Immortalized

Manny Pacquiao will be inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame next year. He shares the same wall with Freddie Roach who was minted way earlier than his ward. For two decades, the legendary coach mentored the Filipino to win seven of his record eight weight division titles. Both inductees had incredible chemistry. Manny got Freddie even if the intelligent American was unintelligible. Pacquiao had to hire a translator in the ringside and trust his instinct inside the ring.

The greatest Filipino athlete last fought and lost a legitimate fight in 2021 to Yordenis Ugas. Since then he fought two exhibition matches that exhibited his concession to age. He is no longer the unbeatable pound for pound king.

The induction to hall of fame sends a message loud and clear – Manny has done more than enough. Or is done. But still he names three fighters worth returning to the ring against – Floyd Mayweather, Gervonta Davis or Mario Barrios.

His loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the best-seller commercial success almost a decade ago is still eating him up. Manny thinks he could have won and ruin the unbeaten record of the taller fighter had the latter boxed more and ran away less in the much hyped flight er, fight of the century.

Now both men are reportedly entertaining a rematch. It’s all about the money, maybe not with Manny, but especially with Floyd, who proposes the grudge rematch be not dictated by professional rules. Pacquaio could bite the bait, money regardless. Or the dust. He turns 46 this month.

But he may still have one last shot at final glory. Bernard Hopkins was 46 when he beat Jean Pascal. George Foreman was 45 with bloated belly when he stunned Michael Moorer to reclaim the heavyweight title. Anything could happen, Pacquiao has all the credentials to defy age – experience, power and hunger. Not because he has nothing eat, he lives a kingly life, but because he is insatiable to be greater than he already is.

But he has won one fight too many, beating taller and bigger foes. He did not discriminate, he was that fearless. He is the only world champion in eight divisions. Even in life he won, especially over poverty, retired filthy rich, sustained or even multiplied his wealth. Unlike many sob stories of Filipino champions who retired tired, destitute and worse, alone and lonely.

There could be no other Manny Pacquiao born in and to the country whose people would rather be entertained than learn. Freddie Roach hoped he would find another Muhammad Ali when he opened his Wild Card Boxing Club. Instead, the heavyweight he wished for weighed 122 pounds – a poor, struggling baker who became the biggest pride of the Philippines. Enough already, he should leave boxing before it leaves him. But maybe, it will find him again.