Can Manny Pacquiao Win Be Justified?

Can Manny Pacquiao Win Be Justified?

For Manny Pacquiao, it wasn’t a post-fight press conference. It was an interrogation. The questions kept coming, one after the other.

Why don’t you fight Floyd Mayweather Jr.? Can this fight happen? Does it bring boxing down that you’re not able to face the best in the sport? Why are we not seeing you fight Floyd Mayweather? Pacquiao, who had just won a tough unanimous decision over Tim Bradley for the WBO welterweight title, turned to his promoter, Bob Arum, and either was unable to field an answer or was exasperated by the inquiry because he remained silent. Arum leaned into the microphone and fired away in Pacquiao’s defense.

Arum and Pacquiao were asked earlier whom they would fight next. Arum objected to that question, too, saying it was premature, since it was too soon after the fight. Arum eventually spilled the name Juan Manuel Marquez, who will face Mike Alvarado on May 17. There was a collective shrug among the media. If that happens, it will be the fifth fight between Pacquiao (56-5-2) and Marquez (Pacquiao is 2-1-1 after he was knocked out in the sixth round in 2012 by Marquez). And that’s the problem. Due to a cold war between Pacquiao’s promoters (Top Rank) and Mayweather’s promoters (Golden Boy), the options are limited for Pacquiao.

Top Rank and Golden Boy refuse to do business, so it’s unlikely a Pacquiao Mayweather fight will ever happen. But Mayweather isn’t the only inviting opponent for Pacquiao. Golden Boy also promotes talented fighters such as Danny Garcia, Amir Khan and Maidana. They would all be intriguing matchups for Pacquiao, but those fighters are unavailable because of the ongoing turf war. So it’s probably the winner of Alvarado-Marquez for Pacquiao. Arum was left grasping at straws at the post-fight presser on Saturday, tossing up wild ideas for how to make a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather a reality. His latest strategy was to urge fans to boycott Mayweather’s bout with Maidana, to basically shame Mayweather into acquiescing to face Pacquiao.

The only people that can make Floyd Mayweather fight Manny is the public, if they boycott the nonsense on May 3, Arum said. That’s what the public should do. We are prepared tomorrow to sit down at the table with his people to work out the conditions for the fight.

 

[Swaswati Borpuzari]

Manny Pacquiao, a name synonymous with boxing greatness, has consistently been a subject of debate and admiration in the sports world. As he has progressed through his illustrious career, the question of whether his wins can be justified has often been raised, especially in the context of his later fights. Pacquiao's ability to compete at the highest level well into his 40s is a testament to his physical prowess and mental fortitude, but it also invites scrutiny. Critics argue that his victories in recent years, particularly against younger and potentially less experienced opponents, may be attributed to his legendary status and the psychological impact that can have on his adversaries. However, supporters contend that Pacquiao's technical skill, ring intelligence, and strategic acumen continue to set him apart, making his wins well-earned and justified. The debate is further complicated by the subjective nature of boxing, where outcomes can be influenced by a myriad of factors, including the performance of the judges and the specific conditions of each fight. Ultimately, whether Manny Pacquiao's wins can be justified depends on one's perspective, but there is no denying that his contributions to the sport and his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time are secure.