By Gerardo Granados: On September 17th of 1999 at the Pakpanag Metropolian Stadium, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand two young fighters disputed the WBC flyweight title. On one corner the defending champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao W26(17)-L1-D0 who was attempting his third defense of his belt, on the other corner an undefeated but average fighter named Medgoen Singsurat W18(11)-L0-D0.

The young Pacman lost his title on the scales when he failed to make weight and the WBC flyweight was for grabs for Medgoen only. I wonder how is it possible that Pacquiao got so reckless to fail to make weight but he was young and might have committed an honest mistake and not been irresponsible towards his profession.

The fight ended by knockout in the third round when Singsurat landed a hard punch on the body, Pacquiao crumbled to the canvas clearly hurt and the referee stopped the fight. By then Pacman was not expected to become a world boxing icon and not many were surprised for his defeat.

Next November 22 Manny Pacquiao will face another tailor made opponent, but does the shadow of his defeat on the hands of Medgoen grows as he continues to distract himself from boxing? A Congressman has enough duties to keep him busy all day and Pacquiao has found another distraction at Basketball. If you add his shortened training camp and his vast entourage that by itself could be enough to distract him with so many adulators; then we could find the perfect excuse for another poor performance but not for a defeat.

WBO light welter belt holder Chris Algieri W20(8)-L0-D0 is brave and is hungry, but he simply does not have the tools to defeat Pacquiao. Speed? Experience? Quality of opposition faced? Defensive skills? Mobility and footwork? Great counterpuncher? Power puncher? Ability to adjust? Corner? I guess the answer is no but inside the ring anything can happen, well maybe not just anything and Rocky is just a movie character.

Do the readers remember the Pacquiao vs Singsurat fight?