By Babatis Banda: Manny Pacquiao rose from a very rough and poor neighborhood to a super-rich hero. Simply, Pacquiao’s story has been nothing, but inspirational. He is so loved by so many in a country so poverty stricken, with daunting social and political challenges not to mention immense natural calamities.
Pacquiao started a career that earned him around two United States dollars then, to one that earns him tens of millions of Dollars. At some point, he mentions how he sold cigarettes and recently we heard how he turned to boxing when his father killed the family dog for food.
He has drawn love from within and afar of his native country. He is a national pride and an example of hard work and achievement. He has remained humble and committed to his own as he spends thousands of hard earned dollars to help his people. That has earned him love and respect and this portrayed image as a humble and selfless man may one day project him into the leader of this poor nation, even with a humble education.
He made his first real statement when he blazed down Oscar De La Hoya. This is in a fight he was way much the underdog. He ruthlessly took out the English man Ricky Hatton and then cut down and chopped Miguel Cotto into some red pulp mess. Magarito and the rest were just the icing to his illustrious career. Pacquiao really made a name because he just did not win. He chopped them down into submission, bigger or smaller than him. He was powerful, fast, threw a thousand punches and seemed not to tire or get hurt even when bigger boxers offloaded their best on the smaller Filipino.
Meanwhile the Mayweather’s looked in disbelief. They wondered how it was possible that a smaller man would go through these divisions in a fairly short period, carried his power and destroyed them all. They didn’t wonder for too long before they felt they knew the answer. All they did was challenge Pacquiao to a fight, but both men would have to go through a rigorous Olympic style drug tests. All hell broke loose from there on.
Floyd Mayweather Junior was taken to court and it is practically impossible to prove that someone is taking something if they can’t take the test. It was like you needed to find your wife or husband in the act for you to prove adultery. This was settled outside the court, but the damage was done, and the message had been taken across.
From here on, Pacquiao went his way and he was never the same. Since the accusations, no real mean intentions ever manifested in the ring again from the Filipino icon. This was attributed to his Bible studies. At some point, it was attributed to problems in his marriage, then the leg cramps. Some said his so many other activities outside of the ring distracted and inhibited him from performing at his very best.
Meanwhile, for the greater part of the five years, Maywether, Pacquiao’s, accuser went his way too. He was doing well with his PPV numbers and grossing biggest amounts of money per fight ever known in the sport. He became the highest paid athlete in the world and he continued to be the face of the sport.
Then Floyd seemed to have it rough with Marcos Maidana, the Argentinian swinger. He had a re-match, one of his very few and won, this time in a clearer fashion than the first. All of a sudden, the Floyd vs. Pacquiao fight was in the making and it did not break any sweat in its making. Boxers went into camp, and as usual we heard how Pacquiao was doing great and in the best of shape. This time Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer was louder than usual with sometimes very weird statements like Mayweather would actually not show up the day of the fight because he was so scared. I thought Roach was actually very concerned about the fight and he was trying to cover it up.
The fight came and went. The hope of the last five-six years swept away in twelve rounds of smart boxing. It was another easy night for Mayweather just like he said it would be. For Pacquiao, many have chosen the easier way out, excuses, excuses and excuses. The so called warrior and the icon from the Philippines showed it in his body language. His Family was clearly in anguish even before the announcement of the results was made.
This time, the icon went away with his head heavy on his shoulders and the hopeful people bitter and angry and unable to accept the truth that had always stared at them for years.
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