ALWAYS, Manny Pacquiao manages to grab headlines—or take center stage on matters both important and unimportant.
Include the banal.
As in his April 23 fight against Jeff Horn (do I hear President Duterte asking, “Who is he?”) is easily labeled as no-news at all like Trump telling us Meryl Streep is an “overrated” actress.
We’ve been so used to hearing Pacquiao deliver trivialities that nothing surprises us anymore.
So with Trump, the newly-elected(?) American president.
Only a while back, Trump has praised Streep, the most nominated actress to win an Oscar award, to high heavens for “her exceptional acting abilities.”
And yet, after Streep hit Trump’s pathetic assault on the physical defect of an unfriendly New York Times columnist, Trump quickly made a 90-degree turn and lambasted the most revered actress of her time.
Well, what’s new?
Hasn’t Trump also consistently criticized the American CIA of plotting to kill him—only to make another 90-degree turn only last week?
In his visit to the powerful, never-to-be-audited government adjunct as provided for by the American Constitution, Trump called the CIA as “the greatest intelligence agency” in the world.
The world could only laugh at Trump’s antics, of course.
Should we also hear Pacquiao praising Horn “as the greatest fighter” in the world? How would we react—the politically correct way?
I leave it to your judgment, fellers.
But then, we can’t blame Pacquiao for having Horn as his next foe.
Bob Arum it is who has been selecting Pacquiao’s opponents the last 10 years or so. A contract that both had signed in 2006—renewed recently—attests to that.
We can only pray and hope that Pacquiao, just turned 38, would get past Horn.
If we go by his record, the 28-year-old Horn is unbeaten in 16 fights, winning 11 by knockout.
Of course, we do not know how tough Horn’s foes were.
But do we need to?
What is important is that Pacquiao is to be pitted against a foe that’s beatable (Horn a patsy, then?). We need Pacquiao to stay unbeaten—in his two fights this year, at least.
Hasn’t Arum already said Pacquiao is still good for two more fights in 2018? He didn’t say it, but one of Pacquiao’s two opponents next year would most likely be Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Even as Mayweather keeps saying he has retired, for sure, he’ll un-retire to fight Pacquiao again—if the price is right, of course.
But for that to happen, Pacquiao must first defeat his two opponents this year.
Arum will see to that.
THAT’S IT It’s reunion time once again. Here’s to the Golden Anniversary of the Philippine College of Commerce Laboratory High School alumni on February 2, 3 and 4 in Balai Isabel, Talisay, Batangas. Ensuring a flawless and seamless occasion for 60 or so alumni, by the enchanting waters of the world-famed Taal Lake, are Mara Baysa-Sanglay, Nitz Eblamo, Aurora Albano, Nannie de Gracia, Liway Galinato, Susan Fragante, Nilo Mercado and Sol F. Juvida. Cheers! Sideswiped by this reunion is my own date, the February 4 get-together of Mangatarem High School’s Spirit of ’67 members. No choice. The Boss takes the first crack—always.