For us Filipinos, we always thought that we know Manny Pacquiao inside and out. We’re all an expert on our own fields, but more often than not, we tend to judge people according to our own beliefs. Have we asked ourselves, do we really know the man? Or Manny still have something hidden for us to see on his next fights?
Manny Pacquiao is hardly a trash talker or the type to make bold, outrageous predictions. Everytime he stand in the ring even during the weigh-in and press cons, he’s always on a good mood and a smile never leaves his face. With many predicting his demise, however, an apparently insulted Pacquiao boldly predicts a knockout of Brandon Rios. We can never blame them, he suffered two consecutive losses, one with a really devastating result.
Coach Freddie Roach mentioned that he felt Pacquiao would stop Rios on Saturday (Sunday morning Macau time) in the sixth round of their 12-round welterweight bout at CotaiArena during an interview while Manny Pacquiao is sitting next to him.
That caught the attention of Pacquiao, who hasn't stopped anyone since Miguel Cotto in the 12th round in Las Vegas in 2009. Pacquiao beamed as he heard Roach say six rounds, but he clearly disagreed.
You know what he did, he stuck out four fingers, suggesting he'd knock Rios (31-1-1, 23 KOs) out in four. Yes, this would be a great fight!
Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) is more loose and confident than he has been in a while for a guy whose career seems to be hanging in the balance. He had to win this fight, and Manny will surely deliver.
"Everybody wants to talk to me about the knockout [loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in December 2012]," Pacquiao exclaims. "Everybody. But that's part of boxing. If you think you're going to box as long as I have and think you are not going to get caught, you're kidding yourself. It happens. Knockouts are a part of boxing. But what was happening before he connected [with the knockout blow]?"
We’ve all seen that fight! What was happening was that Pacquiao was in command of the fight and had Marquez on the run. Pacquiao was battering Marquez around the ring and seemed on the verge of a stoppage, when he rushed in looking for the kill.
As claimed by Marquez’s corner, they have been learning Manny Paquiao’s rhythm, Marquez timed him perfectly and hit him with a counter right hand that landed flush on the chin and sent him face first to the canvas, out cold, it’s about to hit the bell when he fell.
Now, 11 months later, Pacquiao is back, less than a month from his 35th birthday, on the only two-fight losing streak of his 61-fight career and battling the perception his skills are in decline.
The perception would be vastly different if the judges had gotten it correctly in his June 9, 2012, bout with Timothy Bradley, which virtually everyone who saw the match felt Pacquiao won. Judges, though, scored it a split decision for Bradley.
Then, had Pacquiao not run into the Marquez right, he'd likely have finished the Mexican great in the following round. Instead of being on a two-fight losing streak, he'd be on a 17-bout winning streak and the demand for a bout with the great Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be stronger than ever.
A lot of people are saying that Manny Paquiao is just being careless during that time, and Manny claims that it would never happen again.
That's why, even though most everyone felt the loss to Bradley would be ignored because it was so obviously wrong, the judging is so crucial. It's added to a perception that Pacquiao is in decline when he is clearly not.
Pacquiao wasn't great by any means against Bradley, and some of that has to do to Bradley himself. But listen to what Bradley had to say about Pacquiao during a recent conference call when he was asked to analyze the Pacquiao-Rios fight:
"I came into the Pacquiao fight in the best shape of my life. I trained extremely hard for that fight. I remember it being around the fourth round and I was exhausted. After four rounds! I am in the best shape of my life and I am exhausted. Pacquiao drops so many feints on you and he keeps you so tense – he hits hard with both hands – you always have to be alert and it drains you as a fighter."
Those words aren't the words of a man who believes that Pacquiao is in decline.
And while no one can ignore the fact that Pacquiao was knocked cold, it was hardly a poor performance against Marquez. Yes, Manny is indeed became careless!
"Manny is an aggressive, offensive-type of fighter," Roach said. "When you are aggressive, you open yourself up to being hit. Mayweather is a great fighter, but he's a very defensive fighter, and he thinks defense first, so he's not as open [to being hit], but he's not a very exciting fighter to watch, either.”
"Manny loves to entertain and put on a show, and every fighter knows when you step into the ring and fight that way, there is a risk of getting caught. Manny got caught by a great shot."
But when a fighter is knocked out as violently as Pacquiao was, the effects frequently are felt long after the bout. It often makes a fighter more vulnerable to being knocked out again.
In addition, Pacquiao has had out-of-the-ring distractions that have upset him. Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda devastated the Philippines, and he's been trying from afar to organize relief efforts.
Then, his chief adviser, Michael Koncz, was twice hospitalized in Macau.
But Pacquiao insists he's ready to put on a show. And this will be another great show indeed.
"For all of the people impacted by the typhoon, this fight's for you," he said.
He's been at his best in his career when the stakes were biggest and the lights were brightest.
With many counting him out, it would hardly be a shock to see him step up and deliver the performance of a lifetime.
This is it folks! It’s just a day away! Let’s offer prayers for the Man, he needs it, we all needs it. Manny Paquiao fights not just for himself but for his country, for the Philippines and for the Filipino people!
I want the people of the Philippines to be happy, even if they have nothing. I've always fought for my country, in my own way, showing that Filipinos are a strong people and can do anything that they put their minds to. -Manny Pacquiao
Cheerio!
Manny Pacquiao is hardly a trash talker or the type to make bold, outrageous predictions. Everytime he stand in the ring even during the weigh-in and press cons, he’s always on a good mood and a smile never leaves his face. With many predicting his demise, however, an apparently insulted Pacquiao boldly predicts a knockout of Brandon Rios. We can never blame them, he suffered two consecutive losses, one with a really devastating result.
Coach Freddie Roach mentioned that he felt Pacquiao would stop Rios on Saturday (Sunday morning Macau time) in the sixth round of their 12-round welterweight bout at CotaiArena during an interview while Manny Pacquiao is sitting next to him.
You know what he did, he stuck out four fingers, suggesting he'd knock Rios (31-1-1, 23 KOs) out in four. Yes, this would be a great fight!
Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KOs) is more loose and confident than he has been in a while for a guy whose career seems to be hanging in the balance. He had to win this fight, and Manny will surely deliver.
"Everybody wants to talk to me about the knockout [loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in December 2012]," Pacquiao exclaims. "Everybody. But that's part of boxing. If you think you're going to box as long as I have and think you are not going to get caught, you're kidding yourself. It happens. Knockouts are a part of boxing. But what was happening before he connected [with the knockout blow]?"
We’ve all seen that fight! What was happening was that Pacquiao was in command of the fight and had Marquez on the run. Pacquiao was battering Marquez around the ring and seemed on the verge of a stoppage, when he rushed in looking for the kill.
As claimed by Marquez’s corner, they have been learning Manny Paquiao’s rhythm, Marquez timed him perfectly and hit him with a counter right hand that landed flush on the chin and sent him face first to the canvas, out cold, it’s about to hit the bell when he fell.
Now, 11 months later, Pacquiao is back, less than a month from his 35th birthday, on the only two-fight losing streak of his 61-fight career and battling the perception his skills are in decline.
The perception would be vastly different if the judges had gotten it correctly in his June 9, 2012, bout with Timothy Bradley, which virtually everyone who saw the match felt Pacquiao won. Judges, though, scored it a split decision for Bradley.
Then, had Pacquiao not run into the Marquez right, he'd likely have finished the Mexican great in the following round. Instead of being on a two-fight losing streak, he'd be on a 17-bout winning streak and the demand for a bout with the great Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be stronger than ever.
A lot of people are saying that Manny Paquiao is just being careless during that time, and Manny claims that it would never happen again.
That's why, even though most everyone felt the loss to Bradley would be ignored because it was so obviously wrong, the judging is so crucial. It's added to a perception that Pacquiao is in decline when he is clearly not.
Pacquiao wasn't great by any means against Bradley, and some of that has to do to Bradley himself. But listen to what Bradley had to say about Pacquiao during a recent conference call when he was asked to analyze the Pacquiao-Rios fight:
"I came into the Pacquiao fight in the best shape of my life. I trained extremely hard for that fight. I remember it being around the fourth round and I was exhausted. After four rounds! I am in the best shape of my life and I am exhausted. Pacquiao drops so many feints on you and he keeps you so tense – he hits hard with both hands – you always have to be alert and it drains you as a fighter."
Those words aren't the words of a man who believes that Pacquiao is in decline.
And while no one can ignore the fact that Pacquiao was knocked cold, it was hardly a poor performance against Marquez. Yes, Manny is indeed became careless!
"Manny is an aggressive, offensive-type of fighter," Roach said. "When you are aggressive, you open yourself up to being hit. Mayweather is a great fighter, but he's a very defensive fighter, and he thinks defense first, so he's not as open [to being hit], but he's not a very exciting fighter to watch, either.”
But when a fighter is knocked out as violently as Pacquiao was, the effects frequently are felt long after the bout. It often makes a fighter more vulnerable to being knocked out again.
In addition, Pacquiao has had out-of-the-ring distractions that have upset him. Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda devastated the Philippines, and he's been trying from afar to organize relief efforts.
Then, his chief adviser, Michael Koncz, was twice hospitalized in Macau.
But Pacquiao insists he's ready to put on a show. And this will be another great show indeed.
"For all of the people impacted by the typhoon, this fight's for you," he said.
He's been at his best in his career when the stakes were biggest and the lights were brightest.
This is it folks! It’s just a day away! Let’s offer prayers for the Man, he needs it, we all needs it. Manny Paquiao fights not just for himself but for his country, for the Philippines and for the Filipino people!
I want the people of the Philippines to be happy, even if they have nothing. I've always fought for my country, in my own way, showing that Filipinos are a strong people and can do anything that they put their minds to. -Manny Pacquiao
Cheerio!
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