BESIDES the long overdue fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather (which, up to now still hangs in the air), Pacquiao’s “renewed sense of faith” has also been making headlines, not only in Philippine media, but in various media outlets here in the United States.
“Will it (Pacquiao’s upcoming fight with Timothy Bradley) be the final fight of his brilliant career?,” wrote Bob Velin of USA Today.
To which, Pacquiao has issued a statement during a presscon in Beverly Hills on Tuesday: “Definitely, this won’t be my last fight. Maybe one more. After this fight I will think about (possible retirement).”
Following Pacquiao’s victory against Juan Manuel Marquez over a majority decision, some critics opined that the pound-for-pound king “might be slowing down and was not the force he had been in previous fights,” Velin wrote.
In earlier reports, there was a lot of speculation that Pacquiao’s fight with Bradley would be his last, after he experienced an “epiphany” which made him renew his faith in God.
“If I had died last year or in the last two years, I’m sure I would have gone straight to hell,” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN News.
“My faith in Him was there 100 percent but behind it, after prayers, I would still do evil things,” he added.
So what brought on this sudden change of heart?
Pacquiao narrated that God visited him in a dream and spoke to him about his wayward ways. After that, the 33-year-old boxer began questioning himself how he could be a messenger of God, when he is always on the ring, promoting violence.
Yet despite his conflicted sentiments about his faith and boxing, the pound-for-pound champ has come to realize that it is his calling – and that God wanted him to become an instrument in spreading His Word.
“God told me I should share his commandments, and share my word to all of my fans,” he said.
The boxing icon now devotes his free time to reading and studying the bible and to spending time with his family.
Velin also reported that Pacquiao has gotten rid of his vices: cockfighting, the shutdown of his restaurant and bar, dropping his ownership of a Manila casino and pledging to the Catholic Church “to give up his other vices.”
“I have a casino and sold it, and all my roosters, stopped drinking alcohol and everything that’s not good for following the commandments of God,” Pacquiao told USA Today.
According to Pacquiao’s closest advisor Michael Koncz, the Pacman “has really changed his way of living and he’s much happier now.”
“There were a lot of personal issues in the last fight that he had to go through. He’s stopped gambling and the kids and Jinkee love that he’s spending more time with the family,” Koncz said.
Meanwhile, in a report from ABS-CBN, Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum doesn’t believe that Pacquiao “will lose his killer instinct” because of his renewed Christian faith.
“Now that he’s found religion, he will be a lot more dedicated than he was when he was playing pool and gambling,” Arum told Philboxing.com’s Ronnie Nathanielsz.
“I think he’ll be in much better shape physically and mentally for the fight because he needs to be,” Arum said, stressing that Bradley is “a very, very dangerous opponent” and should not be taken lightly.
Still, the views of Pacquiao’s long-time trainer Freddie Roach’s hold the most weight.
Roach is concerned that during the June 9 bout, Pacquiao might take it easy on Bradley and be “too compassionate” inside the ring.
“It’s my job to motivate him. It’s great that he’s following God but I don’t want him to be too compassionate. I want him to knock out Bradley,” said Roach.
“He’s (Bradley) a tough guy. He’s not the type of guy who is going to be your friend inside the ring. He wants to win,” added Roach.
While a spiritual transformation is always deemed as a good thing, Pacquiao’s change of heart has sparked a mixed bag of opinions from those close to him, the media and the general public, and with good reason.
Given his stature as the iconic Pambansang Kamao and as a Congressman, it is only logical for Pacquiao to stay the course and give his best for the fight with Bradley, lest his “renewed faith” (whether he likes it or not) may be construed as an escape route, to abruptly end his boxing career.
And of course, there is the big possibility that it may also incite the biggest disappointment of all – the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight never seeing the light of day.
But religious preferences and beliefs aside, the truth of the matter is that boxing is a dangerous and debilitating sport – one that can incur neurological diseases and disorders in the long run. While Pacquiao has already proven his extraordinary abilities in the boxing ring, he is only mortal like the rest of us.
Perhaps this introspection of late has made him realize that there are other important things in his life: family, religion and public service.
If one takes these matters into consideration, then Pacquiao’s decision to slow down and pick his fights might be the wisest decision he has ever made at this juncture in his career.
After all, no one can dispute that he has already gone down in history as one of the best fighters of this era.
God-willing, let’s hope that Pacquiao’s last fight will finally be against Mayweather.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend Feb 25-29, 2012 Sec a pg. 12)
