Manny Pacquiao: What Legends Are Made Of
Listen to Manny Pacquiao: What Legends Are Made Of Below! Read by me, the author!
In boxing there are few and far between that will fight anyone, anytime, anywhere. Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns and Sugar Ray Robinson made their legacy off of just that. But in a sport where businessmen have run amok, it’s hard to actually fight fighters that matter. Manny Pacquiao is the exception today. He does not shy away from a fight. He seeks the fight out. He’s a fan favorite and it’s easy to see why: he fights the best fight every time.
Manny Pacquiao doesn’t have a bongga entrance. He doesn’t get caught up in the glitz and the glamor or the money. He just loves boxing. If Pacquiao is one thing, he’s consistent in the ring. He fights his heart out every time.
The Legend of Manny Pacquiao
Pacman has a laundry list of accomplishments throughout his storied career. He’s the lineal champion in five weight classes, which even in boxing and it’s excess of weight classes is mind boggling. He’s an overall eight division World Champion. He’s also the only boxer that’s held World Championships in four decades, from the 90s to the current 20s.
As mentioned earlier, what draws people to Manny Pacquiao is his true want, possibly even need, to fight the best. Look at the names: Marco Antonio Barrera twice, Juan Manuel Marquez four times, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Adrien Broner, Ricky Hatton, the list just goes on.
This weekend, he goes into the fight with Yordenis Ugas with nothing to lose and a lot at stake. Ugas holds the WBA Super World Welterweight title, just another notch in Pacquiao’s belt, no pun intended. Now, Manny Pacquiao is 42. He hasn’t fought since 2019 when he defeated Keith Thurman. But his legend remained.
So many threw their name into the Pacquiao sweepstakes. Mikey Garcia, Conor McGregor and more all want a piece of the lightning and thunder that is Manny Pacquiao.
Perhaps what makes this fight more special and emphasizes Pacquiao’s fight anyone mentality is the change of opponents. Originally he was to fight Errol Spence. Spence unfortunately sustained an injury that required eye surgery. Spence even reportedly tried to fake the test just to fight Pacquiao and share the cage with a legend.
Ugas came in short notice to keep the event together. He gets put on the immortal list, win or lose, of those who got the opportunity to share the ring with one of the greatest boxers to ever box.
Pacquiao and Legacy
Manny Pacquiao is already a legend in the sport of boxing. He’s already a hall of famer. Manny Pacquiao is not poor. He’s set in the Philippines after he retires. The only thing he has to fight for is legacy.
How much more can Pacquiao do? Who else can he fight? The Spence fight isn’t dead and the Mikey Garcia fight is still floating. There’s young guns in the division and there are the staples. Bud Crawford, Ryan Garcia, Virgil Ortiz Jr., Josh Taylor and Tank Davis could move up from light welterweight. Don’t count out Teofimo Lopez either, who is only 2 classes below. And of course, the trash fight with Conor McGregor that will get more eyeballs on him in any of his fights sans Mayweather.
The world is literally Pacquiao’s oyster. He’s the A-side now. He has been for some time, regardless of what Mayweather says or said. The legacy of Manny precedes him. His career may be on the tail end, but man, is it a banger. There’s still more fight in the ole dog yet. Appreciate Manny Pacquiao while he’s here. We won’t have him much longer.
Order and watch Manny Pacquiao vs Yordenis Ugas – August 21 – below:
