By John F. McKenna (McJack): World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) who faces undefeated WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (28-0-1 NC, 12 KO’s) at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on June 9 will be attempting to do something very few fighters have been able to do in the past.

The Filipino icon will be attempting to return to the glory days which propelled him to international fame.

“Pacman” was successful in moving up through 8 weight divisions and winning world titles in all of them. No other fighter in boxing history has been able to do that. In addition, Manny sometimes known as the “Pacific Storm” because of his accomplishments in the ring, was named “Figher of the Year” by boxing writers on three occasions. Pacquiao was also given the prestigious “Fighter of the Decade” award by boxing writers for the years covering 2000 to 2009.

In addition to his many awards, Pacquiao has been at the top of the “Pound for Pound” best fighter list for several years running. Despite all the accolades that have come Manny’s way there is a downside. When Manny put in a less than sterling performance last November against 38 year old WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1, 39 KO’s) many boxing pundits began to question whether or not he was starting to slip and his best days were in fact behind him.

It had been thought that the new and improved version of Pacquiao would be way too much for the aging Marquez. Manny had grown into a natural welterweight since his last bout with Marquez in 2008, while at the same time retaining his blinding speed. In a comment he probably would have liked to have been able to retract Pacquiao conditioning coach Alex Ariza said that God himself could not save Marquez from the fate which would befall him when he stepped into the ring with Pacquiao last November.

Well, as it is written “God is not mocked.” Marquez put up the fight of his life against Manny in a match most observers felt he won. Many boxing observers feel that Pacquiao received a gift decision over Marquez.

Pacquiao now admits that he way underestimated Marquez and that he was far stronger than he had expected. After the Marquez fight Manny had a spiritual awakening. He has since given up gambling, drinking and the alleged womanizing that characterized his former life. Pacquiao now embraces the study of the Bible and has entered a new chapter in his life. Pacquiao we are told is a new man.

That being said can Manny recapture the glory of his past triumphs? His victories in his parade up through the weight classes are indelibly etched into the memories of everyone who saw them. Who can ever forget the “Pacific Storm” who annihilated Rick Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito?

A new day is now at hand and the question on everyone’s mind is can Manny Pacquiao recapture the lost glory of his past victories? It is terribly difficult to “get it back” so to speak. Once the hunger is gone, it’s gone. For anyone who is a student of boxing history Jack Dempsey is the classic example of a fighter who had hunger. And did he ever have the hunger as he destroyed his opponents with a maniacal intensity never seen before or since in the ring. The fact that Mike Tyson was a big admirer of Dempsey’s fighting style should tell you something. Dempsey, still only 28 years old, was never able to get the hunger back after he KO’d Luis Angel Firpo in the 2nd round in 1923. He was no longer the hungry hobo riding the railroad tracks in search of his next meal.

Only time will tell if Manny is able to “get it back”. Timothy Bradley, although not in the same class as the earlier Pacquiao, should be a pretty good barometer as to where “Pacman” is in his career.