Manny Pacquiao Endorsed Products (Among Others)
Smart
San Miguel Beer
Ginebra San Miguel
No Fear
McDonalds
Circulan
Alaxan
Darlington
Extreme Magic Sing

I am a Pacman fan. I have been one even before his destruction of the great Marco Antonio Barrera. The fact that we both came from the province of South Cotabato didn’t hurt either. I like the way he leaves everything in the ring everytime he fights.

I’ve realized early on that what attracted me to boxing was my blood-lust. I watch with manic glee the struggle between two gladiators in the ring. Armed only with padded gloves, they try to decapitate each other from bell to bell. In my mind that is what boxing should be, a take no prisoners sport to settle the question as to who is the better, stronger, tougher man.

I used to lick my chops everytime a prime Mike Tyson fights. Inside the ring he was fury personified. A non-stop punching machine who would absorb the hardest punches in order to dish out his own. Before him, there was Roberto Duran who nursed hatred in his heart towards his opponents and let it all hang out inside the ring.

Then came the technical fighters, the exponents of the hit without getting hit type of boxers, out-slicking their opponents, wearing them down with pitter patter until they become ripe for the picking. This is the genre of the Pernell Whitakers, the Sugar Ray Leonards, and most recently the PBFs. They represent everything that is technically right but not necessarily exciting in the sport of boxing.

Manny Pacquiao is from the blood and guts school of the sweet science. He fights with a rage that can only be satiated with the sight of his opponent lying supine in the canvas. He’s a punching monster that wouldn’t stop swinging even when his opponent is already on his knees. The Pacman monicker is a euphemism. If one really observes the way Manny fights, he is more like a pitbull, ferocious, unrelenting. Once he senses that his opponent is hurt, he jumps on the opponent with both fists and never lets up until his adversary is on his knees or lying flat on the canvas.

These days however, in his last fight with Larios specifically, even Manny’s fighting style has evolved. He has added a tactical dimension to his game. Gone was the one dimensional fighter that sends my blood pressure to orbit. He now goes in and out, firing off combos befuddling his opponents. Gone was the person who would stand toe-to-toe with anyone hurling wild punches until one of them bites the dust.

The new Manny is one who now has a lot to lose and thus embraces the hit and not get hit precept of boxing. The new Manny is one you see on TV or hear on radio commercials every 30 seconds. The new Manny is even rumored to hold a concert (gasp!), heaven help us.

Where is the Manny of old? Where is the pure guts and fury warrior who so captured my imagination?

Who is this bemoustacheed person starring in 90% of all TV commercials egging us to buy the products he endorse? Who are you? What have you done to Manny?

I am a Manny fan, but right now I am so sick of seeing him everyday. Already the Philippines wakes with and dreams of Manny Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao leaks from each Filipinos’ nose and ears, and yet everyone still cannot get enough of him.

Except me. And then some.

I hope to never see or hear from him again. Well, until his next fight that is.