Box, Manny, Box!
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 30 Jan 2009
Manny Pacquiao must take time out to contemplate on the meaning of the good things and the blessings that fate has showered on him over the last few years.
He must interpret all of these things in the context of his faith and religion.
He must understand that God, in his infinite wisdom, has established order in the world that we live in where all of His creatures have a role to perform and a mission to undertake.
Everything that happens in our life is part of the grand design, this is something that a religious man like Manny Pacquiao must come to appreciate.
Why, of the many boxers in the world, was he chosen as the last minute opponent of Lehonolo Ledwaba for his defense of the IBF superbantamweight title on Aug. 23, 2001? His shocking 8th round knockout victory over the African champion in that fight opened the doors of bigtime boxing to the erstwhile unknown fighter from the Philippines.
Why was he picked as an opponent for Marco Antonio Barrera?
Why did the judges declare him the winner in his second fight against Juan Manuel Marquez when many people thought he lost?
Why did Oscar dela Hoya even agree to fight him?
Why has he captured the imagination of boxing fans all over the world making him the hottest boxing property who could command and demand millions of dollars in purse?
And why are the other big name fighters now lining up for a chance to meet him -- Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley and maybe even Floyd Mayweather?
The answer is simple: God, ever-wise and ever loving, has a mission for Manny Pacquiao.
Man could not be what he all would like to be. Barack Obama was destined to become the first American black president. Otherwise, God would have given him enough basketball skills to lead him instead to the world of sports.
But there are a few select children of God who have been tasked to carry a greater burden.
Manny must appreciate that of the billions who inhabit the world, there are only a few geniuses or gifted ones -- one Mozart, one Bobby Fischer, one Michael Jordan, one Tiger Woods, one Muhammad Ali and, of course, only one Manny Pacquiao.
And even among the gifted ones, there is an undeniable hierarchy of excellence.
Why? Simple. Can you imagine golf with two Tiger Woods who would be able to hit the ball at the same distance, do the same trick shots, putt excellently? If that happens golf will no longer be an 18-hole game but an eternal sudden death play off.
Can you picture how basketball would be if all players performed like Michael Jordan. All the games would end up in a tie.
Or boxing where every fighter would fight the same way as Muhammad Ali? There would be no champions because all fights will end in a draw.
In this life, there will be those who will open the doors for celebrities, shine the shoes of the businessmen, work in factories producing food, perform on stage to entertain, run governments and decide on the future of millions, and stay in the convents to pray for the sinners.
And everybody is where he is because he will be good at it. And what one will be good in, others won't be.
Imagine a world where everybody could play music, sing well, box well, play basketball well, write well. Nobody will buy books because everybody has written a book. Wouldn't that be a boring world?
Manny Pacquiao is a gifted boxer. He is one of a kind. He should stay a boxer until his God-given strength weakens and his skills fade.
Politics? He should leave that to politicians.
God has designed Manny Pacquiao to be a source of inspiration for his people, to unite his people. Sports unites, politics divides.
The big fights and the billion-peso earnings are God's way of convincing Manny Pacquiao to stay in boxing.
And I have a word of advice for Manny: When your clamber up the ring ropes to celebrate your victory over Ricky Hatton on May 2, don't look up to the roof the the fight venue to say thank you to the Lord. You will not see Him there. All that you will see there will be the Tecate advertisement.
Instead, lower your sights and look at the faces of your exuberant and ecstatic fans at ringside. Some of them will be crying, some will be saying prayer of thanks. All of them will be happy.
Imagine the almost 100 million more Filipinos glued on their television sets from the boondocks of North Cotabato to the desert of Saudi Arabia, who the night previous to the fight prayed hard that you will win.
They are the message from your Lord. Listen to this message. Understand it. Remember: In the history of mankind, those who ignored God's message were doomed to perdition.
Lift up the spirit of the Filipino people. Make them pray. Make them happy.
Surely, you will make Someone up there who cares for you very happy.
Box, Manny, Box!
(EDITORS NOTE: Vice-Governor Manny Pinol of North Cotabato was an active sports journalist before he was elected governor in 1998. As a young man he attended the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Seminary)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
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