Aside from the ongoing NBA Finals, the talk of sports-town everywhere I go, or at least the question most often fielded is what I think about Manny Pacquiao’s comeback.
Just in case you have been hiding under the rock these past few weeks, Manny is penciled to fight Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight belt on July 24 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
WHY. Well, your guess is as good as mine. We can think of a million reasons, pun intended , but the better “why” to ask should be “why is he getting a title shot?”
Now that’s a good question as Manny has been inactive since 2021 where he lost to Yordenis Ugas via unanimous decision.
Well, apparently the WBC thinks if you are a big name fighter, you can leapfrog your way to a title shot over everybody else via speed dial and you can’t get any bigger than Manny Pacquiao in the boxing world.
Now, this throws meritocracy out the window and this is why professional boxing usually gets a bad rep and is often referred to as the red light district of sports.
But I am not complaining my fellow Last Rounders.
Anytime we get to see our living legend on top of the ring is an opportunity we may never see once again and as I have said before, I will never begrudge a man’s opportunity to earn a payday for himself and his family.
Yes, he’s now a politician, but he’s going to earn every dollar for this one through blood, sweat and tears.
BUT. That being said, I am not very hopeful about his chances here. I can very well understand why Pacquiao’s team targeted Barrios. He’s bigger and taller, but he’s slow and heavy on the front foot. He’s easy to hit and will always be in front of Manny, bringing the action.
This type of opponent Manny always does well against. He’s like a smaller but lousier version of Antonio Margarito at the latter’s prime.
But the last time Manny was on top of a ring, which was an exhibition bout against a Japanese K-1 fighter named Rukiya Anpo, he looked old and slow.
Parading a heavier midsection around the ring, Manny looked gassed at times and the taller, stronger Anpo landed several solid punches which caused Manny’s face to swell.
Sure, Manny demonstrated he could hold his own against a younger opponent, but remember Anpo wasn’t even a professional boxer.
TIME. Again, we all know father time is undefeated. There have been other fighters who made successful comebacks and I think Manny is the type who stays active and exercises during his free time. But does he have enough left? Me thinks not. But I hope I am wrong.
LAST ROUND. It’s on my UP Latagaw Brod, Atty. Pete Salva who recently celebrated his birthday. Cheers!