Let’s watch Manny’s next title fight

IT COULD all seem like an open shot on the hardcourt, not from the three-point area, but from the foul line—two to make only one.

Manny Pacquiao is a solid overwhelming favorite in his challenge to WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas on Nov. 5.

The bout has received, and continues to receive, adverse publicity after HBO bluntly refused to distribute it on pay-per-view. HBO has called the title bout “unappetizing.”

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Top Rank Inc., as neatly reported by columnist Percy Della, who first contacted allies in the Los Angeles Times, has approached Turner Sports, “and plans to pursue talks with ESPN and Showtime.”

So who wants, who needs, the still un-labeled title bout, miles away and ages apart from a make-or-break showdown?

Pacquiao until yesterday has remained untouched as a 10-1 favorite among Las Vegas bookmakers.

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“No way, hindi ko panoorin, it’s all for money, kuwartahan nalang,” cried tall and burly Jun de Jesus, former member of the Mandaluyong-based Jose Rizal U Heavy Bombers.

Out in the city wet market sports hub, nobody wanted to talk about the next Pacquiao bout; the buzz instead centered on today’s scheduled showdown between Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1) going for the WBO junior middleweight title of Englishman Liam Smith (23-0-1) in Arlington, Texas.

Anyway, columnist Della also noted that Pacquiao’s next title outing is not going to be at the Las Vegas MGM Grand, considered boxing’s mother church.

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“Instead, it is going to be in a small chapel—the Thomas and Mack Center, a few miles from the famous Las Vegas Strip,” the commentary noted.

Don’t go away. The situation is not totally hopeless, irrelevant.

Wrote Joaquin Henson, The Dean: “Pacquiao has more to lose than Vargas in their title bout. If he loses, it will kill his hopes for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. for another big payday and end his dream of retiring with a title. A loss to Vargas will tarnish his reputation and put a sad footnote to his career.”

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Correct. Despite the odds, the disparity in experience and power, we should all go out and support Senator Pacquiao in his next fight.

Let’s go see Manny fight and score an easy triple from the foul line, for a few million dollars more.

One final request. Team Pacquiao should also be told to cease going after critics who said Pacquiao was doing the Vargas fight for the funds of it. For the record, it was Bob Arum who categorically stated Pacquiao was fighting again “because he needs the money,” during the premier promoter’s last visit to the Philippines.