Manny pacquiao: The walking target

they’re coming for you Manny Pacquiao. 2016 will mark the first time in the career of the Filipino icon where every effort will be made to turn him from hunter to prey. And now, more so than at any other time of his career, Pacquiao will have to be ready to fend off the challenges from young lions as well as deal with the floodgates to these challenges being opened by promoter Bob Arum.

Like with wild animals in the jungle, weakness is seen as a liability in boxing. A wounded beast, no matter how ferocious in his prime, will be targeted by other animals for elimination. In the boxing world, the mighty cash cows of the game will be pursued at the “right” time and taken down in a forced passing of the torch.

In the particular case of Manny Pacquiao, earning the richest payday of his life for the most frustrating loss of his career is enough to get him pegged as a prime target—jaded from the money and demoralized from the defeat. Throw in Manny’s shoulder injury and the fact that he’ll be 37 in December, entering into his 21st year as a pro and it’s clear why the biggest and best in the 140-147 lb. range are practically licking their chops for a shot at retiring him.

And with a win over Pacquiao, of course, comes a huge step up in the sport, a much higher guaranteed purse, and, perhaps, a pay-per-view career of their own. Just as Manny rose to next-level s****om when he retired Oscar De la Hoya, boxing’s top welters and junior welters are looking to do the same at his expense.

Terence Crawford is frequently mentioned as the pound-for-pound heir apparent to Mayweather and Pacquiao and looks to be in a good position to challenge Manny in the second half of 2016. Kell Brook is a talented UK welterweight and world title belt holder who would jump at the chance of meeting Manny. Danny Garcia is a former two-belt champ at junior welterweight who just moved up to welter to pursue these types of big fights. Amir Khan, of course, has been itching for either Mayweather or Pacquiao and, given his raw athletic ability, could score an upset over either on any given night. Hard-hitting Lucas Matthysse would love a chance to crack Pacquiao and instantly become a national hero in his native Argentina. The talented Keith Thurman is also around and would not think twice about stepping up to Manny for a shot at the really big time. Count, also, former Mayweather foes, Marcos Maidana and Robert Guerrero among those willing to target Pacquiao.

Of course, some of these pairings would be roadblocked by boxing politics, but, as we saw from Mayweather-Pacquiao, if both sides really want a fight, deals can be brokered.

Whatever the case, though, the young lions in the jungle smell weakness when they sniff around Manny Pacquiao. Opponents will be coming at him heavy and hard and from every direction possible this coming year. If he’s not ready for the attacks, his legendary career will be cut down most brutally.

http://boxingbuzz.sportsblog.com/posts/4569516/manny-pacquiao--the-walking-target.html