Manny Pacquiao, the greatest Filipino boxer of all time, champion of an unprecedented eight weight classes, one of the biggest global draws in the sport for over a decade, fighting on an undercard?
Blasphemy.
And yet, there was the offer. Is it a question of “next”? Pacquiao was obviously cheated out of his WBO belt in the fight with Jeff Horn in Australia, far from Bob Arum’s bailiwick of Las Vegas, where only Floyd Mayweather Jr. has more clout, and where only he has had more success as a boxer than Pacquiao. Just as Marco Antonio Barrera was left out of the Pacquiao-Erik Morales-Juan Manuel Marquez rigodon over a decade ago, that seems to be the picture being painted around Pacquiao. Horn as the new fair-haired boy? Crowning a new king even before the old one is gone? Sadly, that’s entertainment. That’s boxing.
Is there spectator fatigue surrounding Pacquiao? Was he done in by his own excellence, that fans have all these unreasonable expectations? Looking back, Freddie Roach did such an impressive job turning him into a two-fisted fighter that eventually, there was nobody left to fight, and Pacquiao has to keep moving up in weight. Prior to the Mayweather spectacle, there was the triumph over his idol Oscar Dela Hoya, and the trinity of wins over Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito. (Though all four bouts were catch-weights, to be fair.) He needed bigger and bigger giants to slay, and he got them.
However, public perception has not been kind. People wanted knockouts, and they stopped coming. They hated losses, but those came more often than they wanted. Their hero became a tainted idol. Even that misquote about the LGBT community that carried overseas hurt his image, when in fact, the quote was maliciously edited for effect, Pacquiao started with a quote from the Bible, then later voiced his love and support for the LGBT. But the prematurely cut sound byte made it appear that the words from the Good Book were his own. A clear set-up.
The problem now is that winning back the wild popularity he enjoyed for so long outside the Philippines is a long process, exacerbated by an increasingly uncooperative environment. Timothy Bradley scoffed when this writer asked him about Pacquiao’s age, and suggested that anyone who thinks the good senator is old should try getting hit by him. Pacquiao is a victim of his own greatness. All those who once believed the hype are now being fed a diet of bad impressions about him. In the age of social media, discernment is an afterthought. First impressions are harder to erase, and creative editing can turn any story on its head.
So what now, as he is within a stone’s throw of 40 and has been away from the ring for almost a year? There are no impending megabuck MMA crossover offers. Other fighters are reluctant to fight him for fear that they just might risk losing to an “old man”. The moneys involved are smaller, from purses to pay-per-view to ticket sales. Some of the possible opponents who may be willing are far from household names. The world is evolving, as it always does. Younger, faster, more powerful fighters supplant those who’ve come before. And the track record of boxers Pacquiao’s age, from Muhammad Ali onward, isn’t impressive. Pacquiao should know; he’s retired quite a few name champions. And Father Time is no longer an ally.
What will likely happen? Most probably, two more fights to take him into 2019. First, one against a decent opponent with moderate risk, to also shake the rust off and add to the bank account, and prepare him for a grand finalé. The venue will likely be a new market, probably where he has never fought before, and where curiosity levels are still high, Malaysia has been mentioned. Fighting in Asia means less travel, less cost, perhaps less income and fighting in the morning for the benefit of the US pay-per-view. If he aligns with a US cable network, their schedule must align with Senate adjournment, which it might not happen within the summer window. In that event, we’re looking at the second half of the year. More time will have passed. Less opponents to choose from.
Pacquiao will not move down in weight, which would be another affront. Been there, done that. He’s made a home with the big guys. There’s no way down. And he has to fight someone new. Mayweather doesn’t want a rematch, and recently posted a cryptic video of himself training in an octagon. Marquez would rather take three easy fights for less money than gamble his bragging rights over Pacquiao. A fourth fight with Bradley will not sell. Other past opponents have retired or recently lost. As mentioned, some of the new guys have declined. That limits his options, and it’s tough to discuss some young pug who’s built a 20-0 record or thereabouts knocking over tomato cans. Pacquiao will have nothing to gain unless it’s clearly a tune-up.
The final chapters of the Manny Pacquiao story are far from written. The next lines may be difficult to pen, and will require much thought. Many a boxer’s career has been pockmarked by bad decisions, and ruined by fighting longer than necessary. If he is lucky, a new name will come up, or an old one will reconsider. Pacquiao’s legacy, especially from 2005 to early 2012, is secure, especially if we choose to remember those highlights.
But he deserves to go out in one, last climactic battle, as all great warriors do. That is the closure his fans crave.