pga issue 12 pacman pages 1, 4-21

8/3/2019 PGA issue 12 Pacman pages 1, 4-21

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Special Double Issue

T h e M a g a z i n e f o r o v e r s e a s f i l i p i n o s

Special Double Issue ISSN NO. 1908 - 3335

Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey,

A Most Significant Fight


2/19


Manny Pacquiaovs.

Joshua Clottey,a most significant fightBy Victoria V. Ferro

Cover Story


3/19


The Fight That Was Not

The whole world seemed to brace in excitement or

the one o the greatest ghts in history. Te two

claimants to the highest honor in pugilism, the pound

or pound boxing crown, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd

Mayweather Jr. were to have battled it out this March.

But when the Mayweather camp unleashed accusations

that Pacquiao took perormance enhancing drugs to help

him gain weight quickly (rom 106 to 147) to eectively

demolish opponents in progressively higher weight classes,

the Pacquiao camp was more than piqued.

Manny Pacquiao, who has never shown anything but

respect towards his opponents outside the ring, was, or

the rst time that trainer Freddie Roach had ever seen him,

enraged. Te unounded accusations o the Mayweather

camp threatened to permanently sully Pacquiaos good

name and challenged his honor in the sport o boxing.

Pacquiao, who has never tested positive or a drug test,

reused to give in to Mayweather Jr.s demand that he

take the Olympic style o drug testing, citing previous

experiences o weakening rom the drawing o blood a mere

hours beore a ght. Pacquiao has never been questioned

on this aspect, why did the Mayweathers question him

now, only months beore the much vaunted ght?

Scores o boxing analysts, pundits and ans rom all over

the world debated and discussed the riveting drama. Most

boxing analysts seemed to say the same thing. Mayweather

doesnt want to risk marring his perect record o no deeats.

Mayweather is araid to ght Pacquiao. Te accusations,

they say, are mere ploys, tactics to stop or stall the ght.

Tey called Mayweather Jr. a coward or worse, and many

expressed themselves by creating digital art portraying him

as such and prolierating it on the internet.

Te worst Pacquaio would say was, I guess hes not

ready or the ght. A statement, which in the humility and

meekness o its expression, showed that despite the erce

public attack on his character, the champion would not

go down to their level. His gentle demeanor and reusal to

verbally counterattack notwithstanding, Pacquiao would

not take this sitting down. He led a lawsuit against the

Mayweather camp, the serious nature o which was made

public when the actual documents propagated on the

Internet. He will be satised with nothing less than complete

legal and public exoneration. He was going to make them

pay with their substance in government courts.

Manny Pacquiao with Bob Arom, Joshua Clottey and the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders


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alks or the ght stalled.

Bob Arum o op Rank

Productions was let high and

dry with a March 13 ght

date but an empty slot or

the opponent o worlds top

pugilist. Enter a ghter o

relative obscurity: Te Ghananative Joshua Clottey, aka, the

Grandmaster.It took some time or the

global boxing community to

somewhat get over the act that

the colossal ght between the

two pound or pound kings

would not happen at this time

but get over it they did, at

least or now, partly because

it became increasingly clear

that a Pacquiao ght against

the never-been-knocked out

Arican warrior Clottey is not

one to trivialize. Clotteys 3

career losses are considered

by many boxing mavens as

inconsequential. His rst

loss to Baldomir was due to

disqualication because o

Clotteys head butts. His 2nd

loss is not taken seriously

because his opponent Margarito

was discovered as having cheated opponents by loading

his sts beore a ght. Clottey lost to Miguel Cotto by

split decision in his last ght, an outcome which many

boxing pundits thought could have gone either way. Some

eel Clottey, who came out o the Cotto ght relatively

unscathed should have won that ght. Indeed Joshua

Clottey considers himsel virtually undeeated.

In act Clottey could be the most dangerous opponent

that the Pacman has ever aced. With an extremely t,

nely chiseled body that looks like it was cast in black

marble, Clottey is bigger, taller and arguably stronger than

Pacquiao. Clottey who at weigh in day can come in at the

welterweight catch weight o 147 lbs., has been known to

show up on ght night a whopping 20 lbs heavier, which

is a lot more brawn that Pacquaio may have to contend

with. Clottey is known to have one o the strongest

deensive arsenal in boxing. He is able to protect his ace

and body by keeping his arms up, elbows close to his waist,

proving to be a near impenetrable high guard in his past

ghts. He also has a strong oensive arsenal, including

a potentially lethal upper cut. Moreover, Clottey has a

wingspan or reach a ull 3 inches longer than Pacquaios.

He can be a powerul and aggressive body puncher. He is

blessed with an incredibly strong chin that can take some

o the toughest punches, Clottey is also a durable ghter,

with strength and stamina enough that lets him go the

distance with the rounds and yet never get knocked out.

Not yet anyway.

Why Clottey Is Doubly Dangerous

What makes Clottey even more dangerous is his

history o ghting dirty. He has been known or low

blows, head banging or head butting, and holding tactics

in past ghts. In act it was his head butting action that cut

terrible gashes above the eyebrow o Puerto Rican Miguel


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Cotto that bled prousely during their ght, later requiring

20 stitches. Clotteys head butts injured Baldomir with

cuts as well. Joaquin Henson, sports analyst at Philstar.

com also mentions that sometimes it seems Clottey has

blades in his gloves that can really cut up an opponent.

Henson calls Clottey an instinctively dirty ghter that

may be traced to approaches he learned growing up in a

brawl-rich shing town in Ghana, surviving the streets by

boxing and ghting rom a very young age. Henson recalls

that when Flash Elorde ought Ghana ghter Lav Eloti in

the 1960s at the Araneta Coliseum, the Arican resorted

to headbutting, hitting below the belt and holding, dirty

tactics reminiscent o Clotteys. Henson predicts that

Clottey will be disqualied in the ght with Pacquiao due

to dirty tactics.

And since Clottey elt he was robbed o the title in

his ght with Cotto, the ght with Pacquiao is his chance

to vindicate himsel and to make it as an elite champion,

strongly motivating him to win. He considers

it great blessing come upon him to ght against

Pacquiao. It is his chance to bring hope and

inspiration to his country, the struggling Arican

nation o Ghana, and provide a better lie or

his 10 year old daughter, Zeenat, who resides

there. Clottey is doubly dangerous because he

is motivated to do whatever it takes because ohis searing hunger to win.

Pacman in Phenomenal Shape

Freddie Roach is not very much concerned

however. He and conditioning coach, Alex

Ariza, say Manny is in phenomenal shape, the

best shape o his career to date. His handspeed

and ootspeed are blazingly ast, aster than

ever. Roach says Pacquiaos speed will neutralize

Clotteys dirty tactics. He says Clottey will not

nd Manny in close proximity. As with past

Pacquaio opponents, Clottey will not know

where the Pacmans punches are coming rom.

His strength level is tremendously high, with

Pacquiao oten doing more than the exercises

and rounds required by his trainers. Ater

winning 7 titles in 7 weight divisions, Roach is

amazed that his ward Pacquiao is still a ravenous

ghter, outtraining every other ghter with his

extreme ocus, indeatigable work ethic and

strong discipline, showing erce determination

not only in deending his welterweight title, but

also in giving his beloved ans a great show on March 13th.

Many boxing experts consider the Pacman a ully realized

ghter, a thinking ghter with a complete boxing arsenal

and the ability to plot strategy, like no other ghter in the

world today, and yet incredibly, Manny Pacquiao is still

not done improving his game. Te Fighter o the Decade

continues to get better, aster and stronger. He has not yet

nished peaking at the age o 31.

And unlike the predictions beore the Oscar De La

Hoya ght, which were overwhelmingly or the soon to

be demolished Golden Boy, this time the overwhelming

majority o pundits and analysts predict a Pacman triumph,

with several saying that Pacman will win not by knockout,

but only by decision with the ght going the distance o

12 rounds.

Freddie Roach is so impressed with Pacquiaos progress

in training however that he predicts Pacquiao will knock

out Clottey in the 6th or 7th round instead o the 9th or


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10th round that he originally predicted.

Lenny de Jesus, Clotteys trainer and ormer cutman

or Pacquiao or 6 ghts in the 90s says he has the key

to deeat Pacquiao. He did not eel he needed to look at

Pacquiao ght tapes to prepare Clottey or the ght because

he claims he already has Pacquiaos style so indelibly in

his mind. Boxing analysts say however that Pacquiao is a

much evolved ghter rom the days Lenny De Jesus servedas his cutman and would be advised to take a look at some

tapes. Nevertheless De Jesus experience serving as cutman,

trainer and other corner roles in boxing or the last 40 years

cant be dismissed. His expertise and counsel combined

with Clotteys strengths may make or a substantial threat

against the Pacman on ght day. In an unpredictable sport

such as boxing, the possibility o an upset on ght day cant

be discounted.

So March 13, 2010 promises to be an unorgettable

historic banner day or the sport, not only because the

ght is shaping up to be a truly exciting one between two

o the worlds top welterweight ghters but also because o

the radical upgrade in venue.

The $1.2billion Glass and Steel Colossus

Jerry Jones, owner o the Dallas Cowboys NFL

American ootball team is the billionaire behind the

construction o the Cowboys Stadium, the 111,000 seater,

glass and steel architectural colossus, the largest Dome

Stadium in the world. He had just built the gigantic

top o the line structure or a whopping $1.2 billion

dollars completed May 27, 2009. In order to sustain the

buildings business model, Jones needs to attract the most

vastly popular, highest ticket events and attractions. Tis

is why when the Pacman-Mayweather ght was still in the

ong, Jones bid $25million or the ght, I wanted that

ght worse than my next breath.

When the Pacquiao-Mayweather ght ell through,

Jones still bid $7million or the Pacman-Clottey. He says

his main interest is really drawing the Pacman to ght

in the Cowboys Stadium. He says having a boxer with

the caliber and stature o Pacquiao ght in the Cowboys

Stadium would be the only tting boxing debut or the

house the Jerry built. Said Jones, Te events or [Cowboys

Stadium] have to be big; thats why I was so interested in

Manny Pacquiao, Jones said. Manny Pacquiao being the

superb ghter, athlete, person that he is, thats the kind o

competitor you want in the stadium.

Tink about it. Te Las Vegas Mandalay Bay venue can

seat lets say about 12,000 people. Cowboys Stadium can seat

almost 10 times that number. Te lowest ticket price or a

Las Vegas seat is $150. Te lowest ticket price or a Cowboys

Stadium seat or the upcoming ght is only $50! Tink how

much more accessible to boxing ans such a venue would be.

No bad seats

Not only are prices more accessible, the action will

be viscerally experienced by live audiences more than in

other venues because o stunningly clear images that will

be projected on the enormous 11, 520 square eet (160 t

wide, 72 t long) high denition digital video screen that

is housed inside the Stadium. It is the worlds largest HD

digital video screen made up o about 30 million pixels o

crystal clear HD. Nicknamed Jerryron, the screen will

display live ght action like never beore in boxing history.

Te screen, which can be adjusted in height will be placed40 eet above the ring on Saturday or the live audiences

optimal viewing experience. Imagine Pacquiaos ace alone

taking up as much as 75 eet o the screen during the ght.

Every punch, the sound o blows hitting muscle, every

grimace and acial expression heightened and experienced

by the use o this stunning technology.

Pacquiao is in act tremendously energized by the

venue and is excited to ght in the stadium that Jerry built.

Indeed it seems much o the energy that may have been

drained by the negativity o the Mayweather debacles has

been largely oset by the tremendous positive energy o

having the Pacman ght in the Cowboys Stadium.

Pacquiao and the NFL

Indeed the lavish press conerence held at the Stadium

that welcomed the ghters and announced the ght

on March 12, 2010 made Pacquiao eel like a ootball

player. Pacquiao walked out o the dug out amidst the


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stylish eects o a og machine and the iconic Dallas

Cowboys Cheerleaders fanking the Pacman on either side,

enthusiastically cheering and waving their pompoms. Even

Ryan Seacrest o American Idol says that Dallas is his avorite

audition location because o the presence o these beautiul

cheerleaders. Pacquiao was introduced in a ceremony o

pomp and circumstance worthy o the most honored NFL

player, and yet more utterly satisying and special becausePacquiao is not a NFL player but a once impoverished

Filipino who slept in cardboard boxes in the streets.

One might think Pacmans infuence is already

extraordinarily ar-reaching in and beyond the world

o boxing, yet here one sees the owner o the our-time

SuperBowl winning NFL Dallas Cowboys, themselves

mythic power symbols o mainstream Americana,

desperately wooing the ever humble Pacquiao to ght in

his colossal $1.3 billion rst class luxury venue so that it

may be put squarely on the boxing map. One can more

easily athom Hollywood royalty focking to the WildCard

Gym to watch Pacquiao train or watch his ghts, but

when could it ever be imagined that an NFL power player

billionaire like Jones would need Pacquiao (notice he

needed Pacquiao, not Mayweather) in such a bad way?

Such is the wonder and irony, that the rst superght

in the Cowboys Stadium is Manny Pacquiao versus JoshuaClottey, warriors rom two o the most economically

challenged countries and regions in the world, both o

whom have personally known poverty, would come to such

a point in their lives, that they are needed by the NFL,

and that the NFL would want to be their riends. Tis is

unprecedented and precious.

Jones, shrewd businessman that he is, proved to be

absolutely correct about Pacquiao. Te venue has nearly

sold out all 45,000 open tickets still 3 days away rom the


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0 Special Double Issue

event. A great number o Hispanic ans who are exas

residents are expected to make the drive to Arlington

or the main event. Tough dubbed Mexicutioner,Pacquiao is well loved by Hispanic ans because he is

simply a great ghter with a great heart. Pacquiaos

an base and popularity continues to cut through

boundaries.

Despite not being chosen to be covered by HBO

24/7 this time, the Pacquiao mystique continues to

grow as people observe how he makes choices or living.

He continued his tradition o a weight loss challenge to

his sta and riends, doing the weigh-ins himsel, and

personally gave away $200,000 in prize money to winners.

Te prelude to this ght had the Pacquiao team workingin greater harmony and rapport, with no more drama

between team members. Pacmans legendary workouts

and sparring sessions continue to be packed with visitors

but what is most ascinating is the telling smile on his

ace when he is doing the most rapid type o punching

combinations. Tis is one man who truly relishes what he

does with every powerul punch. Gossip and scandals about

Pacquiao have been silenced as the lovely Jinkee Pacquiao

has taken her place beside her man, and no other. Pacquiao

charmed and delighted his ans when he guested again in

Jimmy Kimmel live. Tey actually showed the trailer oWapakmanwhich may be the only instance that the entire

trailer o a Filipino movie has been shown on mainstream

American V. Pacquiao once again earlessly regaled his

ans with a song. Yahoo Sports V did an entire series o

exclusive video interviews with Pacquiao, one o which

eatured Manny doing a mini-concert playing guitar and

singing a Filipino song. Te Pacquiao Express ascinates

us as Pacquiao brought 170 o his closest riends through

a chartered plane because as he said gusto ko, sama sama

lahat. Much o this content would very unlikely see airing

or publication unless it be or Manny Pacquiao, whose verysimplicity, humility, aith in God, and great good humor,

is just all too authentic, and ultimately riveting to watch.

People tune in to see i this man is the real deal, and He is.

Tis authenticity only cements the perception o Pacquiaos

transcendence which one media pundit said in the HBO

30 minute ght preview Te Road to Dallasas what Jones

recognized, and what compelled him to invite Pacquiao to

ght there. Indeed Jones is already planning with op Rank

Productions Bob Arum to hold uture Pacquiao ghts in

the Cowboys Stadium, the next one tentatively scheduled

or October/November 2010.

The Event, March 13, 2010

Bert Sugar, boxing historian, says Pacquiao is the

best Asian ghter o all time, and not just a ghter, but a

phenomenon. He also said I there is a ght to prove that

he (Manny Pacquiao) is a ull fedged welterweight, this is

it. Tis is also a ght to prove Mannys marketability on

his own as a name ticket, no GoldenBoy or Mayweathers.

Tis is also a banner ght in boxing history because almost

50,000 ans will be able to watch this ght live at close HDrange, in an opulent rst class building at aordable rates

creating an accessible visceral experience like any other,

with Pacquiao as its debut marquee name. Tis ght is the

rst one that is 100% supported by NFL representatives.

Tis ght is the rst one that more ully accommodates

Hollywood, the NFL as well as regular citizens into the

live venue. Tis ght has more signicance to Filipinos

everywhere than meets the eye. Dont miss it. P


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Ronnie Nathanielsz, veteran sports analyst who has

covered Pacquiaos boxing career since his early years, answers

questions about the Pacman-Clottey ght. He is chie

operating ocer o Viva Sports and broadcast journalist

or Viva Prime Channel, and regularly contributes boxing

news and eatures to top boxing website www.philboxing.

com.

On Floyd Mayweather:

Do you know the status o Pacmans lawsuit against

Mayweather? What is your take on the whole series o events?

It is still there and Bob Arum tells us, it will be pursued.

Hes got top notch lawyer Daniel Petrocelli handling the

lawsuit. Arum claims that Manny Pacquiao will not only

knock Floyd Mayweather, Jr. out in the ring, he will also

knock him out in court.

Prior to the ght between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and

Juan Manuel Marquez last October, I visited the oces

o Golden Boy Promotions in Los Angeles and in their

boardroom, CEO Richard Schaeer whom I considered a

riend told me quite surprisingly that he was sure Manny

Pacquiao was on perormance enhancing drugs.

O course when the story came out Schaeer denied he

said any such thing although he admitted that we met and

conrmed all the other details. He knows and I know that

he did level that allegation and the photo I took with him

ater our conversation says it all --- I had a glum look on

my ace but when I took a photo with Eric Gomez who

was in the oce at that time, just one minute later, we

were both smiling. In short, Schaeers accusation upset me

although I didnt say a thing at that time.

Have you tried to interview Mayweather and his camp? Did

they also push you away as he did to Chino rinidad and other

Filipino journalists?

I was in Los Angeles

and Las Vegas to cover

the ght or ABS-

CBN along with Dyan

Castillejo. I didnt

wish to interview

Mayweather but Dyan

did and in act sat next

to him on the ringapron. He was very

accommodating to her

I must coness.

It was the PR lady who

reused Chino rinidad

o GMA 7 and Joseph

Pimentel o ABS-CBN,

the two biggest networks in the Philippines with audiences

that run into millions. Mayweather lost an opportunity to

project himsel in a decent light but blew it and no matter

how this Swanson lady tries to deny the claim o Chino

and Joseph, just about everybody knows the lady is lying.

Has these events aected Pacman at all in terms o his training

and ocus or the Clottey fght?

Nothing aects Manny Pacquiao, least o all the

Mayweathers.

On the March 13, 2010 Pacman-Clottey fght:

As o today, Roach predicts a knock out against Clottey on the

7th-8th round (i Im not mistaken). Tis means he considers

Clottey a tougher opponent than Hatton or Cotto (whom he

predicted to be deeated in earlier rounds). Do you think

Clottey stands a chance against Pacquiao?

Joshua Clottey is a big, strong welterweight who by ght

time usually comes in at around 160 pounds although his

trainer/cutman Lenny De Jesus, a wonderul person and

Interview with Ronnie Nathanielsz

on the Pacman-Clottey FightBy Victoria V. Ferro

Ronnie Nathanielsz

Chie Operating Ofcer, Viva Sports


10/19


a good riend told me, he plans to have Clottey step into

the ring at around 155 pounds which will still give him a

substantial weight advantage over Pacquiao.

Clottey is harder to hit because o his deensive style with

both hands virtually covering his ace and head which

enables him to take many o his opponents punches on the

orearms or the gloves which in turn helps rustrate them

and wear them down.

Any ghter, especially a big strong ghter like Clottey

has a chance but not a good chance, especially i Manny

is in the kind o condition both trainer Freddie Roach

and conditioning expert Alex Ariza say he is in, which is

phenomenal.

I hear Pacquiaos condition is stellar and evenmore improved

rom last fght. Is this true?

Te break in-between the Cotto and Clottey ghts was

relatively short which means that Manny didnt really get

out o condition. Besides, he played a lot o basketball

which helped maintain his physical condition.

Who do you predict will will this fght?

I predict that Pacquiao will win but I doubt whether he will

be able to knock Clottey out. What I oresee is that with

his hand-speed, quick in-and-out movement and attacking

Clottey rom dierent angles he may at some stage hurt

him and throw so many punches that the reeree will stepin and call a halt or a KO victory.

Is there a peculiar signifcance to this particular fght beyond

Pacquiao deending his welterweight belt?

Pacquiao needs to put on a decidedly impressive

perormance to reinorce his status as the pound-or-pound

king and Te Fighter o the Decade. Beyond that a big

win will urther strengthen his bargaining position with

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. or Shane Mosley whoever wins on

May 1 and a ght between Pacquiao and the winner willbe a ght that will simply have to be made.

Is there any special signifcance with the act that the fght will

be ought in a new venue (exas)?

Te venue has rejuvenated Pacquiao. Its an awesome

site and a new challenge to Pacquiao whose rst most

memorable victory over Marco Antonio Barrera was at the

Alamadome in San Antonio, exas in November 2003.

exas is known or its bigness and Manny is the biggest

star in boxing today and i Jerry Jones who owns the Dallas

Cowboys Stadium plays his cards right, he may well score

a touchdown and make his stadium Te new Mecca o

Boxing replacing Las Vegas.

On Pacmans uture as fghter

Beore the Cotto fght, Pacman said in an interview that

he will have just three more fghts beore he retires so that

he can ocus on being with his amily and hopeully serving

the country in Congress. I so, with whom do you think will

Pacmans fnal fght will be?

Wining in the congressional elections may prove to be

harder than beating Joshua Clottey because Mannys

opponent represents a ormidable amily in Sarangani.

Win or lose I believe hell have one last go at getting a ght

with Mayweather i he wins as I believe he will or Mosley

should he win, beore retiring.

Any urther thoughts on Pacmans uture as a fghter? Do you

think the act that Pacman may never fght Mayweather may

mar his standing as arguably the greatest fghter o all time

(per Bob Arum)?

I the Mayweather ght doesnt materialize it wont

be Pacquiaos ault. Te blame will rest squarely with

Mayweather or, ater all, Manny agreed to random bloodtests 24 days beore the ght and immediately ater the

ght. So i hes on any perormance enhancing drugs, it

would surely show. Te entire blood testing issue and

the 14 day demand were Mayweathers way o avoiding

Pacquiao because he ears losing his unbeaten record. Its

as simple as that.

On Manny Pacquiaos Global Impact

What sort o impact has Pacquiao been making in the course

o the last ew months rom his triumph over Cotto to hispreparations or the March 13 Clottey fght?

Te Philippines has been blessed with a long line o great

champions rom Pancho Villa, Ceerino Garcia to Gabriel

Flash Elorde. But or all the champions that came and

went, there has never been a ghter o the caliber, the class

and the indomitable courage o Manny Pacquiao.

He has done more to redeem respect or the Philippines

and his countrymen than anyone else in our lietime.


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3Special Double Issue

Tere are two others who stand alongside him - the late

President Cory Aquino who was also on the cover o ime

Magazine in 1986 and the late Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, the

rst president o the UN General Assembly and ormer

Foreign Secretary.

He has crossed over rom being a mere ghter to being a

charismatic personality who has won the hearts o ghtans and the media who are oten hard to please by his

demeanor both in and outside the ring and his humility

which is remarkable considering he came rom the bowels

o poverty and has attained so much in lie.

He was superb on the Jimmy Kimmel show which is

extremely popular among young people. His recognition

by ime Magazine was an accolade well-deserved but

which means he will come under increasing public

scrutiny and must live by the highest standards o moral

and ethical conduct and must ensure that his integrity,

which is the quality o wholeness, must be unsullied. He

must strive with every ber in his body to live up to these

noble standards.

How do you think Pacquiao has evolved in the course o this

fght? Skills-wise, Strength-wise, and in other aspects o his lie

(managing his career), and wielding more power in making

deals, or example?He has grown rom strength to strength perhaps more

as a smart human being in a business sense rather than a

ghter. He has honed his skills, with the help o Roach, and

improved with every ght. He has moved up in weight andcarried it well due largely to the eorts o his conditioning

guru Alex Ariza. As or making deals, most o us hope he

would cut out the leeches that surround him and get one

trusted nancial adviser who would know how to invest

his evarnigs well because it is clear that his career is coming

to an inexorable end and my only hope is, hell retire a

champion.

What do you fnd personally most meaningul in your coverage

o Pacquiaos boxing career?

Its a tremendously satisying eeling to know that a poor

boy who started his boxing career on a show we produced

and oten anchored or several years, is the greatest Filipino

and Asian ghter o all-time. Tat Manny is unquestionably

one o the greatest ghters o our time is an incredible eat

and a supreme honor or the Philippines and in the twilight


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In the mid-90s, Manny Pacquiao was ar rom being

a household name. But wherever he went to ght, he

displayed the star quality that was to burst orth at the

turn o the century when he stepped on the international

stage and shocked the world with his dramatic conquests.

I was anchorman o the V show Blow by Blowwhere

Pacquiao cut his teeth in the rough and tumble world o

proessional boxing. Even in his teens, the Pacman was

already in his elements whenever he saw and heard the

adulation o the crowds.

And he invariably got it everywhere he went. Since

the television show was aired nationwide, true blue boxing

acionados in the countryside were already aware o the

electric atmosphere Pacquiao created whenever he ought.

When word came that he would be ghting in a boxing

card in the provinces, boxing ans would fock in droves to

catch a glimpse and eel the magic o the young man rom

General Santos.

And he rarely disappointed. Even i Manny Pacquiaos

style will never be described as a model or those who wish

to take up the sport, people are entertained by his erocity.

His wild and devil-may-care attitude when the bell rings

cannot be ound in any book or tutorial in boxing. But

the energy he exudes and the intensity o his purpose

invariably rubs o on the spectator, thereby drawing him

into his renetic dance o destruction and mayhem.

Te dance has caught on now and the whole world

gyrates maddeningly to its beat. As he goes through themost stellar names in the business systematically purging

their ranks, the Pacquiao ever continues to spread.

o say that Pacquiao eeds o the excitement o the

crowd would be an understatement. You see it the moment

he enters the arena. He immediately breaks into a wide

smile o child-like amazement as he takes in the cheers o

his adoring public, seemingly enraptured by the mania he

causes. Many a time, even new converts to pacmania are

shocked at the disparity in the attitude o Pacquiao and his

opponents as they enter the venue.

Manny always looks as i he comortable in the milieu,

amidst the din and conusion whereas his oes are tense and

take on the looks o a man being led to the gallows. And at

the end o the episode, the more relaxed and condent one

would emerge victorious.

Another acet that is sometimes ignored is Pacquiaos

religiosity. While some may deem it as a put-on, those

who know him are aware that he draws immense strength

rom it. Pacquiao truly believes that God listens to his

supplications and is on his side. Naturally, i you have

someone like that in your corner, nothing could possibly

go wrong.

Even in the most dicult o situations in the ring,Pacquiao turns to his God, condent that he will never be

turned down. Tus he is able to nd a way to wriggle out

o trouble. Tat is the kind o relationship he has with the

Supreme Being, one that is anchored on an unshakeable

aith that carries him through in the direst straits.

But Manny is no ool. He knows that God would

only side with him i he keeps his part o the deal. Tis is

The magic of

Manny PacquiaoBy Ed Picson


13/19


why his work ethic as he prepares or a ght is legend. His

outlook which he has articulated many times would do

any boxer well: kill yoursel in training and there wont be

any surprises come ght time.

Te serendipity o his landing in Freddie Roachs care

is almost eerie. It came at a time when Manny was at a

crossroads in his career. He had lost a championship and

was slowly getting back in contention but could not nd

suitable opponents in the region. Tat early, he already had

a reputation as a career-breaker and boxing managers were

wary o pitting their boys against such an unpredictable

and explosive oe.

So it was that his business manager at that time, the

late Rod Nazario decided to bring him to the United States

or some R&R to clear his head and ponder the uture.

Tey also looked around or a gym while there to keep

in shape and lucked in on Roach. Tere was immediate

chemistry between boxer and trainer and the proverbial

die was cast.

Fate was again ound smiling upon the wide-eyed boxer

in search o his rightul place in the boxing world. Ten

122-pound king Lehlo Ledwaba, a respected and eared

ghter, was scheduled to deend his title but his opponent

suddenly withdrew because o an injury a couple o weeks

beore the ght. Tey looked or an opponent who was not

supposed to spring any surprises but who might be able to

put up some sort o a ght.

Somehow they happened on Pacquiao-an awkward

ghter, yet no pushover but raw and unknown. He might

provide some entertainment but was not likely to pose a

threat.

O course, Pacquiao put the champion away by a

sensational knock out and a star was born. Not a superstar

yet, but a budding star in boxing circles, though not a ew

eyebrows were raised. Some called it a fuke and predictedan abbreviated reign. But Pacquiao saw the opportunity

and blazed a trail never beore seen or heard in these

parts.

When he challenged the legendary Marco Antonio

Barrera, I was one o those who questioned the wisdom o

such a move so early in his career. But when we bumped

into each other, he assured me that he had ollowed the

Mexicans style and he thought it t him to a . His style

is perect or me. He just stands there and I like that kind

o a target. Ill get him, Pacquiao said with a smile.

His old riend and trainer Buboy Fernandez also took

me aside and conded that Manny had never been more

powerul. Ater doing the mitts with Manny, my muscled

quiver all the way till I lie in bed at night. I he hits anyone

with that, the guy would be toast.

And thus did he proceed to annihilate Barrera, got Eric

Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez, Mexican idols all. But

the bigger names were to ollow suit, all unconvinced that

the little Filipino guy could possibly tarnish their image.

One by one they ell by the wayside...David Diaz, Ricky

Hatton, Miguel Cotto.

Tere are still quite a number o heathen non-believers

who say Pacquiao could not be the real deal. And they

chant the name o Floyd Mayweather to prove their point.

Here is one guy, they say, that will nally unmask the

pretender who now indisputably holds the title o no. 1

pound or pound.

Manny Pacquiao characteristically just shrugs his

shoulders and fashes that country boy smile. Bring him

on, he says.

With God and a n entire country pulling or him, theManny knows those who doubt him will be hard put to

nd excuses when he disposes o Mayweather. And then

the question arises: who else is there

**The author is a long-time broadcaster/sports

commentator/columnist. He is currently executive

director o the Amateur Boxing Association o the

Philippines. P


14/19


Iasked two o the most well known sports analysts o thecountry, each an expert on Manny Pacquiao, or theirviews on the Firepower ght also known as Manny Pac-

quaio vs. Miguel Cotto.

In this ght, Manny is contending or the 7th title o hiscareer, this time in the welterweight class. I he succeeds, hewill become the only boxer in the history o the world tohave achieved such a eat. He may conceivably be termedas the greatest boxer who ever lived.

Ronnie Nathanielz and Dyan Castillejo have similar viewson the ght. Both are predicting a win or the Filipinohero known as Pacman.Pinoy Global Access (PGA): Do you think Pacquiao is wellconditioned or this particular fght? Tere are those ques-tioning his decision to do his training in Baguio. As well thevolume o distractions Pacquiao seemed to deal with then andnow on a regular basis as actors that may detract rom lettinghave the best conditioning possible or this fght.

The fght according to

Nathanielsz, CastillejoBy Victoria V. Ferro


15/19


Ronnie Nathanielsz (RN): I have always been against

him training in the Philippines although because o theIRS requirements we cannot blame Manny or making thedecision in order to save millions o tax dollars. Baguioclearly was the best choice under the circumstances butunortunately the weather intervened and made it moredicult. However, since Manny has a tendency to pushhimsel too hard at times, the breaks caused by the typhoonsmay have in act helped him because an occasional o-daydoes help him do better, especially in sparring.Besides, Manny has a tremendous capacity to eectivelyshut out the distractions as though he is wearing blinkers.He has shown this in the past, why not this time?

Dyan Castillejos (DC): Yes in the best condition Ive seenhim. As Freddie said, they didnt miss a day in Baguio.He is in the best shape o his career. Pacquiao is able tosegmentize his lie pretty well. When he gets on the ringor training...nothing distracts him.

PGA: Do you think Pacquiao has gained enough in size tohave the power to knock out Cotto? o neutralize even i hisone inch larger fst?

RN: Pacquiao is one o the best examples o a ghter

moving up in weight and carrying that weight extremelywell. He hasnt bloated up just to make weight, he has letit grow onto him with solid muscle not fab. Pacquiaospower is accentuated by his speed. I a knockout comesit wont be a one-punch KO. It will be an accumulationo rapid-re punches. I eel that he may cut up Cottosdamaged eyebrow and maybe orce a stoppage.DC: Yes, his punching is as strong as ever. Freddie Roachsaid today that his stomach hurts rom how hard Pacquiaohits. Yes, he has grown in size so well. Yes, he has the powerto knock out Cotto.

PGA: I listened to the hour long analysis podcast o QuinitoHenson on philstar.com... very comprehensive! Do you agreewith his analysis o the fghters advantages and disadvantages.He says that Cotto may be the smarter fghter, the moreadaptable given his ability to switch-hit, read his opponentsand change strategy mid-fght. He says that Cotto is also thehungrier fghter who has more at stake than Pacman. He isfghting or respect, which he elt he did not get because o theconcessions he had to give or the fght.


16/19


RN: Sorry, I didnt listen to Quinito Hensons analysis.O the cu, I dont believe there is a ghter smarter thanManny who even gives his inputs on ght plans to trainerFreddie Roach. Manny must be real smart to have movedup in weight to win titles in six dierent divisions.Tere can be nothing more at stake than a record-settingseventh world title in a seventh weight division. Cotto may

be ghting or respect but Manny has had the continuingtheme, rom day one o his illustrious career o ghting orhis country and people. Tere can be no greater motivationthan that, although Cotto is now saying the same thing.Fight strategy changes dictated largely by the corner andCottos trainer Joe Santiago is clearly no match or FreddieRoach.DC: I didnt listen to the podcast, sorry.PGA: Will weight be a big actor that will be a disadvantageto Cotto (such as what happened with the De La Hoya fght)

or not?RN: Cotto may eel the side eects o making the 145pound limit, just like De La Hoya did although Cotto isa younger, stronger ghter. Remember what David Hayedid to Nikolay Valuev. He used his speed and in-and-outtactics to beat Valuev who was almost 100 pounds heavierand one oot taller. As promoter Bob Arum and Roachhave always maintained, speed kills and Mannys speedshould overcome any disadvantages in weight.DC: Cotto says he has no problem making 145 poundsand hasnt weakened, but this remains to be seen in the ring.De la Hoya said the same thing but he had no strength onthe ring.PGA: Freddie Roach has been quoted to say that this will bean easy fght or Pacquiao, even possibly knocking out Cotto inthe early rounds. Do you agree with him?RN: It wont be an easy ght. Freddie is playing on themind o Cotto and trainer Santiago although Cotto knowsthat and is not likely to be aected. When we spoke to

Nonito Donaire just beore he let to watch the ght, hesaid Manny should get to Cotto early and not let Cottosbody shots wear him down in the later rounds. I thinkthats what Roach is banking on or hoping or and thatswhat uels his prediction o a KO in the early rounds. Re-member Hatton?DC: Freddie didnt say easy ght, but he repeatedly hassaid that because o the tremendous increase in power andspeed and great movement, he believes Manny can knockout Cotto.

Yes, I agree.PGA: Do you agree with what some analysts believe as Pac-mans overconfdence in this fght?RN: Manny is never overcondent. At least he nevershows it publicly. He simply knows who he is and whathes capable o.DC: No, hes not overcondent. Hes trained like crazy

but is sel assured and condent because he can eel hisgreat condition.

PGA: Have you had the opportunity to talk to each fghteror each fghters coaches/team? What is your impressiono their level o preparation and confdence? What arethe big dierences and similarities between the two?RN: Manny struck us as being very happy and qui-etly condent, believing as he always says, that it alldepends on God and so ar, God has showered His

blessings on him. As or the coaches, Roach is, as al-ways, supremely condent o the man he calls the bestghter in the world.Roach is ar more experienced than Santiagoknowshis ghter in and out and has his condence. Santiagohas been a seven-year partner in the gym and as sucha riend o Cotto. He really doesnt train Cotto. Cottotrains himsel and at ght time, in the corner, thatmay well spell the dierence.


17/19


Cotto started preparing one month ahead o Manny.He may have overdone it and that could hurt. Mannyneeds a shorter training period distractions and all because when he gets into the gym and training mode,he trains harder than any other athlete in the world.He is relentless and kills himsel in the gym. Maybe,

with the typhoons and all and a couple o politiciansmessing things up, it may have been a little too shortthis time around. Well have to wait and see.As or the ghters, they have shown great respect or eachother which is good to see and should set an example toother arrogant and sometimes abrasive ghters.PGA: How signifcant is this fght beyond the seven titlesin seven weight classes, no one in history has attainedstatus? What sort o impact is Pacquiao making in the

course o preparing or this fght (eg. ime Magazinecover and interview on Jimmy Kimmels show).

RN: Te Philippines has been blessed with a longline o great champions rom Pancho Villa, CeerinoGarcia to Gabriel Flash Elorde. But or all thechampions that came and went, there has never beena ghter o the caliber, the class and the indomitablecourage o Manny Pacquiao. He has done more to

redeem respect or the Philippines and his countrymenthan anyone else in our lietime. Tere are two others who stand alongside him - the late President CoryAquino who was also on the cover o ime Magazinein 1986 and the late Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, the rstpresident o the UN General Assembly and ormerForeign Secretary.He has crossed over rom being a mere ghter tobeing a charismatic personality who has won the heartso ght ans and the media who are oten hard toplease by his demeanor both in and outside the ringand his humility which is remarkable considering hecame rom the bowels o poverty and has attained somuch in lie.He was superb on the Jimmy Kimmel show whichis extremely popular among young people. Hisrecognition by ime Magazine was an accolade

well-deserved but which means he will come underincreasing public scrutiny and must live by thehighest standards o moral and ethical conduct andmust ensure that his integrity, which is the qualityo wholeness, must be unsullied. He must strivewith every ber in his body to live up to these noblestandards.DC: Pacman is the most exciting ghter today. Hehas American, Mexican, Latino and Filipino ans, ocourse.

PGA: How do you think Pacquiao has evolved in thecourse o preparing or this particular fght? Skills-wise,Strength-wise, and in other aspects o his lie (managinghis career), and wielding more power in making deals,or example?RN: He has grown rom strength to strength perhapsmore as a smart human being in a business senserather than a ghter. He has honed his skills, with

the help o Roach, and improved with every ght. Hehas moved up in weight and carried it well due largelyto the eorts o his conditioning guru Alex Ariza. Asor making deals, most o us hope he would cut outthe leeches that surround him and get one trustednancial adviser who would know how to investhis earnings well because it is clear that his career iscoming to an inexorable end and my only hope is,hell retire a champion.


18/19


DC: Its amazing how he keeps improving with ev-ery ght. His condence level is very high. Hes notcocky, just condent. He just really knows he has it

because it comes out in training. With his skills, he ismuch more the complete ghter. He can easily adaptto what Freddie says.PGA: Your earless orecast: Who will win this fght?How? What round? Why?RN: Not to go with Pacquiao would be consideredtraitorous considering what he has done or our coun-try. Having been part o his career or the rst sevenyears in the ring as a skinny young kid and seeing his

unbelievable courage, we expect him to overcome theodds as they are in terms o weight, size and power.We expect Manny to win by stoppage with Cottobeing cut so badly that the reeree will be orced tostop the ght in the middle rounds. I pray to GodIm right because our country could do with a lit inits spirits.DC: It will be very hard to beat Pacquiao. His speed

and power will be too much. But o course, Cotto hasa prayerul chance.

PGA: Will this be Pacmans last fght? Why or whynot?RN: I dont believe it will be his last ght especiallyi he wins. Te whole world wants a Pacquiao-FloydMayweather Jr ght but promoter Bob Arum told meits tough to do beore March 13 which is a date theDallas Cowboys owners want Manny to ght in theirnew stadium.Obviously revenue sharing will be a sticky point.Besides, Mayweathers manager Mr. Ellerbee as well

as Floyd tend to look down on Manny whom theymerely reerred to as a good little ghter not in theclass o Mayweather. Tat being said money will even-tually talk.Te easier ght to make or March 13 which Pac-quiao would like to get done is against Juan ManuelMarquez who gave Manny a hard time in their twomeetings and has been chasing Pacquiao ever since.Marquez loss to Mayweather may have dampened


19/19

interest in a trilogy but there are enough media olkwho believe Marquez deserves one more shot at Man-ny. But i that happens I think Manny will knock himout within our rounds which would be a boost to hiscongressional campaign or sure. Tat ght could bemade at 140 pounds.Manny wants to ght in March to give himsel a -nal boost beore the elections but Bob Arum told hecannot make it happen with so short a time and hav-ing to deal with a jerk like Floyd.PGA: What do you fnd personally most meaningulin your pursuit o a story relating to the Pacman-Cottofght? I could also phrase it as ollows: What is it thatyou enjoy or look orward to the most as you pursue yourstory or this Pacman-Cotto fght coverage?

RN: Its a tremendously satisying eeling to knowthat a poor boy who started his boxing career on ashow we produced and oten anchored or severalyears, is the greatest Filipino and Asian ghter o all-time. I Manny - or should I say when Manny winsover Cotto, he would unquestionably be the greatestghter in the history o the sport. It would it be anincredible eat and a supreme honor or the Philip-pines and in the twilight o our years, what more canwe ask or? P

pga issue 12 pacman pages 1, 4-21

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