Changes Pacquiao should make during rematch

 

Bradley dethrones Pacquiao for the WBO welterweight title

“Don’t be discouraged about boxing,” ex-champ Manny Pacquiao said after being dethroned by Timothy Bradley in a stunning upset decision. “There’s always next time.”

This is how gracefully Pacquiao assuaged the disgruntled feelings of his countrymen who thought he was robbed of his title and glory.

It was much of a consolation to many Filipinos and fans of Pacquiao worldwide knowing that there was hardly a person watching inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena who did not believe that Pacquiao had won the fight.

Even promoter Bob Arum described it best when he said the split decision was “crazy” and “unfathomable”.

“Can you believe that?” Arum fumed during the post-fight news conference, which, at some point called the three judges “The Three Blind Mice.”

Just to confirm that Bradley himself knew that he did not win the fight is when Arum climbed into the ring after the fight and approached the American challenger, saying, ‘You did very well.’ And what was Bradley’s answer? He said, ‘I tried hard, but I couldn’t beat the guy.’

So, there you go.

It was only fitting for the new declared WBO champ Bradley to accept the championship belt because it was handed to him by the three irresponsible judges in a silver platter, notwithstanding the punchstats clearly showing that Pacquiao dominated the 12-round bout.

The punchstats contradicted the outcome as Pacquiao landed more blows, 253-159, with a higher percentage of accuracy, 34%-19%. Pacquiao also connected more jabs, 63-51 and more power shots, 190-108.

All these simply added to the disgust that trainer Freddie Roach was feeling after he was totally dumbfounded by the decision.

But even as Roach is said to file a protest against the decision, if only to try to preserve the integrity of boxing, Arum has already announced that an inevitable rematch looms.

That being said, it is in order that the Pacquiao camp should make necessary adjustments that should insure a better and convincing win for the Filipino boxer. Simple and superficial as they may be, it is, nevertheless, going back to how the fight has been normally approached.

Roach should never again underestimate any boxer the way he belittled Bradley’s boxing prowess, saying, he has not gone up to the level of Pacquiao yet. Well, against a natural welterweight with a 28-0 record, before defeating Pacquiao, Bradley is and will always be a dangerous and explosive opponent. He should not be lump up with the likes of dela Hoya, Margarito, and even Cotto, who all lacks the nimbleness of Bradley.

Another thing is that Pacquiao should not let-up in the rounds where it matters most, and that is the last three or two rounds, which is dubbed as the championship rounds. Definitely, this is where Pacquiao did not get the nod of the judges – that is of course if the ‘3 blind mice’ were not corrupted.

Lastly, let us keep Pacquiao’s wife and children at home as it used to be. Surely, for any boxer, it is composing to have the family away from the ring side, as it is bothersome to have them that close, when there is that possibility that you might get bloodied, knockdown, or worst knockout, and you don’t want them to see it if and when it happens

Once inside the ring, winning is about having confidence, being comfortable, and being free of worries.

Pacquiao retains boxing crown amidst doubts

Pacquiao on his way to defending his WBO welterweight title against Marquez

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao once again successfully defended his WBO welterweight title against the tenacious and equally determined arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez, but he won the fight amidst lot of doubts.

Needless to say that it was a controversial win with many thinking the majority decision would have been the other way around.

The Pacquiao camp was aiming for a convincing win to shut up Marquez from saying that he won their last 24-round fight. In fact most boxing pundits predicted a mid-round knockout for the way Pacquiao has been showing his vaunted speed, strength, and his prowess much better than before.

But, he despairingly fall so short of it. Instead, the controversial decision seems to have given credence to Marquez’s claim that he won their first two bouts and has highlighted the latter’s ability that he is a better fighter.

The story of their third meeting inside the ring simply tells the same tale with Marquez connecting more punches, yet the verdict by the judges always went to Pacquiao.

What is Pacquiao’s secret of winning then?

You can sum it up in two words: Aggressiveness and speed – both hand and foot!

So what does this win of Pacquiao over Marquez mean when compared to Floyd Mayweather’s win against Marquez?

Note that Mayweather won very convincingly over Marquez in the same weight the latter has fought Pacquiao this time. To be frank, Mayweather even shamed Marquez.

Logic will argue that Mayweather is better than Pacquiao. I really don’t have doubts about it now.

I am a big Pacquiao fan, but if he hasn’t been able to win decisively against Marquez, how could he be able to beat Mayweather, who is a complete boxer himself?

Mayweather may be a motormouth, obnoxious and a total dickhead, but he, too, has speed and can throw punches and connect at will like nobody else does and has been a pound-for-pound king once.

I want Pacquiao to retire without accumulating more defeat.

Is his luster disappearing? Is he losing his killer instinct?

The reason why he stopped all the big men he fought, like, de la Hoya, Cotto, Margarito and Mosley is because they are all slow footed and lacked the agility, very much unlike Marquez, who is nimble and a brilliant counter-puncher.

The question now is: Has Manny Pacquiao reached already the apex of his boxing career and is now taken over by diminishing returns?

Whether he has or not, I think it is time for him to hang up the gloves. He has attained great heights in boxing having been acclaimed the most exciting boxer that has ever lived. He has got nothing to prove anymore having won global accolades for his achievements in the world of boxing.

Pacquiao should forget about having a fourth brawl with Marquez nor a future match with Mayweather. It will be all to his disadvantage. Mayweather has passed up his chance. Besides it wouldn’t diminish the Filipino champ’s stature if the fights won’t happen at all.

Instead, Pacquiao should concentrate more on his political career, which he has immersed gracefully just like fish in the water. He is a fast learner and knows what it takes to be of service to his people. He is kind, determined and has shown genuine compassion of alleviating the poor in our society. He understands the plight of the poor, as he was once among them.

People think he holds the future of this country. And, why not?

We practically had all that can be elected to be leader of this country, even a housewife and the notorious, but a boxer – never. And he is filthy rich, making him incorruptible.

So, why not, indeed.