A tale of two fights wanting to happen

BOXERS CALL out the fights they want in either loud or subtle ways.

  During the heyday of the heavyweight era, it was not uncommon to see Muhammad Ali yell at the top of his lungs who he wanted to fight next.  Learning from wrestler Gorgeous George about hyping a fight, Ali made sure that microphones and cameras were nearby while he ranted away.   Sure enough, when the fight happened, the arena would be filled to the rafters and the buzz about an Ali conquest or even setback would last for days.  That’s why the heavyweight division has been bland of late, with no fighter like Ali who has the boxing savvy and skill to match claims made outside the ring.   Today, it’s intriguing how Juan Manuel Marquez keeps on angling for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao. Even before Marquez beat Juan Diaz by decision Sunday in Las Vegas, talk among boxing fans understandably steered toward a possible third showdown with Pacquiao.  Known as “Dinamita” (Dynamite), Marquez salvaged a draw in the first fight by tenaciously fighting back after being floored thrice by Pacman.  Then he lost narrowly in a rematch that Marquez felt he won.   Marquez perhaps feels that his career is incomplete if he does not get that third chance against Pacquiao.  He even came to the Philippines, dropping by during a fight promotion at the Araneta Coliseum that Pacquiao visited.

 Marquez played to the media appetite by confronting Pacquiao and demanding a rematch.  Pacquiao was the gracious host, nodding quietly and whispering politely to Marquez that he “got lucky” with the win in the second fight.

  Let’s allow Marquez his pleas while at the same time understanding Pacquiao’s disinterest in meeting his Mexican contrapelo, that one opponent that has given you toughest challenges.  For Pacquiao that fighter will have to be Marquez and that’s the way the history of this boxing era will show it.  Clearly, Marquez is not content with just that.   Pacquiao went through two tough fights with Marquez and it’s a wise career move to steer away from him.

Pacquiao has already beaten him and despite the closeness of the scores of the two battles, there’s really nothing to prove against Marquez.  And probably, as some pundits say, there isn’t enough box office in a third match as well.

  On the other hand, Pacquiao has angled for a fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. without raising a hoot, allowing his promoter Bob Arum to run the negotiating table.  Sure, there’s money to be earned against the undefeated Mayweather and the box-office positives are mind-boggling.   But Pacquiao has been the cool dude in this hoopla about a blockbuster that refuses to happen, never deviating from his position that Arum works the contracts and he does the fighting.  It’s clearly the Filipino in Pacquiao because we can’t recall any boisterous or loud Pinoy fighter who wanted an opponent and hollered for it in public.    Whisper for it, perhaps but it’s really not our nature to call out for a fight at ringside or to perform in front of media about wanting a specific fighter.  It can probably frustrate those who might want a more decisive if not colorful declaration a la Ali but it’s not just our way to yell and badger others about what we want.