Just who is this guy, Manny Pacquiao?
He's every little guy's hero in this world of bullies, because he has this habit of beating the hell out of bigger guys. That's who he is.
Well, come on, didn't you see the job he did on Mexico's Antonio Margarito, an almost-6-footer who is no chump in his own right?
Just for the record, Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex., Pacquiao entered the ring weighing a neat 144 pounds, while Margarito - after making 150 pounds at the weigh-in - bulked up to a robust 165 by fight time.
As soon as the bout started, it was amazingly apparent that the difference in weight would have nothing to do with the outcome. Nor did the 4-inch height advantage Margarito had over this brash "Philippine Piston."
All right, are you getting a bit of the picture? You want more, like how good is he as a fighter?
Here it is, and you can quote: This is one hell of a fighter, the likes of which I haven't seen since Willie Pep and Sugar Ray Robinson. Yes, those two whom I've always regarded as the best ever.
High praise? Once again, Yes, indeed, fight fans.
For those who did not see the Pay-Per-View contest Saturday night, watch it next week on HBO.
You will see what I saw: By the second round, Pac already had figured out how to beat this big man, who had his right hand cocked to throw at an unprotected chin. Never happened. Nearly every time Margarita threw that right, Pac, with his shifty, inventive head moves, eluded the punch - the same one Margarito had used to score 27 knockouts.
It seemed so natural for Pac - every time Margarito would miss, like a flash came two pumps of Pac's right to Margarito's jaw, followed by a nice left half-hook, half-uppercut. Those were the kind of moves Pep and Robby used to make. To the eyes of a fight buff, it was an artful and beautiful performance.
Round by round, the slaughter continued. There was no way I could give Margarito even one round. If the officials gave him one, they had to be kind-hearted souls who felt sorry for the beat-up fighter who ended a bloody mess, with both eyes almost closed. It was a complete shutout.
With every good - let's make that, great - fighter there are always comparisons. It goes way back to Jack Dempsey: Was he as good or better than Joe Louis? Was Joe Louis better than Muhammad Ali or Rocky Marciano? Who really was the greatest? Was it Ali?
Some fight guys might say Ali, but most still won't hand him that special title. The thing in boxing is that when the greats are compared, it always winds up in some kind of a fierce barroom argument.
Baseball fans can say that Babe Ruth was the best ballplayer who ever lived, and there can't be too much of a discussion about it. But in boxing, where there are so many styles connected to exceptional fighters, the tag "best of all time" becomes subjective. I knew a boxing expert who went way back who vowed: "I've seen them all and I maintain that Harry Greb was the best fighter that ever lived."
So now we have a gym full of great lightweights - we'll just stick with this division for now - to compare with Pacquiao. Take these:
Is he as good or better than: Tony Canzoneri? My opinion - better. Barney Ross? Better. Roberto Duran? As good or even better.
What about Henry Armstrong, who held three titles at the same time? Wasn't he in the same class in throwing punches in multitudes? Didn't Armstrong fight somewhat like Pacquiao?
My answer: No. They are different fighters. While Armstrong would bury his head into his opponent's chest, firing lefts and rights to the body and head, Pacquiao is a thinking, deliberate puncher who rarely misses. I see Pac as the better fighter.
I'm going to wind this up by asking myself this question: Okay, Mr. Boxing Man, are you telling me this Philippine Dynamo is the best you have ever seen?
Yes, in a very long time. And he might just be the man who will eventually put boxing back in the upper deck of sports.
Believe me, this kid who aspires to be big in Philippine politics, with his perpetual smile and special brand of punching ability, is indeed the goods.
bgallo@nydailynews.com
Source: nydailynews.com
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