Gamer
10-10-2010, 07:41 PM
c/p By Michael Marley
Don't know if HBO still uses the tag line but they did refer to the prime cable network as the place "where boxing legends are built one round at a time."
The personification of this Manny Pacquiao, who has become as reliable HBO commodity as was "The Soprano" crime family saga.
Has any fighter ever rendered more excitement, more stimulation and more enthusiasm for his job than Pacman has since he made his HBO debut on June 23, 2001 in Las Vegas against South Africa's Lehlohonolo Ledwaba.
Sure, HBO has spotlighted other great fighters. Roy Jones, a virtuoso like Heifetz playing the violin, immediately springs to mind but Jones had some recitals against some joke opponents.
No, the greatest fighter fighting the toughest opposition in HBO's brief ring history (dating back to Mike Weaver-Larry Holmes in 1979) and producing the brightest sparks has been Pacquiao.
But don't take my word on this about Manny, take it from another guy first name Emanuel, last name Steward.
Here's Manny on Manny, bubbling like the geysers at Yellowstone Park:
"To me, Manny is a real phenomeon," the Kronk Gym/Thomas Hearns legend said Saturday night. "It's that he is so small and how he performs against bigger men, all of them tough. I'm talking about Morales, about Barrera and Marquez, even though Marquez gives Manny some problems in their matchup of styles.
"I look at Manny as a lightweight and he's dominating the welterweights and now fighting at junior middleweight. His real weight, his true weight I think is 138 pounds. The rest of his pounds they just fill him up," Steward said.
"And another thing is that Manny does not dodge anybody. It's kind of crazy, all that a blown up lightweight has been accomplishing. He's been responsible for grerat fights against other great fighters.
"Like I said, there's no ducking of anyone. And no handpicked opponents who they know he can win easy against.
"(Roberto) Duran went up in weight, sure, but he was different than Manny. Duran was strictly a power puncher and guys who could box and move gave him big problems. This guy shows himself to be phenomenal because he can come in at you, take your punch and then clip you with that straight left hand.
"Manny can catch you coming in. He's got real hand speed but he also dares you to trade punches with him. He's got his own rhythm and he he's got that unique quick step. Duran would just walk in, wade into you. Manny can do that but he moves so quickly it's hard for the opponent to nail him," Steward said.
Lest you think Steward has already written off Antonio Margarito's chances of upsetting Pacman Nov. 13, think again, plaster pad insert breath.
Steward believes Margarito might have a mental advantage to go along with his bigger size in the fight at Cowboys Stadium.
"Margarito's that guy, that guy who has nothing to lose in this fight," Steward said.
"And he's so much bigger in size. There's lots of pressure on Manny, almost none on Margarito. Latin fighters like Margarito generally like to have their opponent right in front of them but Manny doesn't do that. It's very difficult to walk Manny down because of that great movement."
There you have it, Manny on Manny, Emanuel on Emanuel, it almost makes me feel Biblical.
The Kronk Prophet has spoken.
Don't know if HBO still uses the tag line but they did refer to the prime cable network as the place "where boxing legends are built one round at a time."
The personification of this Manny Pacquiao, who has become as reliable HBO commodity as was "The Soprano" crime family saga.
Has any fighter ever rendered more excitement, more stimulation and more enthusiasm for his job than Pacman has since he made his HBO debut on June 23, 2001 in Las Vegas against South Africa's Lehlohonolo Ledwaba.
Sure, HBO has spotlighted other great fighters. Roy Jones, a virtuoso like Heifetz playing the violin, immediately springs to mind but Jones had some recitals against some joke opponents.
No, the greatest fighter fighting the toughest opposition in HBO's brief ring history (dating back to Mike Weaver-Larry Holmes in 1979) and producing the brightest sparks has been Pacquiao.
But don't take my word on this about Manny, take it from another guy first name Emanuel, last name Steward.
Here's Manny on Manny, bubbling like the geysers at Yellowstone Park:
"To me, Manny is a real phenomeon," the Kronk Gym/Thomas Hearns legend said Saturday night. "It's that he is so small and how he performs against bigger men, all of them tough. I'm talking about Morales, about Barrera and Marquez, even though Marquez gives Manny some problems in their matchup of styles.
"I look at Manny as a lightweight and he's dominating the welterweights and now fighting at junior middleweight. His real weight, his true weight I think is 138 pounds. The rest of his pounds they just fill him up," Steward said.
"And another thing is that Manny does not dodge anybody. It's kind of crazy, all that a blown up lightweight has been accomplishing. He's been responsible for grerat fights against other great fighters.
"Like I said, there's no ducking of anyone. And no handpicked opponents who they know he can win easy against.
"(Roberto) Duran went up in weight, sure, but he was different than Manny. Duran was strictly a power puncher and guys who could box and move gave him big problems. This guy shows himself to be phenomenal because he can come in at you, take your punch and then clip you with that straight left hand.
"Manny can catch you coming in. He's got real hand speed but he also dares you to trade punches with him. He's got his own rhythm and he he's got that unique quick step. Duran would just walk in, wade into you. Manny can do that but he moves so quickly it's hard for the opponent to nail him," Steward said.
Lest you think Steward has already written off Antonio Margarito's chances of upsetting Pacman Nov. 13, think again, plaster pad insert breath.
Steward believes Margarito might have a mental advantage to go along with his bigger size in the fight at Cowboys Stadium.
"Margarito's that guy, that guy who has nothing to lose in this fight," Steward said.
"And he's so much bigger in size. There's lots of pressure on Manny, almost none on Margarito. Latin fighters like Margarito generally like to have their opponent right in front of them but Manny doesn't do that. It's very difficult to walk Manny down because of that great movement."
There you have it, Manny on Manny, Emanuel on Emanuel, it almost makes me feel Biblical.
The Kronk Prophet has spoken.