked - Is his best work really behind him?
Pacquiao needs to win convincingly to remain pay per view attraction and maintain his status as one of the few exciting fighters out there. Proving his detractors wrong and painting another bloody masterpiece will make this bout his long overdue but fitting tribute to Flash Elorde.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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