Speculative.
Everything is speculative.
I’m talking about possible opponents the Pacquiao camp has been talking about and written in the sports pages and social media portals.
It is already middle of January 2021 and nothing specific has been penciled out whom the Sarangani senator will trade jabs with in the squared arena. His handlers say the Pacman will take two assignments before plunging in the political frenzy of the 2022 national polls.
They say Manny prefers to fight in April and September.
Training period for the Pinoy icon is usually eight weeks or two months, no less.
So if it’s April, an opponent should already be named to make way for publicity and promotions.
Conor McGregor is not yet available because he is preparing for a Jan. 23 tiff which might serve as his tune-up before agreeing to meet Pacquiao. He needs to win this one in impressive fashion to merit a date with the former
Boxer of the Century awardee.
I am suggesting that our boxing idol take on Amir Khan if the venue is in Saudi or anywhere in a Middle East Muslim or Arab country.
Khan, with a Muslim descent, will naturally identify with boxing fans in the area and will surely pack them in. The guy’s not a pushover, being a two-time world champion himself and with great following in UK and the Middle East Muslim population.
If Pacquiao’s handlers enlist Mikey Garcia or Errol Spence, Jr., the match should be held in the US, notably in the boxing mecca of Las Vegas where hordes of adoring Pacman fans in California, Nevada, Texas and Arizona enjoy accessibility as well as those in the East Coast.
PPV will be at higher costs if the pandemic virus continues to threateningly flail away because spectators will be limited per health protocols.
Then, If the 8-weight division world champ successfully hurdles Khan, Pacquiao can immediately call on Spence Jr or Mikey or McGregor for the final assignment in September.
Has Terence Crawford been de-listed? His name is no longer cropping up.
Sean Gibbons, head of MP Promotions, has been reported to be doing the rounds to see who is appropriately available. Add Freddie Roach’s comments in the mix.
It must be someone who can bring in the crowd and the PPV because it will be the farewell fight of the Philippines’ most loved athlete and sportsman. I keep on hearing from my media friends in GenSan that Manny indeed is serious in his presidential aspirations. (I will write about this separately in my Specks of Life column some other day.)
Right now, time is seemingly of the essence.
McGregor is a flamboyant hard fighting gladiator just as the rest of those whom Manny convincingly subdued and dethroned – Barrera, Morales, Marquez, Dela Hoya, Bradley, Margarito, Mosely, Broner, Thurman, and a slew of Latino pugs.
I guess Pacquiao, the Mexican executioner, is already itching to throw those jabs and straights and uppercuts. Cheers! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
