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by David P. Greisman - Manny Pacquiao has gone from fighting in squared circles to throwing his hat into the ring, from knockout wins to a Congressional bid. He is a hero and an icon in the Philippines and beyond, a man whose popularity cannot be defined by ballot boxes or exit polls.
All he needs is a show of hands.
First, the left hooks that shook Jorge Solis on Saturday night and sent the undefeated Mexican fighter down for a count of nine. In an awkward fight in which an accidental clash of heads opened a cut near Pacquiao’s left eyebrow, those punches were a welcome change of pace, a sense of urgency similar to that which Wladimir Klitschko showed in his fight against Calvin Brock.
Finally, the uppercuts that finished Solis off and ended the night in the same manner that many of Pacquiao’s bouts conclude – with a ****.
With a **** – and with those hands – the Filipino Firebomber exploded through the featherweight ranks. Since jumping from flyweight to junior featherweight in late 1999, Pacquiao has won 18 times, lost once and drawn twice. That record is impressive enough considering that Pacquiao turned pro at 106 pounds. But by going 3-1-1 against the triumvirate of Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao has ascended to the top tier of talent today. [details]
All he needs is a show of hands.
First, the left hooks that shook Jorge Solis on Saturday night and sent the undefeated Mexican fighter down for a count of nine. In an awkward fight in which an accidental clash of heads opened a cut near Pacquiao’s left eyebrow, those punches were a welcome change of pace, a sense of urgency similar to that which Wladimir Klitschko showed in his fight against Calvin Brock.
Finally, the uppercuts that finished Solis off and ended the night in the same manner that many of Pacquiao’s bouts conclude – with a ****.
With a **** – and with those hands – the Filipino Firebomber exploded through the featherweight ranks. Since jumping from flyweight to junior featherweight in late 1999, Pacquiao has won 18 times, lost once and drawn twice. That record is impressive enough considering that Pacquiao turned pro at 106 pounds. But by going 3-1-1 against the triumvirate of Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao has ascended to the top tier of talent today. [details]