EIGHTH WORLD TITLE IN AS MANY DIVISIONS, FIRST WIN AS A CONGRESSMAN
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 16 Nov 2010
MAASIN CITY, SOUTHERN LEYTE - Manny Pacquiao once again showed to the whole world why he is the toughest boxer in all weight divisions by castigating a giant in Antonio Margarito. Fighting this time as an elected representative of Saranggani province, Michael Buffer omitted the title ?Congressman? during his introduction of Pacquiao as Manny opted to be called plain ?Pacman,? the moniker he is widely known in the boxing universe.
But you cannot disassociate Pacquiao from his title as a duly elected representative of his people in his province. As he fought not only for Saranggani or General Santos City, not only for the Philippines, but for all fans all over the Earth who idolized him as an extraordinary fighter.
The House of Representatives considered Pacquiao?s fight with Margarito as a patriotic task for our country and excused him from his legislative duties during his practices. He showed us that he can blend his work as public official together with his responsibility in the ring.
No sportsman elected into public office and known globally have done this ever before. Only our own living hero, only our boxing legend, only the former poor boy from Saranggani who now rules the world boxing kingdom.
Eight world titles in eight different weight divisions is hard to duplicate which runs from flyweight, superbantamweight, featherweight, superfeatherweight, lightweight, lightwelterweight, welterweight and superwelterweight divisions.
All these tiles are not mere average crowns, these are prestigious titles, some of them recognized by the authoritative Ring Magazine, and made him the number one pound-for-pound pugilist. And the term pound-for-pound king fits him very well as he surged from flywewight to superwelterweight, winning crowns, and demolishing well known foes.
We would want to see more of Manny?s fights and his retirement will bring a lull in the hysteria created by his big wins, not only in the Philippines but internationally. We can?t imagine boxing without a Manny Pacquiao.
A darling of the media, a champion of the masses, a fighter?s fighter, Manny is an epitome of a boxer especially tailored for worldwide recognition. He did it again last November 14 (Philippine time) and the world stopped to view his conquest of the Mexican giant, the Tijuana Tornado turned into a gentle breeze.
The city streets here were almost empty, the church pews were almost all vacant during the eleven o?clock mass, the city gym was full of boxing fans, and the restaurants were crowded. Pacquiao really breathed life to an otherwise dull Sunday.
From the people of Maasin City, Southern Leyte, ?Mabuhay ka Manny at talagang wala kang katulad! Kaming tanan diri misaludar kanimo sa imong talagsaong kadaugan.? (Long live, Manny and really you are a rare breed! All of us here salute you for your enormous victory.)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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