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Is Manny Pacquiao bigger than Ali, Tyson, and Oscar?
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Filipino warrior Manny Pacquiao connects on opponents, and with countrymen
In a recent interview, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum - a source who would know - spoke on the fact that he finds Filipino Manny Pacquiao to be more adored and admired than the sports once lone icon, Muhammad Ali. In the same interview, trainer Freddie Roach also chimed in on his thoughts about Pacquiao, whom in his estimation has "more drawing power" than Mike Tyson.
For such a little warrior, one would think those shoes would be quite large to fill, but just as we've seen Pacquiao's weight increase in size, so has his name based on his latest heroics.
Despite the fact that there seems to be a few brewing within Team Pacquiao, no one can deny that the brave warrior has never failed to step up and seize the moment when opportunity comes knocking.
Regardless of what happens in the ring, Pacquiao's star continues to rise for various reasons, many which go well beyond the squared circle.
Muhammad Ali had core issues like politics and racism in his era to help propel him to an iconic status that remains larger than the sport. Mike Tyson had the ferocity and explosive mystique that only comes once in a lifetime, and Oscar was, and remains perhaps the biggest draw the sport has ever seen among women worldwide with those golden looks.
For Manny Pacquiao, there seems to be a union of all three elements, yet on a smaller scale.
His explosive nature in the ring (ala Mike Tyson) is surely a claim to fame, as evidenced every time he squares off. With regards to his political impression, many in his country are not truly sold on his aspirations, but in another sense, those same people support him, because he's in the fact an ambassador, and technically the face of his entire country.
That point alone sheds light on why he is who he is. Michael Jordan was a global icon and so is Tiger Woods, but neither man serve as the face of their country.
In the case of Manny Pacquiao, not only is he that global icon, but when you think Philippines, you think Manny Pacquiao, earning him a status that no other athlete on the planet today has.
So, in the end, we can question his worldwide status, but every time you see the Filipino flag wave, the fact that you think of him without his face being on it can only serve as perhaps the best and only answer.
My parting thoughts to both his critics and supporters.....Enjoy him while you can....This type of phenomenon only comes around once a generation, or perhaps even once in a lifetime.
(Problems Brewing Within Team Pacquiao?)
(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexemail@yahoo.com, Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), www.vivekwallace.com, Facebook and Myspace).
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