Out of the box

Manny Pacquiao and George Foreman share and differ in life and boxing. Today, Pacquiao is serious about his plan to fight for flag in Paris next year. Whether he is allowed to fight is a curious case, but whether he wins the gold missing in his belt collection is the bigger story to watch out for. Heavyweight George Foreman did it the other way. He first won Olympic gold in 1968, turned pro and became world champion in 1973.

Pacquiao won multiple world championships as a pro but lost his last fight about a year ago. Such brief furlough makes it easier to recondition himself to fighting form, unlike Foreman who returned to the ring after a decade but became the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history at 45. Same age with Manny, before yearend.

Foreman pulled one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. He floored the younger and fitter Michael Moorer in the tenth round of their title fight in 1994. Foreman made it look too easy. In his twilight, he did not have the footwork, but still had the balance to be still to steal the thunder from his heavily favored nemesis.

Manny still has something in him, but lost some of the things that made him 8-division world champion. Olympic boxing is a different territory with different rules. But the Filipino is a chameleon who quickly adapted to different weight categories and picked them all at his peak, without reference to politics of convenience and survival.

At 44 now, Manny still looks fit and dangerous, as opposed to the then 45-year-old Foreman who went up the ring old and overweight, with his belly bulging. But surprise, he unleashed the power strong enough to knock his opponent out. What just happened? Foreman not only rewrote boxing history, he also unboxed a body template different from the other boxing greats. Not a fluke, Foreman worked hard to become a champion with poverty as motivation. Hunger does not always kill, it either angers or propels the hungry. Or hangry.

Just like Manny who had no money but ended up moneyed he gambled with destiny. Otherwise known as the presidency. But like Foreman, Manny also renewed his faith. It made them better persons, apart from being best at boxing.

Unlike Foreman though who married multiple times, Manny is known to marry only once. Whether he engaged in dangerous liaisons, only his conscience knows. Or the wife who is the last to know. Whatever, Manny and his family are in a better place now. Just like Foreman. At least they avoided the misfortune of other champions who earned millions but became poorer than their minions.

Should Manny compete in Paris and finally win a boxing gold for himself and his country, he ends his boxing career in reverse. From professional to amateur. Just like former presidents who run for lower office. Whichever way it is, Manny is the country’s greatest. What if he loses? The IOC wins, by way of revenues a Manny in the ring cashes in.