Pacquiao’s bravest opponent
No wonder, Pacquiao wouldn’t mind pinning a Purple Heart on Marquez’s chest
It took him about two seconds to rattle off the name of his most courageous opponent, making sure he didn’t miss out on somebody more deserving than the name he just mentioned.
“Was it ____?” I said to him during a recent conversation.
Again, Manny Pacquiao paused and there was silence on the other end.
I honestly thought it took him more than a couple of seconds to repeat the name.
“Yes, ____,” Pacquiao told me.
Shadowing Pacquiao for over 20 years, starting when he was trying to make a name for himself while training at the L&M Gym in Sampaloc, I pretty much had an idea who it was going to be. Mind you, it wasn’t really hard to determine the guy Pacquiao said was the bravest.
Of course, even if I didn’t ask, Floyd Mayweather will top the list of the most faint-hearted.
Joshua Clottey, who opted to just go the distance would have easily followed him as well as Mayweather clone, Adrien Broner, who was also contented just to last the full route. Through the years, Pacquiao had fought a wide array of foes. There were stylists, brawlers, counter-punchers and even a few dirty ones who would resort to foul tactics in order to win. Pacquiao fought them all, not minding to enter the lion’s den several times, regaling the crowd and mesmerizing the worldwide audience with his unique blend of power and machismo. The Mexican badass Erik Morales was so tough Pacquiao looked as if his face was run over by a lawnmower the first time they met. But in the rematch, Pacquiao made him pay and dealt him a tenth-round stoppage.
In the rubber match, he got the job done in three rounds as Morales, his ass on the floor, shook his head when the referee was administering the count.
Marco Antonio Barrera? Nah.
They fought four times starting in May 2003 and lastly in December 2012, amassing a total of 39 rounds and leaving spectators in utter shock and suspense.
Although he went 11 rounds the first time and went the distance in the rematch, Barrera didn’t faze Pacquiao.
After all, Pacquiao mauled him in San Antonio in 2003. Since we’ve already done with the process of elimination, I won’t delay it further.
Yeah, the guy Pacquiao swore was the rival with the biggest balls is Juan Manuel Marquez.
Besides, if there’s one fellow who gave Pacquiao a taste of hell, that person is no other than the crafty and cagey Marquez.
They fought four times starting in May 2003 and lastly in December 2012, amassing a total of 39 rounds and leaving spectators in utter shock and suspense.
Deep in his heart, Pacquiao knows Marquez had him all figured out.
Still, Marquez didn’t only bank on his mastery of Pacquiao’s moves.
The Mexican, undoubtedly had guts. Loads of it, actually. How many times did we count him out against Pacquiao? Twice? Thrice? Four times?
Pacquiao had him on the deck three times in the first round of their first clash and wound up battling the Filipino star to a draw.
In the second bout, Pacquiao floored Marquez, his feet up in the air, but still found a way to shake off the cobwebs and meet his fancied foe head-on as if nothing happened.
The third showdown wasn’t as feverish as the first two but was nonetheless competitive.
The fourth fight proved to be the most emphatic, the most decisive and the reason why Marquez stands out from everyone.
His eyes and cheekbone puffy and his nostrils bleeding profusely, Marquez fought on until landing one of boxing history’s most iconic shots, sending Pacquiao to a faraway land.
When Pacquiao’s roof caved in on him, Marquez was a punch or two away from certain defeat.
No wonder, Pacquiao wouldn’t mind pinning a Purple Heart on Marquez’s chest.