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By Cliff Rold - Fifteen years is a long time in life. It’s a hell of a long time in boxing.
December 4, 1998 was over fifteen years ago.
That was the night a raw power puncher came from behind to win the WBC and lineal Flyweight crown in Thailand. That’s how long Manny Pacquiao has been a part of boxing’s title conversation. This Saturday night, he will attempt to regain the WBO Welterweight belt he lost to Timothy Bradley in 2012. There are reasons to think he will and reasons to think he won’t.
Whatever the result, there is no avoiding the inevitable. The last hurrah is close at hand. At 35 years of age, he’s had a style that adds miles to the body. Pacquiao has always been hit less than it looks like; offensive gems that last always have better defense than credited for. He still gets hit more than fighters whose defense stands out first.
Of course, this being boxing, the last hurrah doesn’t necessarily mean the end of a career. Too many have continued long past their last hurrah to think that.
And we won’t know what really was the last hurrah until the whole story is written. History dictates at least that much. Eventually, all of the great ones stop being great. We watch as the end grown near with a wonder of when that last truly great night will be. [Click Here To Read More]
December 4, 1998 was over fifteen years ago.
That was the night a raw power puncher came from behind to win the WBC and lineal Flyweight crown in Thailand. That’s how long Manny Pacquiao has been a part of boxing’s title conversation. This Saturday night, he will attempt to regain the WBO Welterweight belt he lost to Timothy Bradley in 2012. There are reasons to think he will and reasons to think he won’t.
Whatever the result, there is no avoiding the inevitable. The last hurrah is close at hand. At 35 years of age, he’s had a style that adds miles to the body. Pacquiao has always been hit less than it looks like; offensive gems that last always have better defense than credited for. He still gets hit more than fighters whose defense stands out first.
Of course, this being boxing, the last hurrah doesn’t necessarily mean the end of a career. Too many have continued long past their last hurrah to think that.
And we won’t know what really was the last hurrah until the whole story is written. History dictates at least that much. Eventually, all of the great ones stop being great. We watch as the end grown near with a wonder of when that last truly great night will be. [Click Here To Read More]
It adds context to Mannys greatness.
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