Oscar dela Hoya, recently named to the boxing Hall of Fame, generously described the Pacman as the “most difficult opponent” he ever fought in his storied career.
Now into the rich boxing promotions business as the chief honcho of Golden Boy Promotions, the former Olympic gold medalist admitted in an interview, minutes after Pacquiao unanimously decisioned Adrien Broner, that without any second thoughts, the Filipino champion was the most difficult fighter he had encountered.
Pacquiao peppered De la Hoya with jabs, left straights, hooks and body shots and everything in his arsenal en route to a 9th round TKO in what was to become the first of several monumental victories that led boxing writers in America to pick him as “Boxer of the Decade.”
Dela Hoya’s positive comments were followed a little later by another legendary boxer, Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez who, in fractured English, said that Pacquiao remains like the same fellow whom he fought five years ago
“Pacquiao is still very fast, strong and moves like a boxer in his late twenties,” he said in describing the Pacquiao-Broner fight which he watched personally at the MGM arena.
When asked if Terence Crawford would give Pacquiao a headache should the two fight, Marquez initially was hesitant but eventually admitted that Manny would still become victorious because of his long championship experience.
(Crawford convincingly defeated Aussie Jeff Horn who dented the Filipino’s win loss slate with a hometown decision two years back.)
Marquez, now 44 and semi-retired, is also on the comeback trail, preparing for a tune-up bout before facing another top fighter in the horizon. He KO’ed Pacquiao with a lucky punch in a fourth rematch in 2012 and is now reportedly looking to be matched up against another Mex, Canelo Alvarez, in a catch weight of 147 pounds.
Tim Bradley also got into the commentary line, saying “Broner did not use his head and brains in fighting Pacquiao.”
Bradley beat the Sarangani senator in their first meeting in a highly controversial decision, drew in the rematch and lost in the third in a “queer” trilogy promoted by Pacquiao’s former handler Bob Arum but who, incidentally, has not figured in Manny’s last two ring dates.
Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao’s chief trainer, has said Manny might still be good for another two or three fights before hanging up his gloves.
If you read between the lines, one of those 2 or 3 matches that Fernandez may pinpoint to a possible second edition of a Mayweather-Pacquiao encounter.
As for me, more interesting to follow are the likely challenges that other belt owners in the welterweight class might throw at Pacquiao’s way.
There are Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter, Errol Spence, Jr, Danny Garcia and Mikey Garcia who are all magnets that will draw big crowds in Las Vegas anytime.
Throw in Crawford who is Arum’s favorite.
Somehow, I get the feeling that Sen. Pacquiao might be extending his boxing career till 2020.
For a good, worthy reason. Does 2022 ring a bell? (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Prov. 10:1: “A wise son brings joy to his father but a foolish son grief to his mother.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
