There is no stopping Manny

THERE is no slowing down Boxing

Hall of Fame shoo-in Manny Pacquiao who dug deep into his reservoir of speed and stamina to outhustle and outwit a guy who is 10 years his junior.

On Sunday (Philippine time), Pacquiao was quick from the starting block as he caught a backpedaling Keith Thurman with a right straight to the face that followed a left hook to the body.

More surprised than hurt, Thurman quickly stood up but damaged was already done.

In front of him was a vintage man of a different kind. For the first five rounds, Thurman got to taste what it is to be the mice that the cat would love to bounce around.

The brash American saw a cacophony of punches that he never has seen before. Many of them landed flush to the face and the body.

Thurman would occasionally make a stab of his claws but Paquiao was the guile predator who loves to toy with his prey before moving for the kill.

Fortunately for Thurman, Pacquiao has lost the appetite to finish a fight with flourish by delivering the coup de grace.

Instead Pacquiao allowed Thurman to put up a semblance of a fight and even received several heavy shots that would have felled lesser men. But as he proved today, Pacquiao certainly can still take it as hard as he can deliver.

And just when some thought he lost steam in the middle of the fight, Pacquiao dug in a powerful body shot that had Thurman riding his bicycle in the 10th round.

That left straight to the body pretty well ended the night and all hopes of Thurman scoring an upset. Thurman never dared to open up again even if he won the last round.

But win he almost did by the stroke of one judge who thought it would be his ticket to fame.

Will somebody please ask the Philippine senator if he has found his elixir?

For boxing guys in their ‘40s, they are thought to be retired and if they are not, their roles would have been the trial horses and fill-in journeymen. Pacquiao however is no ordinary boxing guy. Ask any boxing guru. Chances are he would tell would tell they have not seen a boxer as exciting even at the advance age as Pacquiao is still now.

True, there have been boxing champs who were still active well into their 40s. But how many fought the way Pacquiao did Sunday?

In my scorecard, Pacquiao won 115-112. Not overwhelming but definitely decisive. Not my favorite Pacquiao victory but one I admired this late of his career. More Pacquiao fight?

I thought he should have stopped years ago. But the heck, it is not me delivering and receiving those punches. So why do I care?

Congratulations Senator Manny!