By Rishad Marquardt: One can’t have a detailed discussion on the career of Manny Pacquiao without talking about Floyd Mayweather Jr., and with it, few people would resist the temptation to compare the two. I can’t speak for everyone, but when people would watch Floyd, many would watch hoping that this time was the time he was going to taste defeat and at the same time would be able to witness the ensuing arrogance wiped clean from his face.
It was as attractive a reason to watch him fight as any other. Many boxing fans would admit that watching his defensive skills was akin to satisfying a guilty pleasure, one would watch on in awe of a master technician in action. But despite this, all too often it was his demeanor, attitude, and choice of fights – and especially their timing, that were a painfully monotonous source of frustration and dissatisfaction.
This was never the case with Manny. He would mirthfully bob up and down in the ring before a fight, his facial expression glazed in concentration, yes, but not with the menacing and antagonizing stare that encompasses the expressions of so many a pugilist.
