Filipinos celebrate after Pacquiao KOs Ricky Hatton (AP)
Las Vegas, NV - Manny Pacquiao's transcendence continues. The Philippines, his native country, declared a national holiday.
On Saturday night, May 2nd, the world's best boxer, pound for pound, delivered a devastating left to British Ricky Hatton's chin. Hatton was KO'ed in spectacular fashion in the second round and fans of the Filipino icon inside the MGM Grand erupted in deafening cheers. More in the Philippines and around the world screamed with joy.
Transcendence.
Transcendence is the crossing - or the elimination - of man-made barriers, deducting matters into its natural, and original state, prior to the biases and prejudices.
From the poverty-stricken, the petty criminals, the average Joe, to the most famous, to the wealthy. To rebels. All of Philippine society rejoiced at the remarkable victory.
Especially for the abject poor, they find a compadre who once faced their daunting urgency of daily survival.
Pantheon
The gates to the all-time pantheon of boxing only opens to the worthy; those whose achievements eclipses even those who compete beyond the sport.
In an interview with esteemed boxing historian Bert Sugar, at the post fight conference, he attributes and considers Pacquiao an all-time great. Sugar himself was in disbelief. His assessment was as evident to anyone who witnessed - the boy who used to sleep in petty, filthy cardboard boxes on the streets - . . . who witnessed the destruction of the stronger, bigger "Hitman."
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Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon watching the fight. (AP)
For the famous, it is witnessing a fellow famed accomplisher, and experiencing the excitement of peak performance, in a brutal sport, a task most likely a lot more difficult that what they had to undergo themselves to earn their fame.
"Manila Ice"
The preeminent guide, the Virgil-like character in trainer Freddie Roach, from his corner, saw "Manila Ice" - the grenade-esque right hook explode . . . to the face of Hatton in the first round. The British boxer was knocked down twice in the first round. He was saved by the bell at the end of the first.
In the second round, Pacquiao's left straight connected on Hatton's chin - and shattered his hopes and consciousness.
In boxing, and in Philippine society, Manny Pacquiao's name is etched in what was previously regarded as indelible marble.
The meteoric rise was, and is, directly proportional from the abyss whence it came out of. When he was a kid, lacking - or foraging for - meals for a day brought out the best in him. In drive.
Motivation turned into national representation. And the world has been reminded that seemingly insurmountable adversity - where things look hopeless - brings out the best in human character. Gone, the frailties. As General Douglas MacArthur would attribute, the defeatism of fear.
In boxing, Pacquiao's adversity came in the form of hall of fame-caliber adversaries. The character must choose, and in his choosing, chooses what kind of character he is. This one chose to overcome, and often overwhelm.
Rebuttal
Hatton's trainer, Floyd Mayweather, Sr had repeatedly dismissed the smaller Pacquiao. The Filipino's rebuttal caused his apprentice to require hospitalization.
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Stars Jay-Z and Diddy watching the fight at ringside. (AP)
In the Art of War, it is foolish for a general to infuriate his enemy, for his action which causes arousal in battle will be the very measure which brings his legions to their silent graves.
As the global attraction grows, and the following further intensifies, Pacquiao's stature is paralleling Muhammad Ali's. This time, it is not the Vietnam War or segregation which serve as backdrops. Now, they are globalization; of gross inequity in the distribution of wealth and resources; of finding genuine inspiration in times of media prioritizing of surface over substance.
HBO commentator and long-time trainer Emmanuel Steward said of Pacquiao: "He was born to be a prize fighter."
The Legend is. Not "The Legend wants to be."
Heroes are crowned in adversity. Never in comfort. Hatton offered Pacquiao minimal ring adversity. Nevertheless, the boxing legend was crowned on May 2nd.
Comments
Article of wisdom, mate. Ricky was courageous, but simply out-gunned.
tic tac toe, haha. Ricky on the floor.
i saw mariah carey, she looked good. i would.
what a short 5 minute fight to shell out $50. they should schedule double headers with manny next time
THE PACMAN WILL BECOME THE GREATEST FIGHTER OF ALL TIME.FROM FLYWEIGHT TO WELTERWEIGHT WITH MORE AWESOME SPEED AND POWER.GAYWEATHER DREAMS OF FIGHTING PACMAN WILL NOT COME TRUE COZ COME JULY 18,MARQUEZ WILL TURN GAYWEATHER INTO UGLYBOYFLOYD 1ST TASTE OF DEFEAT AND HUMILIATION.
simply. . hatton is no match for pacquiao . . a man from manchester eaten alive by man from manila . . . still salute for hatton for being great fighter.
THE WORLD KNOWS. PACMAN ADVISES GAYWEATHER IF HE WILL COME BACK HE WILL HAVE A TUNE UP FIGHT B4 HE FIGHTS ME.GAYWEATHER GLADLY ACCEPTED MANNY'S ADVISED SHOWING HOW SCARED PRETTYGAY WAS IF HE BATTLES THE PACMAN TODAY.GOOD DECISION AND TRAINED HARD MORE B4 FACING THE PACMAN.COWARD
congratulations to manny. i hope jmm beats floyd jr. everybody knows, including here in the philippines, that the only person capable of beating mp is jmm. the pacquiao marquez match will be a better fight...
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Once again manny surprised the doubter of him.
even the pacfans are also overwhelm of the shortest time for hitman to hit the canvass
unconcious.Boxing history has turned a new page.Manny"pacman"pacuiao saga in a new era.
like always...Marv Dumon always knows what and how to write. Manny is a LEGEND, after what we he did to Hatton. That proves alot. I hope Hatton will fight another fighter so that people will realize that Knocking OUT a fighter like Hatton in only 2nd round is not suppose to happen if youu are not a LEGENDARY TYPE OF A BOXER like Pacquiao xD. If Manny is the best in boxing, Marv is the best in writing XD XD XD keep it up Marv..theirs alot of people enjoy reading your works. You know how to use the Angles ..just like Pacquiao hehehe Pacquiao is the BEST
outclassed, demolished and destroyed by Pacman ricky was...
Very well-written.
My heart goes to Hatton...(struggling to get back to earth after that blow)
My faith and loyalty will always stand firm to my fellow countryman Manny.
Before the fight MP vs. RH, Mayweather Jr.announced that he will fight Marquez in July. Signing a contract to make sure he will not fight the winner of May 2, bout. And believe me, he(Mayweather Jr.) knows at the back of his mind that MP will WIN. So announcing that he will fight JMM earlier will save him from fighting MP. However, he really made a big mistake. Because he will lose either fighting MP or JMM. The big mistake he made is that He (Mayweather Jr.) will lose only to 2nd P4P in the world but not to the #1 best fighter Living Legend right now. So, losing the the 2nd greatest fighter (JMM) is shameful than losing to the greatest one (MP). However, the biggest fight of the year will be Marquez-Pacquiao fight, Bec everyone here in the Ph knows that there is only one man who can box with MP or may be even possibly defeat the Filipino Champ. And that would only be JMM. (at least that is what I believe)
Let the guy retire, Hatton, no, ....Floyd Mayweather Sr.
even if ricky hatton lost, we, filipinos, should thank and praise him. pacquiao and hatton have the same style in boxing-they both give us entertaining fights-they excite us, but unfortunately for hatton he is a no-match to pacquiao. mayweather jr and marquez don't give us exciting fights-they are both counterpunchers. their fight is boring to watch. i think this fight will be a flop.
so Floyd Sr. should be elevated to the "Hall of Shame" after all!Tell you! Train the Hitman in darts to get even w/ Pacman.Or teach more poem to Hatton and challenge Pacman n a Literary Contest! There you'll have a fair chance to beat Pacman!
I love the author the way he writes by using his heart like Manny did in every of his fight. But the King of Kong in Michael Marley uses Manny for fame and money!
The Mayweather family and Michael Marley are in the same species.
SKY-OSK
Great article. I admire not just the boxer in Manny but the person as well. Everytime he makes the sign of the cross, it always remind me of god and my religious belief. Manny Pacquiao is a gift from god. A simple and humble boxer , a god fearing gentleman. God bless you Manny Pacquiao
hear hear Marv.good one. although too intellectual for the common pugfan.
I wan't to see Pacquiao move up and settle at Welterweight (Beat Cotto, Berto or Mosley). If he gets his 7th title in 7 weight divisions, stop comparing him to Hearns, Duran, Sugar Ray, Ali, etc. Pacquiao will be the GREATEST BOXER OF ALL TIME...
IMAGINE FROM THE 1O6 TO 147. WOW ITS INCREDIBLE DOODS, THE GREATEST BOXER THAT EVER LIVED IN THIS PLANET.
Pacquiao without doubt is the greatest boxer of all time. He fights anybody his promoter puts in the ring with him, usually bigger elite boxers, champions and former champions. And, he runs over them in devastating fashion. Nobody has done that? Winning 7 world titles in 7 different weight divisions plus the three other divisions that he skipped. That's simply amazing, and unbelievably awesome. Again, nobody has done that, except.....Manny PACMAN Pacquiao...the greatest boxer of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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