It’s odd how majority of expectant fight fans had never entertained the ugly possibility of the Super Fight drifting into a dumb, tasteless anomaly.
The best that could be said of the off-ring taunt-and-tease marathon is that it’s finally off at the moment.
No winner in the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao marathon verbal tussle.
But the big losers, no doubt, are the poor fans who remained pinned to the floor, waiting like hostages begging for the dream bout to happen.
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It’s off for now, but they continue to dangle the likelihood of Pacquiao and Mayweather tangling later in the year.
But will it ever happen?
The kindest that could be said about the Super Fight is that it will surely take place when the first bell rings with both combatants facing each other in the ring.
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As expected, there was a groan of disappointment after Miguel Cotto suddenly leapt ahead in the Pacquiao derby.
And to think that, before him, there was Juan Manuel Marquez leading the pack, followed by Tim Bradley and Lamont Peterson.
So why Cotto, of all people?
His handlers were trying to make it appear Cotto was Pacquiao’s personal choice.
However, it was also easy to suspect Bob Arum picked Cotto because the Puerto Rico strongman promises to be another punching picnic.
It’s like this: Marquez is sure to be very difficult again, while Mayweather, a defensive genius, will be quite dangerous.
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The Cotto fight, even if it doesn’t promise to be a sell-out, is sure to be sensational.
Unlike a Pacquiao duel with Mayweather which, this early, has been seen by leading American boxing minds, like Teddy Atlas and Jim Lampley, as a budding mismatch.
These analysts also believe, that Pacquiao, terribly deficient in defense, should do something drastic to save the dream bout from slipping into an anomaly.
If it ever takes place at all.
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(From fight expert Hermie Rivera: Some misguided writers are claiming that Manny Pacquiao is unsure of a fourth meeting with Juan Manuel Marquez. This info provided no less by Angel “Memo” Heredia and Guillermo Hernandez, who ruined Olympic star Marion Jones, one among his many victims.
I’m still in town helping in the passage of a bill aimed at stopping or curtailing vicious drug activities.
But more than pinning the evil-doers themselves, the proposed measure is intended to protect our fighters from being harmed by drugged ring foes.
I’m helping out in the formulation of an effective bill with lead sponsor Col. Gringo Honasan, Capt. Sonny Trillanes (JG) and Lt. Bongbong Marcos (Army Res.) (Senators all) as co-sponsors.
The bill will raise the recent Pacquiao-Marquez fight as a case in point. It’s about protecting fighters, and seeks likewise to provide safety in the ring.)