Pacquiao is not the best fighter from the Filipines

Those fights with Limon were slugfests... Navarette had alot of issues though... He career went downhill. He went to Jail in Hawaii and got Koed shortly after a couple of fights in his comeback.

 

So what if he is not the best Filipino boxer. So far he is the most successful Filipino boxer having won 3 titles in 3 different weight classes. Technical skills alone is not enough. You have to have power, speed, good chin, discipline, hard work. What he lacks in skills, he more than made up in these other aspects. And don't forget his rags to riches story which Filipinos would like to be identified with. That's why he is so popular among his countrymen.

 

Another classic example of old timers being sensatinoalised over time.

Navarette was ok but no way he was better than Pac.

 

pac may not be the best boxer from the Phil. in terms of raw boxing skills. but he certainly is the best when we consider his accomplishments, record, stature and prominence. and no boxer from the phil. past or present has pac's great combo of speed, power, stamina and fighting heart.

 

I would have to favor Pac for this one, I guess. I won't say Navarette is more technically sound or had a better chin than JMM or MAB, who had difficult time handling or even stopping Pac.

 

But for their skills, both MAB and JMM are more proven. Besides, I think you need more than good skills to really offset Pacquaio's main strengths (speed, power, stamina). It is either you can withstand his aggression and dish back the punishment in a sustained basis (ala Morales) or you will be overwhelmed by his steady stream of attack.

Btw, won't you put Espinosa above Navarette in terms of skills? The only weakness in Lindol's game was his questionable chin.

 

WBC Superfeatherweight World Championship
Italy, 1981

Cornelius Boza-Edwards 31-2-0 (25KO) 25 years old
CHAMPION

versus

Rolando Navarette 35-7-3 (15KO) 24 years old
CHALLENGER

[yt]DqFgQhFjs4A[/yt]

 

He is definitely the most popular boxer to come out of Asia. Fighters like Elorde, Navarette, Espniosa etc. fought during a time were the division they fought in was not as popular. Aside form that, Filipino support in the U.S. was not like today in the Pacman era, in which the population boom of Pinoys can help the sales of PPV events and help fill out arenas.

Filipinos have a decent history in boxing stretching all the way to the early part of the 19th century. From Pancho Villa to Manny Pacquiao, there has been a Filipino champion in every decade. The Philippines helped co-found the WBC which had a Filipino as its first president. There is a bias to boxing however, a barrier to entry that is at the moment uncomfortable as to be ignored by those whos credit can lift a vail of ignorance and prejudice.

If you watch boxing long enough you would have heard and learned about the great Mexican/Puerto Rican fighters; the Salvador Sanchez', Wilfred Benitez', JLC's, Wilfredo Gomez. References are always made to the great history of these nationalites in the sport when watching a fighter of that nationality engage in battle. Lamply rightfully raves about the warrior tradition of Mexican fighters when Morales exchanges with Pacman while on the otherhand, Emmanuel Stewart tries to explain ignorantly how kick boxing has made Manny and all Filipino fighters legs so big. FYI Filipinos do not kickbox nor did any fighters from the P.I. past or present. I mean you have a great fighter like Pacquiao making the most influential boxing network millions and you can't learn a little bit about Filipino history. The Vail of ignorance will have the viewing public believing Filipinos are Thai or Chinese Its all the same I guess, unless your Filipino who are in actuallity probably closer to Mexicans than Chinese in culture.

When have you ever heard a tangent conversation by HBO commentators on the Filipino fighters who preceeded Manny when he shows off his potential greatness in the ring; Pancho Villa, Ceferino Garcia- invented the bolo punch, Flash Elorde-7 year champ in the 130lbs division and considered by many to be greatest SFW ever, Navarette, Espinosa, among the other forgotten champions the Philippines has had. I maybe wrong but It just feels that the barrier is still resisting entry. Just recently I was watching an jr. Bantam undercard, could not remember exactly which one but it was on HBO(Gabi/Mares?). All I remember was the mention of how exciting and interesting the division was and the names of Soto, Montiel, Arce, Mijares, Castillo, and Darchinyan were brought up as possibe opponents for each other. I remember this well because I was waiting for the mention of Donaire -who knocked out Darchinyan, Penalosa - who knocked out Gonzales and had a controversial fight with De Leon, and Gorrez - who took Montiel to the brink of losing in a controversial decision.

It's rather amuzing really to see fights wherein a major Pinoy underdog gives his opponent more than they bargained for. Katsidis and everyone else thought Amonsot was going to get steam rolled, same with Pacquiao when he faced Ledwaba, Penalosa and De Leon/Gonzales, Jaca/ Marquez, Donaire/Darchinyan, Montiel/Gorrez. Win some loose some but history cannot be denied as the past has proven that the Philippines can produce great warriors and the increased interest and support from fight fans in the U.S. seems to have revived the passion for the sport in the island nation.

I don't know what it is that prevents HBO(Lampley) from giving some credence to Pinoys other than Pacquiao, or even learning about Filipinos so they can get it right on the show, just like they do with Mexicans or Puerto Ricans. It'll happen though, as long as promoters keep bringing the talent, Pinoys will eventually get their credit and the Vail of ignorance and prejudice will lift and give Filipinos an identity different than that which led Stewart to believe kickboxing is a Filipino sport. With Pacquiao being the Philippines biggest star, boxing has become ambassador for proud Filipinos everywhere.

In watching the Marquez/Pacquiao II fight I was struck with the dialogue of Lampley and Merchant in which Lampley commented about Pacquiao being the greatest boxer to ever come out of Asia in which Merchant agreeing replied something to the effect of Pacquiao being first greatest fighter out Asia, he briefly mentioned Elorde, and said there will never be another fighter like pacquiao to come out of Asia(the last(someone correct me if im wrong)). I may have taken him to literally but with the ignorance they constantly show and the omission of prominent Filipino pugs from conversations they should be included in, maybe it is just a reflection of Americas views towards Asian Masculinity. An Asian beating up on Aztec warriors breaks the mold of a stereotype still perpetuated today. Maybe more than 1 Manny Pacquiao is too much. Next thing you know Jet Li will be doing kissing scenes. Filipinos never fit that mold for those of you who live in Cali or who just know Pinoys.

 

Hey Luzon, try splitting what you just wrote into 3 or 4 paragraphs.

It's a bit hard to read.





EDIT:

Thanks, Luzon.

 

I have always thought Pac was a tad one-dimensional. His physical skills make up for it and he is very good at what he does, but as seen against a guy like Marquez, who I thought beat him in AT LEAST one of their matchups, and how Morales did him in their first fight, I do believe a good counter-puncher is the type to beat him, one that can apply subtle pressure as well at times.