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Boricua shower of love underscores Pacquiao's popularity
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How to shake some pom poms
Forget, for a minute, all the various weight division titles. It dawned on me sitting ringside at Miguel Cotto’s entertaining Garden party Saturday night, where 17,734 of his closest compadres gathered, that Pinoy Idol Manny Pacquiao has a new and important crown.
Only someone named Mayweather casts any doubts on his status as boxing’s best, pound for pound.
But, instead of getting the infamous Bronx cheer (boos) on Cotto’s big night on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, there was nothing but love shown for the Filipino phenom two nights in succession in the Big Apple.
I’ve been covering fights in Puerto Rico since the mid 1970s, going back to the halcyon days of Wilfred Benitez, Bazooka Gomez and other island ring greats. Nowhere, not in PR or in the San Juan suburb known as the five boroughs of New York, have I have heard such a thunderous show of respect given to a fighter of a different nationality by the boxing knowledgeable Boricuas.
They may have shown as much respect for Roberto Duran but I can't think of anyone else.
Naturally, the outpouring of oral love and respect just prior to Cotto-Joshua Clottey won’t be repeated come Nov. 17 when Megammanny is ready to pound on Caguas homeboy Cotto but that awesome ovation spoke volumes regardless.
It was a sign of complete acceptance and respect for Manny and his ring accomplishments. And it showed some real class and sportsmanship.
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Is Pacman at the peak of his popularity? I don’t think so, not yet. Don’t forget he only turns 31 in December so, if he wants to go, he can grow even more popular outside of his homeland if he keeps on fighting.
He might draw some boos when he becomes a Congressman but all politicians get that.
Herewith my abbreviated list of the MPF’s of the world, the Most Popular Fighters:
1. MANNY PACQUIAO: Turning up in Forbes, the financial magazine, and Time. What is next, Field & Stream or Popular Mechanics? Puerto Rico recognized Pacman in an emotional and heartfelt way. I know Manny schlepped 17,000 air miles with wife Jinkee when he wanted to be on the beaches in Bohol but that applause alone made the trip worthwhile.
2. RICKY HATTON: Sure, Manny crunched him like an empty bag of fish and chips. But, if he fights on, I bet he hasn’t lost a single follower. The Brits are well known for supporting their ring heroes win, lose or draw and heavyweight Frank Bruno is a case study in that. This immense drawing power will likely lead Hatton to box on at least for one more bout.
3. WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO: OK, you can toss brother Vitali in since they are an entry. Selling 60,000 for a soccer stadium in Germany for a bout with David Hayemaker Haye says all you need to know about how the Germans have taken to the Klitschko Bros.
4. MIKKEL KESSLER: Despite inactivity,WBA super middleweight champ remains his small country’s (five million people) most beloved pro athlete. If Kessler blows his nose in Copenhagen or Monte Carlo, it’s news for the small but concentrated Danish media hounds.
5. KELLY PAVLIK: Wouldn’t Pavlik-Kessler be a mouthwatering match up? Pavlik owns Youngstown, Ohio, where it seems every man, woman and child knows and likes him. It’s often not easy to be a big fish in a small pool but no airs “Ghost” seems to handle it well.
I know some of you, OK three of you are saying, I forgot Floyd Mayweather Jr. on this list.
OK, I give in. Mayweather is the most popular fighter in his own zip code of 89507 of whatever it is in Las Vegas in Clark County in the great state of Nevada.
And some of you guys think I’m a Pacman cheerleader. That reminds me, my new Pinoy pom poms should be coming by UPS this week.
I may apply to Katrina Halili for some lessons on how to shake them on down.
Michael is a former sports columnist at the New York Post. He was a criminal defense attorney and worked for sports legends Howard Cosell and Don King. Marley also operates BoxingConfidential.com. Email him your thoughts.
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