When Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather finally do collide, please tell me that my fellow Americans will not be chanting “USA! USA!” throughout the proceedings.
There are several sports situations in which that kind of patriotism is warranted, such as World Cup soccer and Olympic hockey, where the United States is an underdog.
It was marginally warranted at Saturday’s Andre Ward-Mikkel Kessler fight, as the Super Six tournament on Showtime has been boiling down to disrespect for the three American fighters involved, especially Ward. I’ve been leading the metaphorical flag-waving, but it was a bit off-putting at the fight.
Try to look at it from Kessler’s perspective. He’s from Denmark, a country the size of Maryland. He speaks our language fluently, as well as two others. He earned our respect in the ring before he fought Ward, and he earned it again Saturday while Ward was giving him a whipping he hadn’t been led to expect.
And then he’s up against the might of the most powerful nation on earth, as if Ward alone isn’t humiliating him enough?
Please don’t put Pacquiao through that. He has embraced our country in many ways while connecting us with his country, the Philippines, as never before. It’s possible to love the United States and root for Pacquiao, as I do. There are a few Filipinos who would back Mayweather, too.
It’s not about nationalism. It’s about the two fighters and their styles and their places in boxing history, and both fighters are a very important part of that.
Comments
Here, here...
Hear, hear...
Tell this idiot to list the number of Filipinos who he's in contact who'll be supporting Mayweather.
Closeted racism. Just keep quiet about your nationalism garbage this time around. Morons like you should've been downplaying nationalism when your moron president was about to bomb Iraq needlessly.
im pretty sure ppl from the philippines will treat this fight that way,but let me guess Floyd isnt american enough for you
I agree. Reason it wouldn't make sense to chant, USA, USA?...How 'bout the Philippines is an allied country that were it not for the promise to grant them independence, the Philippines might have become a US territory or quite possibly a state.
great article sir.
this isnt usa vs philippines, its about pacquiao vs mayweather.
pacquiao trains in US, trained by an american coach, and promoted by an american.
americans have no problems embracing foreign fghters in comparison to our own. americans will root for a good respectful guy, who most importantly puts on a good show. look at roberto duran. americans liked him. americans dont like big mouths, and mayweather is an embarrasing stereotype for americans. the 3 europeans in the super six have been dissing americans, so it is ok to root for their destructio, but pacquiao fights for honor, not chauvenism.
I am not racist but Mayweather Sr. and Jr. are true definition of NIG***S in America. They only represent themselves and are only out for the money. Mayweathers accusation of Pacman taking steroids and that he's not a good boxer is pure moronic. Jr. claims that he's too good for Pacquiao is just plain ignorance. They are a disgrace to this country. Mayweather Jr. has an IQ of 2.
It's BROWNIE vs BLACKIE.
NO, just because you say you're not a racist using the N word, even if edited still proves you are. Mayweather is going to beat Pacquiao. I guarantee you Pacquiao won't be able to penetrate his defense.
what if pavlik and pacquiao fights will i hear "usa! usa!"?
THE MAYWEATHERS DO NOT REPRESENT THE U.S.A.!!! I'M AN AMERICAN AND LOVE BOXING, SO MY FELLOW PATRIOTS, DON'T TURN IT INTO A RACIAL DIVIDE WHEN FIGHT NIGHT HAPPENS, CAUSE YOU'LL REGRET IT!!! CAUSE I'LL BE CHANTING "MANNY" "MANNY" "MANNY"....LOL (EXCEPT MY BROTHER, HE LIKES MAYWEATHER THAT FAIRY)
As a real American, this thought didn't even cross my mind. It's pretty stupid that anyone would, so why even write the article? Like a majority of Americans, we don't even like and can't even stand the Mayweathers. They are a pathetic excuse for Americans if you ask me. So no, I will make this into a US vs Philippines thing if the do fight. I'll take the guy who trains, says his prayers, and takes his vitamins (not steroids)...we all know who that is, it's Manny Pacquiao!
DONT WORRY EVERYONE IN USA HATES MAYWEATHER
Mayweather can run but he cannot hide. Dont stop running Mayweather, Pacquiao will get you in round 9. You talk dirty, after 9 rounds you won't be able to talk no more.
To those who think that Americans are great well Pacman is here to prove you all wrong your Chimp Mayweather will meet Master Pacman.
backing floyd in that fight is stupid enough, that shouting USA! USA! is moronic. you can put your money down for floyd beating the pacman but backing/supporting his greedy a55?!? that would speak a lot of what USA is all about. this aint a country vs another. this is a great boxer vs a wouldve-couldve boxer.
I agree with you collin wholeheartedly. Lil jr does not care anybody but himself, he only fights for himself. My nephew could care less if he fights for the flag of the USA or for the flag of Aruba.
If Pacquiao is looking for a sparring partner I am available and can mimic Mayweather's running style - I may not be as quick as him though.
Great Article.
Some fools from Pacland have already turned this into a racial subject by suggesting that Floyd stand up for the 'Black Race' at the demands of African Americans. PURE BULLSH!T.
In the end, I really hope the chanting is limited to "Manny Manny!" and "Money! Money!" and it sounds so alike that both Floyd and Manny both think they are being cheered for!
AYE MALARKEY IF PAC VS PAVLIK....LOL HECK NO, I'D STILL CHANT "MANNY" "MANNY" "MANNY"!!! THIS LITTLE GUY IS AWESOME. THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT BOXERS OUT THERE, BUT THIS GUY IS TRULY SPECIAL!!! FROM 106 TO 147 DAMN THIS GUY IS A PHENOM!!! PRIVLEDGED IN OUR LIFE TIME TO WITNESS AN AWESOME AND EXCITING FIGHTER!!! LET ME REPEAT "EXCITING" FIGHTER!!!
...and why not?... mayweather has embraced the role of ugly american and exploited it, publicity wise, to the hilt... but on the other hand pacquiao has somewhat become what we call here a "little brown american" it's just hard to fault manny because he's so candid in his innocent bliss that it's a hard sell to put malice in his actions.....in the end though I say, RETURN THE BELLS OF BALANGGIGA!!!
I wonder why this topic was even brought out.
and to you "Pilipino Ako"
You need to back off with your racial insinuations.
Always remember, Manny Pacquiao is from the Philippines, he trains in an American gym, his conditioning coach is a Latino and his sparring partners are African American.
So people need to back off the the race card.
Manny is beyond Filipino now. He's represents hard work and dedication and just happens to be from The Philippines.
Ho hum...what an idiot article. Man, go around the USA and the Philippines. You will notice Filipinos inthe US who are now Americans and Filipinos with American roots- especially in movies, politics, government and sports. The two countries are military allies since WW2 where they fought the Japs and died together for the sake of freedom and democracy. And even until now... Only idiots will create a national divide between the two countries with boxing. It will be more exciting to see Americans shouting for Mayweather and the Filipinos for Pacqiao, in the spirit of sport competition. That makes the fight more interesting. But being a sports, we each have his own favorite in the fight btween May and Pac. Frankly, I dislike May as a person but as a boxer, he has my respect and entertains doubts if Pacquiao can win over a smart defense specialist. Will I root for Pacquiao. Of course, I will, hoping he wins over May, because he fight with a big heart and makes his every fight a thriller!!!
LOL USAIN BOLT....LOL SORRY BUDDY, BUT THEY GOT LANCE ARMSTRONG AND SOME OF THE TOP CYCLISTS FROM THE TOUR DE FRANCE TO GET INTO THE RING WITH MANNY AND HE'LL HAVE TO CHASE THEM DOWN WHILE THEY TAKE TURNS BACKPADDLING IN THE RING!!! WE ALL KNOW ROACH IS FAMOUS FOR FINDING THE BEST SPARRING PARTNERS THAT CAN MIMIC PACQUIAOS OPPONENTS AND ALTERNATES FRESH PARTNERS EVERY 3 ROUNDS. SO I BELIEVE THIS TIME PACQUIAO IS GONNA HAVE A HARD TIME CHASING THIS GUY!!!
usa vs pilipinas sounds good.
I'm a Filipino-American but that is a stupid comment from PILIPINO AKO. Pacman is great? Yes, but he's the one and only. Who else? Everybody else is corrupt.
This is really a good article and I hope all those ethnocentric, racist Filipinos read between the lines and apply this to article's message to the racist bigotry they feel empowered to express on the sole exploits of Manny Pacquiao.
You know what guys, this is the bottomline, and the bottomline is so stupid.. Americans are racist!!! We all know that. Look at what Pacquiao has already achieved?? Americans, especially the American media still dont give our man the credit. Manny Pacquiao is already the greatest fighter of all time, greater than Ali, than Robinson. But they insist that Manny should fight Mayweather to be the greatest of all time. That's bullcrap. It's like saying Mayweather is the standard for greatness. You got to be kidding me. A guy who only fought a Baldomir saying already he's greater than Ali and Robinson. BTW, Ali and Robinson are Americans. Americans do not want an Asian to be the greatest of all time.
if this happens, roach will be in big trouble. he will be
considered a traitor.
being humble in victory, respectful, prayerful, and hard-working should be the traits of a real American. we all know who between the two (Pacquiao or Mayweather) has all these qualities.
Cmon guys! whats not to like about Pacquiao and the Filipino people.Pacquiao is a fighter that doesnt know how to badmouth his opponent god fearing and a fighter that lets you get up from your seat during a fight.We may have different opinion about Pacquiao but im sure that we all want to see him fight coz he always wants to "make people happy" Lots of fighters have a lot to learn from Pacquiao (humility and respect).I know for sure that all americans (except for the MAyweathers)will not treat this fight as U.S.A vs Philippines .Americans are smarter than that.
No way, philipinos will cheer Philippines against USA. If Freddie Roach would cheer for USA, Pacquaiao and his team might cheer for USA too.
Biagnosis,
You need to come to America before you start letting the Ta'e out of your mouth.
Maybe Manny Pacquiao should start taking lessons in behavior from some of his fans and start calling Floyd a 'monkey' and start accusing Roach of being a white guy.
There are still some people that think Philippines is part of USA. USA bought the Philippines from Spain.
Pilipino Ako is an ass#%#. Go back to your mountain and start going back to school ...mor@5n
i thought this is more about black americans versus asians. a lot of questions were made why pacman is avoiding black americans. a black african doesn't even count as pac took his superbantam belt from ledwaba.
although obama is president, i don't think blacks have become the majority or even the u.s.a.
USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA!!! ALL DAY USA PBF GONNA BEAT THE SH¨T OUT RICE^PAC! USA USA USA USA USA!
Get it through your thick skull!!
This is not about blacks vs asians. This is about Manny vs Floyd.
I swear, some of you people are truly stupid as hell.
There will always be racists everywhere. You can already see some of them posting comments...
I agree with the author, he's reminding us that this is not about race, it's about boxing.
how can you say america is the most powerful nation on earth? can you beat russia? can you beat china? can you beat north korea? wait a minute didn't the vietnamese kick you're asses? bwaahaahaahaa america world police yeah right
anyone that goes aginst my boy floyd mayweather jr. doesn't know boxing just look at the records and the landed percentage! ill give it to manny for miguel cotto but besides that mannys to best fights have been with some fighters,mayweathers already seasoned up!!!!!! money baby
This is Africa vs the Philippines.
Wow Colin, when Pacquiao & Mayweather collide not
if. Where did you get this pompous claim? From Floyd
Senior?
Now listen good my friend.
Pac's Mom does not want Manny to fight anymore.
Almost 15 years into this brutal occupation
and Mom Dionisia is appealing to his pet son to call it a day?
to hang it up. Can't we respect that fervent wish of her MoM?
Stupid writer!!!! You are the one who started thinking about it. You initiated it MORON! Lots of your people are crazy,In your country is not safe. A lot of missing little girls and being rape.
this gonna be a big money fight really. fans wanna watch the fighter they really hate and the fighter they really admire.
lets put it in positive way!!!! USA vs RP means competition in SPORT... it is not a WAR... its a GOOD SPORT!!!! don think about racism here... were all HUMAN!!!! PACQUIAO is a FILIPINO!!! MAYWEATHER is AMERICAN!!! Lets thanks that US and RP meets in this SPORT... and i hope and i wish to all kind of SPORT also!!! maybe someday its USA vs RP in Basketball ( in Olympics) lol. hahahaha.....
let us not turn this to a black and brown fight. this is beyond that. its about a fight between a monkey and a baboon. an ugly face vs an uglier face. a big nosed man with mustache vs an even bigger nosed man without mustache. a talker vs a man with no more words to talk about. a coward vs a stalker. a runner vs a hunter. chocolate versus vanilla. wwe superstar vs pinoy super hero. a retarded father's son versus a son who's father ate his dog. a hip hop wannabe vs a singer wannabe. pretty boy vs the pacman. money vs. manny. US vs the philippines.
When not if Colin? Pacquiao/Mayweather won't happen.
Pacman's MOM wants him out.
15 years into this brutal game
and Mom Dionisia says enough.
Why can't you misguided scribes
see that.
To hell with promoters
salivating for such a megabuck fight.
Nuff said and Merry Christmas to you
my dear friend.
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