Double speak

Proving to the world that he can still dominate fights at a ripe age of 37, Manny Pacquiao easily manhandled a quality foe in Timothy Bradley who is five years his junior during their third instalment last April.  After the decision was read, Manny then declared that he is done from boxing and will concentrate on his excursion to politics.  As an athlete, no matter what sport you’re in, you belong to the rocking chair at 37.

His 21-year, 66-fight boxing career finally came to an end with a stellar 58-win, six-loss, two-draw record.  Only a few of his peers can boast this kind of record.  With winnings jumping out of his pockets, inflating banks and sustaining bandwagoners, Manny and his family is comfortably set for several lifetimes.  Goodbye boxing.  “Yes, I am now retired.  I am going to go home and spend time with my family and serve my people.”  Hello Philippine Senate.

Less than an hour after the retirement announcement, Manny regained his senses and said, “My heart is 50-50.  I love my family.  But boxing is a very difficult sport to leave.”  Then he added, “My family wants me to retire and I will spend more time with them and focus on serving the people.”  Reading between the lines of the last statement, it is finally no more fighting.

I truly believe that his wife Jinky and children wanted Manny to give up boxing for good.  It’s not easy for family to see and watch a member get up on the ring and fight with a real possibility of getting a serious injury and the cloud of death hanging overhead.  Tempting fate is never a good idea specially if you’re an aging fighter and the retirement announcement was a thankful relief for Manny’s family.  But not for Top Rank and Bob Arum.

Yesterday’s sports pages declared the un-retirement.  As of this writing, Manny continues to deny the reports but Arum’s action contradicts.  With an opponent still floating between limbo and purgatory, Arum booked Manny to fight at the Thomas and Mack Center inside the campus of University of Nevada, Las Vegas on the morning of November 6, Philippine time.  Goodness freaking gracious, Manny and his handlers are surely aware of this as how can Arum fix and set a date without the concurrence of his milking cow?

Reportedly, if Manny goes down to 140lbs, he will fight the winner of the junior welterweight unification bout between WBO champion Terence Crawford and Ukrainian WBC champion Viktor Postol this Sunday.  If Manny remains a welterweight (147lbs), he fights Las Vegas native Jessie Vargas.  Manny has fought twice at the Thomas and Mack Center in 2006 where he defeated Erik Morales both times.

When fight day comes, Manny will be a month away from 38.  He’s nine years older if he fights Crawford.  He’ll be giving away four inches and six years if he fights a much taller Postol.  Likewise, if Manny fights Vargas who, like Postol stands at 5-11, he will be older by 11 years.  He might be having all the ring smarts but just one lucky and well-timed punch from an inexperienced but younger and stronger opponent could be dangerously devastating.  Think about the consequences Manny.  Please, please, please.  Sitting at the air-conditioned comfort of the Senate is sublime than risking life and limb for the nth time atop the ring.

Like Manny, Crawford is also under Arum’s outfit so this Sunday’s fight against Postol will be interesting.  Sporting an impressive 28-0 record like his adversary, Crawford must win this coming Sunday to boost his marketability.  Arum needs Manny to promote Crawford as his next pay-per-view money magnet.  Top Rank badly needs another PPV star in lieu of the rapidly aging Manny.  It is only logical for Arum to pit an exploded boxing super nova versus a younger developing star and since both come from his stable, he doesn’t have to cough up a huge amount.

There’s some drama coming the Crawford camp.  His manager, Brian “BoMac” McIntyre was hurt with a statement coming from Manny’s adviser Michael Koncz which appeared in an article on BoxingScene.com where Koncz said that as to Manny’s next opponent, “Crawford is not even a thought and never was.”  Referring to the article, BoMac replied that, “Now you want to fight us?  No, go about your business.  It’s principle and pride because I felt like they strung us the first time…… they want to put Pacquiao in front of us?  No, get somebody else.”  What can principle and pride really do when several million dollars are dropped on their laps.  But first, they have to win over Postol.

Back to Manny.  He said he owed it to the people who placed him in the Senate not to make any more absences.  Why engage in double talk?  Make good on that promise and be a real senator of the republic and fight not for personal glory but for the welfare of the people who placed their trust in him.  He’s getting to be like most of the species in coats and barongs surrounding him who open their mouths without thinking.  Manny, you don’t need to fight, we don’t need you to fight. 

The PBA was mocked when Asia’s first professional basketball league rode on the novelty of drafting a multi-tasking boxer, disregarding more deserving and truly talented basketball players.  Congress was mocked with his no-shows.  This early, the senate is getting in for the ride.  Serve the people?  Yeah, big deal.  I’m sorry to say this but it looks more like serving Arum and the millions of dollars he delivers.