The fight upon which Pacquaio should have retired, and upon which his legacy should have depended, was the Mayweather fight in 2015. Sadly, Manny's performance against Mayweather was so disappointing that rather than cement his legacy, it merely confirmed that he was a pale imitation of the machine that used roll over his opponents one after the other. The attempt to excuse his performance with the claim he was carrying a shoulder injury picked up in training camp, well, let's just say that it was akin to witnessing superman blaming his failure to save the world on a sore finger.
In truth is Manny Pacquiao's glory days were over well before 2015. His reign as one of the greats of his era came to a shuddering end at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez, his ring nemesis, in the sixth round of their fourth meeting on December 8, 2012, when the Filipino southpaw walked into the kind of right hand that ends careers, in some cases lives, in an instant. The sight of him lying inert on the canvas afterwards is not one that makes a strong case for professional boxing being considered a legitimate sport.Not that there was any shame in losing to Jean Manuel Marquez. On the contrary, the Mexican was the one fighter who had Pacquiao’s number and he arguably should have won three of their four fights. Instead he lost two, drew one and won the last. They fought 42 rounds in total, which count among the most competitive ever fought in the sport.
But Pacquiao’s career cannot be judged by the Marquez fights alone. In his prime he was, as said, a ferocious fighting machine who combined frightening and fearsome power with relentless aggression. His partnership with Freddie Roach at Roach's famed Wildcard Gym in Hollywood saw them both reach the heights in their respective trades; Pacquiao recording some immense performances that will be held up as examples of excellence in years to come. The golden period of his career took place between 2006 and 2009, when the fighter affectionately known as Pacman was invincible, dispatching the likes of Erik Morales, Jorge Solis, Marco Antonio Barrera, David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. His popularity reached a new level of superstardom, especially back in The Philippines, where he was a national hero. A backstory made up of a childhood spent in extreme poverty in General Santos City only cemented his status as a people’s champion, the most meaningful title that any fighter could ever hope to achieve.
In this regard Pacquiao never forgot his beginnings or those he left behind, donating a huge proportion of his wealth to helping the poor in a country he never left behind. Indeed, though he could have opted to leave The Philippines behind for the glitz and comfort of a gated community in the Hollywood Hills, Pacquiao spent most of his time there and, of course, went into politics in order to serve his people.
Everyone knows the Mayweather fight should have happened six years before it finally did, when they were both at their peaks. The ocean of bad blood between Mayweather and his old promoter, Bob Arum, who oversaw Pacquiao’s career, ensured it never did, leaving a gap in their records that was only filled in 2015. The fight, when it came, was a crushing anti-climax, involving a way below par Pacquiao failing to force his opponent out of second gear. Regardless, despite his poor performance against Floyd, Pacquiao’s career possessed more meaning for more people than Mayweather’s ever could.
Unlike a fighter who consistently outdid himself in plumbing the depths of vulgarity in flaunting his wealth, Pacquiao fought for the have nots — the legion of migrants who make up the cleaners, valets, busboys and day labourers in the land of the free, those who exist on the flip side of the Vegas Strip, with its swanky hotels, casinos and restaurants.
Every time he stepped into the ring the Filipino carried their hopes and dreams, providing them with a temporary respite from their worries and woes, allowing them to enjoy the vicarious thrill of a champion who was of them and like them being exalted and respected in a culture in which their existence was barely acknowledged much less respected.
The Filipino champion was a symbol of pride in a world of injustice.
In this regard his greatness is unsurpassed and is why, though I wish him well, I will not be able to bring myself to watch his comeback fight against Jessie Vargas in November. As Smokin' Joe Frazier said, "Life doesn't run away from nobody. Life runs at people." Sadly, life, once so sweet, is now running at Manny Pacquaio.
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