Obligatory post-Pacquiao fight post.
And I was wrong. The fight wasn’t as cool as I thought it would be. Rather, it ended up being Pacquiao offering a boxing clinic, with Clottey demonstrating how to professionally block. Indeed, it was boring.
Filipino celebrity tabloids seem to be abuzz about Manny’s infidelity.
I had previously written about machismo/marianismo characteristics within the Filipino culture in a blog titled, “Filipino Masculinity & Infidelity Through Manny”.
Vestiges of Spanish colonization? Maybe. Considering the practice of egalitarian family systems from the indigenous roots of the Philippines, I ponder upon how Spanish influences and Catholicism has created systems where infidelity becomes practice. Husbands having mistresses is basic knowledge but never really discussed.
In no way am I being an apologist for this type of behavior, but truth be told, Manny’s not a saint that some paint him out to be.
Of course it’s cool/funny to see him sing on Jimmy Kimmel and during his post-fight interviews. His charisma and carefree energy is enduring and contagious. This is why many folks gravitate to the Pacman. When tabloid issues gain the attention of reporters and fans, folks are either going to defend him to death or call him out on what they perceive to be another case of adultery. Again, this news about Manny is not new to me.
But when we do criticize Manny for what he’s doing, we should also look at how patriarchy in our culture plays out.
Bam’s quote in the article hit’s the point on multiple levels, “He encompasses and embodies that Filipino spirit.”
How our community looks at that spirit is something that we should critically discuss and collectively address.
-Ninoy Brown
Of course y’all knew I was going to do my obligatory/celebratory Pacquiao post after picking apart Miguel Cotto.
I thought that after demolishing Hatton, it was what boxing really needed right now. So if that was the treatment to prolong boxing’s life, then this fight could potentially have been the antidote that cures and resuscitates boxing’s vegetable state. Though, restructuring the way the sport is promoted and fights are set up need to be considered as a part of the rehabilitation process.
Earning a seventh title in a seventh weight class is of historic significance for boxing, but it cannot be understated how collectively significant this moment was for the Filipino people. My previous article for WireTap and this more recent one from The Ring mean so much more right now. With the pain placed upon the Filipino people due to Typhoon’s Ondoy and Pepeng, a lot was riding on the people’s spirits for a victory tonight*. The humbleness and upbeat mood he exhibited before, during, and after the fight shows why he possesses the charisma for folks to be drawn to him and consider him to be a “people’s champ”. Big ups to the “L”s for “laban” during Michael Buffer’s introduction.
I wonder if it would be possible for someone to create a graph of Pacquiao mentions in rap lyrics over the past year, and to see what type of spike takes place after this fight.
In my opinion, he’s already solidified his placement with the greats. When boxing historians look back at the greatest of all time, be on the lookout for Manny’s name with Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, etc. That statmenet might be premature to make, but it is crazy to see how he has been able to carry along his power and speed, as he has gone up in weight, not to mention that his skills have also improved throughout this period.
Next up is the inevitable battle with Floyd Mayweather, as long as he doesn’t try to make excuses (Money May doesn’t deserve more than 50% from the fight).
Much respect to Manny Pacquiao, Freddie Roach, Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez, and Miguel Cotto.
Michael Koncz, you can lean back with Fat Joe.
*I do digress a little bit, though, knowing the connections Pacquiao has with GMA and her own failed response to the disasters and almost every other aspect of the domestic affairs of the Philippines.
-Ninoy Brown
“The left hand of doom”
Couldn’t crash tonight without posting something more than 140 characters.
My prediction was wrong. I had it at the 9th round by stoppage due to a bloodied up Hatton. A prediction that even Lampley had made. Instead Pacquiao ended it within the second round. 5 minutes and 59 seconds to be exact. A knock-out that had an astonished Jay-Z get up from his seat.
I was blown away by the performance. But the fight left no doubt the power that Pacquiao possesses. This was at Hatton’s prime, undefeated weight class, without ballooning to the notrious Ricky “Fatton” status pre-fight.
Now the quest is onto Mayweather, who is trying to reclaim his P4P status. I don’t question Mayweather’s ability to take out Marquez, but I question how quickly, cause it won’t be easy for him. If Pacquiao has his game plan on point, and Money May, who took 10 rounds to take down a Hatton who fought at an unatural weight class, struggles against Marquez, then we will further solidify Pacquiao’s historical P4P status. Not to mention that Hatton was defeated under the tutilage of the same trainers who will likely continue to train Mayweather.
Arum and many say we don’t know what Pacquiao’s true weight class is. In addition to Mayweather, talks have been made against Cotto. This fight that would pit brothers of Spanish/American colonization. We pushing him too far? We will see.
Back to the fight: even with Hatton’s Manchester drums and brass instruments blasting away, Manny didn’t need the kulintang ensemble to help him out. Hatton’s crew was better off saving their energy to play “Taps”.
-Ninoy Brown
Wha gwaan inanets! Your boy Mighty MAD Himself is finally back on the blog scene after a long and FINAL Winter quarter at UC -Square- D. Of ourse coming out of college in this economic climate has afforded me with the opportune time to catch up on many hobbies, in particular sports.
That being said, on the eve of of his most challenging fight and also game 7 of the most exciting NBA series to watch, I will go ahead and predict a 9th round Pac-Man stoppage and very close single OT Boston victory. Yes I do believe Pac-Man will have a hard time with the old and improved mauling style of Hatton via Mayweather Sr the same way Boston has a hard time with Derek Rose, but nonetheless we gon’ make it!
P.S. Peep this ill Pac-Man/propaganda clip. Props to the bredren Pa La Rock on the look.
-Mad Himself
Next up Hatton. Followed by the first L in Pretty Boy Floyd’s career. A third match with Marquez to give me some closure in that series. Then he can retire as a GOAT.
Oh yeah, and in between all of this, happenstance will create a chance meeting with Joma and other pro-people leaders, thus beginning the growth of his progressive consciousness and critical attacks against imperialism. This will in turn likely change my sentiments regarding his push towards politics.
Click on the pic above (or here) for more info about the Pacquiao edition of the Nike Air Max Bizness PE.
Shout out to Genesis for sending me info on the kicks.
-Ninoy Brown
Post-Fight Summary:
Unstunned by an unrelenting series of racial tension building and just overall weird statements by outdated sports commentator Larry Merchant, Manny Pacquiao escapes the sensation brigade and invites everyone to Rum Jungle for a night of clubbin’. Also, the underdog defeats Oscar De La Hoya in his 9457421433th fight against another brother of Spanish decolonization. Stay tuned for further Ninoy Brown fanfare as usual.
-Mark
Two dates on the calendar could not come any sooner. The first is January 20th. The second is December 6th.
Fight fans understand the magnitude of the match between de la Hoya and Pacquiao; a match, that on paper, favors the Golden Boy. For the Philippines and the people who have been dispersed across the globe due to a shared diasporic experience, there is no shadow of a doubt that the victor will be the Pacman. Pacquiao’s presence has allowed for a redefined Filipino representation, whereby masculinity lost by centuries of colonization has been reclaimed. In watching the E:60 feature, “Thrilla”, one leaves certain of the fact that Pacquiao is a badass who will demolish his much larger and older opponent.
To add to the hype experienced from watching the ESPN video, HBO has recently aired the first in it’s de la Hoya/Pacquiao edition of 24/7. For those unfamiliar with the award winning series, 24/7, documents the story of two fighters for weeks up to the fight, making for a suspense building experience. Fans are able to see the fighters in their natural setting, in training and in candid moments with family. Fighters are humanized or in the case of “Money Mayweather: demonized.
“That fucker was too fast” -Diaz
Indeed, Diaz, indeed.
-Ninoy Brown
Yup, that’s the Pacman… You know, the guy who was attempting to become, as Lisa commented on in the last post, one of those politicians who approves how GMA’s handles the Philippines, regardless of that corruption thing and the disappearance of journalists.
Cynicism aside… yeah, homie, we major.
-Ninoy Brown