LOSING TO RIOS NEVER ENTERED PACQUIAO'S MIND
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 26 Oct 2013
Those who believe Manny Pacquiao?s days as a fighter are numbered, think again.
Pacquiao, the world?s boxing icon, is not retiring soon as many think, especially if he loses his coming fight with American Brandon ?Bam Bam? Rios next month in Macau.
?Retiring? Of course not. Not at the most immediate time,? Pacquiao exclaimed in an exclusive one-on-one interview last week after completing his fifth month of preparation in General Santos City.
?If the measurement of their prediction lies in me losing to Bradley, then they?re mistaken. Because losing that fight never entered my mind,? a jovial Pacman said with eyes aglow. ?I?m sorry, but I have to tell them, they will be disappointed.?
?Marami na nga akong naririnig mula sa kung sino-sino na kailangan kong nang isabit ang fighting gloves ko kapag ako?s natalo kay Bardley. For the first time I will be speaking for myself, let me just say na ni sa guniguni, hindi ko inisip na matatalo ako. Precisely that?s the reason why I started training early, 10 months to be exact,? he reasoned out.
The 34-year-old eight-division champion who will turn 35 weeks before his November 24 date with Brandon, admitted the coming rendezvous with the former WBA lightweight belt owner who totes an envious 31-1-1 win-loss-draw record with 23 KOs is very important in his efforts to bounce back from a twin setbacks he suffered last years.
?This coming fight is very significant to me not only because I want to come back from that losses last year but because of my desire to make up for all boxing fans in the world, especially our kababayans, who felt sad and frustrated as result of those defeats,? he stressed.
A questionable split decision loss to Tim Bradley in his first fight in 2012 broke his string of 15 consecutive victories that started on September 10, 2005 following a setback to Eric Morales, whom he beats twice by KO the next time around.
A devastating sixth round knockout to arch-enemy Juan Manuel Marquez came as the only third time he didn?t answer the bell for the next round blotting what could have been a perfect triumphant record that included stoppage wins over Morales (twice), David Diaz, Oscar Dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto that catapulted him to top spot in the world?s best pound-for-pound fighter.
?Alam ko namang mahal pa rin ako ng fans, nararamdaman ko yun kahit saan ako magpunta. Like this afternoon, di ba, when I stepped down from the gym, dami paring naghihintay sa akin makita man lang ako,? Pacquiao said in reference to a daily occurrence every practice session where supporters and believers wait for him and greet him.
That afternoon, among the crowd was a polio-stricken little boy, who dropped his cane and fell to the ground when shoved by his security men. Out of pity Pacquiao approached the boys help him to his feet and handed him a bunch of P500 bills.
?Naawa ako sa bata. He could hardly walk but still waited for me for hours just to see me,? he said. Konti lang ibinigay ko kasi baka agawin lang ng iba. Para kasing walang kasama.?
?That is what I don?t want to lose, ang pagmamahal, pag-galang at pagkilalang ibinibigay sa akin ng mga tao, hindi lamang dito sa atin kundi maging sa ibang bansa man, Reason why I don?t want to lose this fight and the few more bouts na gagawin ko bago ako mag-retire,? he said.
?I feel very happy kasi making people happy. And I consider that one of the legacies I can bestow the entire sports community when I am no longer fighting,? he stressed.?
Photo: Pacquiao flexes his muscles during Thursday's workout at Pacman's Wildcard Gym in General Santos. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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