WITHOUT so much hugging and dancing unlike his last fight against Floyd Mayweather, the results of the punch match at the MGM Grand Area with Timothy Bradley was clear. Manny Pacquiao won by unanimous decision.
The differences foe-wise were clearly noticeable. Bradley was clearly a bruiser. Having lost to only Manny Pacquiao in his professional career of 37 bouts, he threw 302 punches, 218 of which were considered power punches according to Compubox. Against the Pambansang Kamao, he stood toe to toe in an exciting slug fest.
Kudos Timothy Bradley!
During the Pacquiao-Mayweather last year, Compubox reported that Mayweather threw 435 punches against Manny Pacquiao, 168 of which were considered power punches. Only a paltry 168.
Manny-wise, Pacquiao was right on his legs, punched, took the punches and counterpunched. Bradley came to fight, fell and fell again.
No longer nursing a hurting shoulder, Manny threw a punch I’ve never appreciated until a replay in this match showed it clearly - a punch that missed Bradley’s face yet the same returning back like a boomerang to hit the same target in a small circular motion. Groovy!
This Manny Pacquiao was impressive considering the distractions caused by standing on 1Corinthians 6:9 as an expression of his faith months ago. In all, the sure entrant into the Boxing’s Hall of Fame threw 439 punches against Bradley, 201 of which Compubox considered power punches.
Congratulations, Manny Pacquiao!
Clearly, this match was the trademark Manny Pacquiao fight which the boxing world paid millions to witness but did not get. This was not the classic boxing exchange Mayweather wanted. His team called the evasion a clever strategy. Point taken. He cunningly refused to used to be drawn into the zone of Manny’s strengths.
A desperate Pacquiao may have wanted to pit his punches against Mayweather a year ago but Floyd had other things in mind. The best boxer in the world with the winningest record came to tango, hug and occasionally punched; and won the boxing match of the century.
After almost a year, Floyd you’re still a ho-hum.
Sponsor-wise, I did not find the intrusive swoosh anywhere on Manny’s garments after the Nike, the company terminated their agreement with the Pambansang Kamao for making so called derogatory remarks against same sex couples early this year.
In a way, the Filipino nation should consider a welcome sight that a “kababayan” is in the global stage for having overcome adversity in his life and for having demonstrated world class skills in boxing.
Manny Pacquiao has made himself a brand name in the same breadth as any other brand and he is a blue blooded and natural born Filipino.
Manny Pacquiao may not be an undergraduate of any university such as University of Pennsylvania or a graduate of Wharton’s Graduate School of Economics but in a unique and mystical way, he holds a degree of a different kind from the University of Hard Knocks.
He did not earn his degree under the tutelage of lettered professors or under the prestigious seal of a fabled Ivy League institution but under the grace of an unseen hand which power has escaped most of us.
His unusual success confounds many hallowed degrees and traditional paradigms of success. Surely, this is a wonder for most to comprehend.
In this match against Bradley, the world saw emblazoned on Manny’s blue shirt a message and the name he has grown to be fond of. No, no longer Nike. Manny’s is not perfect but is like countless who embrace the name who are being perfected.
Yes, those who are willing are still being transformed.
He is unashamed to declare the greatest brand name which many apostles have boldly preached; countless martyrs had died for; and several religions and kings have been threatened to extinguish for centuries.
Although rejected one of the biggest global brands and the so called righteous liberals of our days, Manny has overcome by the same skill set which he used to deal with previous adversities and impossibilities in his life. He did not get to the center stage from nothing to become a global icon without the necessary character, resolve and determination.
The difference between then and now is the increasing experience of being drawn into the Light from the words he reads. He is slowly being transformed into an unwitting spokesman of the biggest brand name which had shaped him and which he has come to love, the name of his Savior, his Lord and his God – JESUS, the Name of the LORD.
Goodbye Nike.