By Manoj Bhat, Ringside Report
At a time when Floyd Mayweather is begging for recognition from fellow Americans, the unbiased boxing fan has lots of reason for getting polarized towards a small pocket sized dynamite that has over the years emerged as the human face of boxing across the world. If this trend continues as it seems likely to – chances are that future boxing will be identified into two distinct eras; one before Manny Pacquiao and the other after Manny Pacquiao hung his gloves.
Recently while travelling in Asia, I came across a Filipino family in transit. It was only a matter of time that the discussions crossed over to Manny Pacquiao and one could feel the tone and the spirit of the conversation change. Coming from a small third world country craving for heroes with a certain degree of recognition, this reaction was very normal. What was not normal was the conversation that followed. The lady of the family had been very quiet but that all changed at the point when Manny’s name was mentioned. What touched me was the intensity of support that the lady exhibited for this icon but what surprised me more was when I asked her if she liked boxing and her response was a big NO.
What is it that makes Manny Pacquiao such an attraction? What is it that makes Manny Pacquiao so likeable? What is it that makes Manny Pacquiao so intriguing and popular? Why is he so different? A deep look into these aspects tell us that the popularity of most of our sporting icons actually depends a lot on how the women of the house accept them. It is their acceptance that actually allows the TV remote to stay put on a Saturday night Prime time and despite the fact that most men would not want to agree, it is this acceptance that makes the sporting event enjoyable to watch at home. This automatically leads to the next big question. What is it that makes Manny Pacquiao what he is today and why do the women love him so much?
I asked this question to the lady among the above mentioned Filipino friends just to see if there was any logic at all in this emotion. Hardly did I realize that I had just poked the bee hive that a woman’s heart is. Manny Pacquiao seems to fit into the definition of the perfect man by the standards used to measure masculinity. Pointing at her 4 year old, she said that she’d love her son to be like Manny – a reaction I reckon not far fetched considering that it would mean a millionaire in economic terms. Her reasons however hardly had an economic twist and it was only then that the profoundness of this support dawned on me and pushed me to analyze this persona.
Manny as a son – a lot has been written about Manny’s past. Supporting a huge family even as a kid working on a construction site or putting his life on the edge in the dirty fights sounds dangerous but is hardly a reflection of the thousands of kids across the world that actually perish every year under these circumstances. Manny is resilient and a born survivor to say the least. This article is to understand why a mother would want her son to be a Manny Pacquiao, a sister have a brother like Manny and a society have a citizen like him.
The ever so respectful son that is on record to have consulted his mother, even at this stage of his career, used to bring the small change that he used to earn from his fights and put it on the family table not long ago. Imagine a small kid taking up the responsibility that the head of the house usually would be expected to stand up for.
Even as a teenager, the family was a priority for Manny and Saturday nights for him were important dates to keep. As other teenagers went out on dates to have fun, Manny would keep his dates with the survival of his kin putting his life at risk every time he entered those ruthless fights. Bruised and battered, the young boy would come home to put food on the table week in and week out. It is only natural that every mother in this world would want a son like Manny.
Manny as a brother – “the way Manny Pacquiao fights makes me feel that he is defending me against a roadside ruffian” was the quote of another lady I happened to discuss Manny with. He takes on bigger, meaner and more dangerous opponents without caring for his own safety. “The way he hits feels like he is practically telling the other guy – how dare you tease this girl. He makes you feel safe. I would love to have a brother like Manny.” Well, I wouldn’t know much about that feeling safe thing but it’s true that Manny Pacquiao has given the feeling of assurance to fans, followers as well as all those who bet on him. The grins that cross his face at the end of most rounds are perhaps reassuring to all those who support him as they know that Manny is safe and in control of the proceedings.
Manny as a friend – well this is one list that millions of people would love to find their names in. I am no exception either. Imagine the huge bills that Manny picks for his friends while on tour. With the riches that his career has brought him, Manny has helped his friends invest and grow in their lives over the years. This guy has no fear and treats money with disdain.
Here I feel compelled to compare him with the “Money” flaunting Floyd Mayweather whose obsession for money has degraded him despite being an equally talented boxer. His recent demand for 100 million only seems to show that this is not a price for appearing in the ring but the price tag for loosing the unbeaten record. Combine this with the recession in America and you feel pity for such a heartless maniac. Manny Pacquiao on the other hand however has always earned his money and spent it on his friends and countrymen in a manner that makes him easily the friendliest person to be with in the world.
Manny as a charmer – with his soft style and gracious mannerism that neatly wraps and almost hides the fighter in him, Manny Pacquiao has all the charms that make women feel weak in the knees. Talented and involved, his singing and dancing passion makes him the most desired sportsman in the world today. The fact that he keeps his wife by his side most of the time reflects how he respects the family ties. It is natural that any woman in the world would love to be close to such a humble yet passionate athlete.
In a sport where men have been traditionally aggressive even to the women, where Muhammad Ali’s divorces, Mike Tyson’s rape conviction, Holyfield’s three wives and Floyd Mayweather’s wife beating is almost a norm, Manny Pacquiao comes as a pleasant change that brings respect to the game. This in fact is one of the many reasons that the sport of boxing has started getting the attention even from the previously uninterested quarters.
Manny as a social servant – this is by far the aspect of Manny’s legacy that would be unmatched for a long long time. The compassionate young man who cared less for the fight at hand while helping the flood victims of Manila is an image that oozes love and respect from all walks of life. The spirit of this young warrior has touched the hearts of not only the down trodden of Manila but also the rich and influential across the globe. If he gets invited to the fundraising or to the white house, it is because the genuine human being inside Manny is being respected and appreciated across nations, cultures, religious groups, languages and all such manmade boundaries. There is a long record of the fact that the rebels in South Philippines maintain an unannounced ceasefire whenever Manny Pacquiao fights and it is only a matter of time that Filipinos will embrace peace and progressiveness once Manny decides to fight for their cause.
It is inevitable that when Manny decides to be ready for the highest office in his country, we would be seeing him hold the keys to the Presidential palace. Politics and its dirty horse-trading aside, there is hardly a logical reason why he should not occupy this coveted seat and direct his country on the road of development.
The recent radio interview by Floyd is a true reflection of the state in which we find our champion boxers today. If you are a true FMJ fan like I used to be, I suggest lets all stop asking him to fight Manny Pacquiao. He is really in no shape mentally for such an eventuality and instead coerces him to being just a better human being. Manny never put a price tag on his entry to the ring but chances are that he may end up earning more than a 100 million through the fights and the sponsorships even without Mayweather whereas FMJ may never get to see the figure he has dared to dream about. Will someone please make him understand that it is not all about shouting that you are the best but by taking small assured steps that lead you to be accepted as the best?
Source:
ringsidereport.com
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is scheduled to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport, on Philippine Airlines
flight PR 102 on Saturday at 8:05 p.m. PT. Pacquiao and trainer, world-famous Freddie Roach, will begin the intensive final four weeks of training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., preparing for Manny’s defense of his WBO welterweight title against three-division world champion Sugar Shane Mosley.
