Fighters are like dancers & lovers.
Passion feeds their fires and movements. As steel sharpens steel, so too do opponents and rivalries.
The ying and yang of what makes life beautiful. Without one, we couldn't have the other, appreciate the other, and inevitably need the other. Just like love & hate, day & night and life &death. Without the contrast there is no point of reference, gratitude and inevitable joy.
Pacquiao vs Marquez is one such rivalry. Not since the Barring Strait (named after some prehistoric caveman and his mean overhand right no doubt), has the connection between Asians and Latinos/ Indigenous First Nations peoples been so closely contested. One perfect for the modern era of boxing, where its pay per view combat sports dominance, revenue and fan base have decisively diminished the past decade. We can thank less blatant corruption, the realization that real fights use kicks, elbows, wrestling and chokes and last but not least, Dana White and his marketing & personality genius. Tip your Badboy fighters cap out to him next time you see him. Heck even flip it over like a street corner mma busker and tell Dana you're an aspiring ufc fighter that needs some training money. See if he's feeling generous.
Generous as Pacquiao was with his one sided pugilistic punishment. So much so, he was dubbed the "Mexicutioner", for the way he beat the best Mexican boxers.
Pacman and Martinez went to war four times.
Their fights mimicked a masquerade ball. A who's who of Hollywood and sports celebs would show up to watch the fights, and no one would reveal who they were going for. The victor remained anonymous until the very end. The same way masquerade balls can hold the illusion of mystery by enthralling its revelers in fantasy and magic, so to do colossal fighting events.
The same way ones voice and eyes are always a dead give away. As one eye looks with calculation and the other with intrigue to gauge the identity of the reveler. So to is one quick punch that ends a fighters night in both a fraction of seconds and marrow.
Their first two contests were a boxers dream as the two rivals had the fans on the edge of their seats, going toe to toe by putting on a boxing clinic of epic proportions; extremely close.
"Pacquiao knocked Marquez down four times in their first encounter in the first round so he clearly won".
The other would say "Yes, but Marquez came back and fought a brilliant fight for the rest of the match by cleverly counter punching and going the distance".
The third one the most controversial as many thought Marquez won decisively. That leaves us with the forth, well the fourth..you cant get any more decisive than a knockout. In hindsight, Marquez was the only fighter that could come remotely close to beating Pacquiao. The Filipino boxer had polished off with an A list of fighters from a myriad of divisions. Cotto. Marguarito. Dela Hoya. Morales, all executed at the hands of Pacquiao.
Pacquiao was decisively winning in their fourth bout up until the last second when instead of milking the last ten seconds of the round he chose to get overly aggressive and engage Marquez wildly. A decision that would prove his undoing.
Pacquiao got caught with a perfect right hand as he helped the laws of physics by walking right into it.
Unconscious in the air, he fell perfectly and matter of factly like the last domino in a unbalanced game, where the previous pieces had fallen every which way, non symmetrical and unresolved.
What made this affair so closely contested and passionate? Admirers and fans from a distance would say things like "Marquez is the better boxer but Pacquiao is quicker and more explosive". Different fighting styles, the furious pace they both set & chess methodology approach. No one gave an inch.
Immortal warriors.
The kind that echo throughout eternity doing perpetual battle in diverse timelines and universes as the creator likes to do with so many of his archetypes.
Linked through spirit, the only way fighters are. By fighting and ultimately respecting each other.
and sometimes admiration and friendship like Apollo Creed and Rocky.
Boxing has and always will be a poor mans sport. A pugilistic one, honed and tested on the streets by immigrants. Closely contested and previously laid claim to in the early days of North American settlers by Irish and Italians and for the past half century, Blacks and Latinos. Who's game is it? The one who plays it the best and one who fate chooses. Not any particular race, ethnicity or culture.
As debates go. This one is over.
We all learned the value of perseverance and cold mathematical calculation. As hard and disappointing as it got with each controversial decision, Marquez never quit trying to definitively beat Pacquiao with both passion and wit. As aggressive as Marquez got he always remained cerebral and patient, looking for that one opening. He waited four fights for one and got it. Like his Nobel prize winning writer counter part by the same name. Marquez and Pacquiao wrote a legendary boxing rivalry.
The ink has dried. Latino boxing fans love Pacquiao. A man who took an entire country on his shoulders and brought them to the Promised Land/ Mecha of boxing glory. Latin Americans and Filipinos, two peoples reunited once again under common Spanish blood and Asiatic ancestral roots to become one nation of boxing enthusiasts under a Manny Pacquiao karaoke groove. Where race and ethnicity dont matter. As long as you can box..its all good.
Please no somber songs for Manny Pacquiao. He isnt dead. He challenged Mexicans in a sport they hold dear. He made Mexico better.
What's in store for Pacquiao's future? A Mayweather fight is all but out of the question. Pacquiao's place in the history books as one of the all time greats and Boxing Hall of Fame member? Cemented. So too is that of his rival Marquez. Forever written & sealed in the book of boxing legends.
In this pugilistic and passionate dance only giving your absolute best will do. Anything else is fraudulent. Smoke and mirrors, much like a masquerade ball. Eventually the masks come off, mirrors break and the fog of war subsides.
Heart & Mind overcome all.
Viva Marquez and Pacquiao!
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