By @BoxingMuse: The ‘Fighting Pride of the Philippines’ is scheduled to take on Brandon Ríos at 147lbs on November in Macau, China. Since the quintessential knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, there were views within the sport that the former eight-division world champion should hang up the gloves as he is not the fighter he used to be.
Although it is accurate to say Pacquiao is no longer at the peak of his powers, judging on Manny’s performance in the fourth Marquez installment, prior to ‘Dinimita’ landing that iconic right hand, ‘Pac-Man’ looked highly impressive and if he is motivated and in shape physically and mentally, I feel Pacquiao still has something left to offer the ‘Sweet Science’ before he retires.
There is an existing view within the industry that Pacquiao will return as a spent force and may be knocked out again, this time by brawler ‘Bam Bam’. There is also a train of thought the Rios signifies a the second coming of the Antonio Margarito bout, a fight which I consider one of Manny’s most prodigious performances, the greatest display of ‘Pac-Man’s talent and eminence. The suggestion is that Rios provides the same sort of challenge ‘El Tornado de Tijuana’ brought, a tough slugger who plods forward absorbing punishment which will bring the very best of ‘The Mexicutioner’ out.
I strive to be unbiased as a boxing journalist; I always use facts and common sense when predicting the outcome of a bout but in this case I am addressing a different matter rather than who will be victorious.
To those who doubt Pacquiao’s judgement to return to the ring following two consecutive defeats it is key to remember two things.
Firstly, most of the boxing world except three judges sat ringside saw the Filipino beat Timothy Bradley by a comfortable margin.
In 61 professional contests Pacquiao has lost 5 times apart from the KO loss to Marquez and the Bradley ‘loss’, Manny was knocked out in his 12th and 28th fight as well as a UD loss to Erik Morales in 2005.
Secondly and the main point in this article, Pacquiao has experienced the set back of being knocked out earlier in his career, this is not a new entity for him. He has overcome one of boxing’s disasters before, to consummately lose and to start again. Although Pacquiao has never been knocked out at elite level before, when a boxer gets stopped or knocked out in their career to rebound back to winning ways after losing via a KO passes a the test of adversity and although they may never feel invincible again the experience gains a valuable lesson which builds character and mental fortitude.
Manny has been through this challenge before therefore he already possess the qualities to make a successful return once again. Pacquiao is now 34 and its true when he returned from knockout losses he was a younger man but this is aside from the point Manny has overcome this obstacle previously.
This truly is a must win fight for ‘The Fighting Congressman’ but a win which he is very much capable of. Rios is not a one trick pony but he is a very limited boxer in terms of skill, this is still a dangerous fight for Pacquiao and you can be assured Freddie Roach will not leave a stone unturned when preparing for the melee in Macau.
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