THE trouble with us is, we want Manny Pacquiao to always win. If not by knockout, by a rout as in his foe getting battered, bewildered and bedridden if need be.
If neither one has not happened, resulting in Pacquiao merely snatching a points decision win, we become disgruntled spectators like in Rome’s old Colosseum expecting nothing less than blood and gore in a man-versus-lion duel.
What have we become, a bunch of masochists? Ignoring reality just to cloak our greed for the insane?
And so, for us, Pacquiao’s 2-1 judges’ decision over Keith Thurman was bland, almost a tasteless, unsalted, slab of wagyu, if not kobe.
That win was almost a photocopy of Pacquiao’s points victory over Adrien Broner in January, when the slaughterhouse was near, yet so far away.
OK, Pacquiao almost knocked Thurman out in the first round after flooring the American with a right flash to the face.
But because of the fight’s infancy, Thurman quickly got up as his stamina and energy shored up by scientific training evidently shielded him from an early exit.
Still, we wanted nothing from that fight but for Pacquiao to eventually score a knockout.
Even if Thurman was a world champion himself. Strong. Wily. Skillful.
Even if Thurman was unbeaten in 30 fights, with 22 KOs.
Even if Thurman was, at 30, younger by 10 years.
Have we forgotten that Pacquiao is 40, the shadows lengthening rapidly? That in just a few steps away and he is rocking-chair bound?
It was as clear as black hair turning white in due time: Pacquiao’s knees visibly tweaking from the sixth round onwards. No one can elude Father Time. Not even Einstein.
The win over Lucas Matthysse, the one before Broner and Thurman, kneeling repeatedly even before getting hit, spoke volumes of Pacquiao being handed a gift on a silver platter.
Actually, we’ve subjected Pacquiao to gut-grinding situations in his last three fights, egging him on each time to win by knockout.
Weren’t we being unfair, in self-denial even?
Let’s be honest, fellas. Let’s have him retired.
A manifesto for that might do it.