Manny has stuff to be all-time great

Take it from the "Ring"expert.

Nigel Collins, editor-in-chief of the famed Ring Magazine, said Manny Pacquiao has got what it takes to become the greatest Filipino fighter ever, provided he remains on top of the boxing world for the next half decade.

Already a title-holder in two different divisions, Pacquiao further cemented his niche in Philippine boxing with his sensational 11th round demolition of the much-feared Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico in San Antonio, Texas four months ago, a fight the prestigious boxing magazine ranked as one of the year’s biggest upsets.

Those achievements, in addition to the prospect of becoming the first Filipino and Asian boxer for that matter — to win three world titles in different divisions easily sparked comparisons between Pacquiao and two former RP boxing greats in Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde and Pancho Villa.

Collins believes Pacquiao has a shot at surpassing Elorde and Villa, both of whom had been enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, if and when he keeps his reign as world champion in the next five years or so.

"That’s what Manny has to do, to stay on top for him to have a legacy like the two (Villa and Elorde),"Collins said during the PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion, where he sat beside Pacquiao’s business manager Rod Nazario.

The quest for greatness actually begins two weeks from now when Nazario sends Pacquiao to the US to start training for his coming May 8 fight.

The former IBF super bantamweight champion’s opponent has yet to be named, although Nazario is hoping that US promoter Murad Muhammad will be able to persuade the camp of current World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Juan Manuel Marquez to sign the dotted line.

"I ask Manny about it, and he said he’s ready. He can make it," said Nazario in the public sports program sponsored by Agfa Colors and Red Bull. "I think two months is enough to make him ready for the fight."

Villa was the first Asian fighter to win a world championship when he knocked out Jimmy Wilde in the seventh round to capture the flyweight title in 1923 in New York.

Elorde, meanwhile, held the world junior lightweight title for seven straight years from 1960-67, a reign considered one of the longest in the history of prize fighting.

"Villa’s career was cut down during his prime, while Elorde was champion for seven long years,"Collins pointed out. "So if Manny could just train hard, he can be a champion for a long time. Maybe he could even extend Elorde’s record to eight or nine years."

Besides, staying on top is the hardest part in boxing, according to Collins, only the sixth editor in the 82-year history of the famed boxing publication referred to as the "Bible of Boxing."

"It’s harder to stay on top than winning a title," Collins added. "When you’re on top, there’s always a lot of pressure."

But Collins sees Pacquiao as a truly star-material.

"He’s currently one of the exciting fighters in the world, the kind fans would always like to see. And he has blossomed under Freddie (Roach) from an aggressive fighter the first time I saw him to a more refined one," said Collins.

He is in the country to personally present the Ring Magazine featherweight title belt to Pacquiao, which he claimed following that technical knockout win over Barrera.

He will have an audience with President Arroyo in Malacañang this morning where he will award Pacquiao his championship belt.

Collins himself wrote an article about Pacquiao’s stunning victory over Barrera in the latest issue of the Ring.