The fire in Manny Pacquiao's eyes is gone and so is his championship belt

SPORTS NOTES EXTRA - IS MANNY PACQUIAO AWOL?

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

After losing a split decision this past weekend to Timothy Bradley the boxing world went into a rage screaming that the result was a farce and that the Pac Man won. Pacquiao was the only one that didn't cry foul and accepted the judge's decision. The reality is that the 33-year-old Philippine appears to have lost his focus and hunger for the game

Friday June 15, 2012

DOWN & OUT?

Will the real Manny Pacquiao please stand up as the one we're seeing is not he so where is the real Manny Pacquiao? Did he go AWOL?

One of the greatest stories of this century is the evolution of Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao. He rose from rags to riches took his lumps and losses early in his career but in the process he learned along the way the bloom into one of the most revered and admired fighters of his era. The problem is…. THE BLOOM IS OFF THE ROSE.

After losing a split decision this past weekend to Timothy Bradley the boxing world went into a rage screaming that the result was a farce and that the Pac Man won. Pacquiao was the only one that didn't cry foul and accepted the judge's decision. The reality is that the 33-year-old Philippine appears to have lost his focus and hunger for the game.

Pacquiao was named as the Fighter of the Decade for years 2000-2009 by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). This award was presented by legendary boxer Joe Frazier, who was also a recipient of the award himself back in 1978 for defeating Muhammad Ali. Aside from this prestigious recognition, he was also named as the Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year for 2009, having received the same honor in 2006 and 2008. That was then but… THIS IS NOW.

It's been a while since he's fought like the tiger that his theme song resonates as he heads to the ring form his dressing room as he's a tiger no more. In part he admits to partying around too much with the wine women and song. He's also a politician in his country. The bottom line is he has spread himself too thin and has become soft and lost some of his skills as he's getting older not younger.

His overconfidence of not being beaten in seven years since Eric Morales did it March 19, 2005 appears to have gone to his head as his training has been poor as his manager Freddie Roach will attest. Pacquiao started an acting career in the Philippines in 2005 as an extra in some local films and guest appearances on ABS-CBN shows. He said before the Bradley fight that he has changed his ways and is giving up the gambling, women and song with his burning the candle at both ends habits.

On May 13, 2010, Pacquiao was officially proclaimed congressman of the lone district of Sarangani. He scored a landslide victory over the wealthy and politically well-entrenched Chiongbian clan that had been in power in the province for more than thirty years. Pacquiao got 120,052 votes while his opponent for the seat, Roy Chiongbian, got 60,899 votes. The result is this job adds to his schedule and is mentally and physically demanding. The end result is too much at one time on his plate equates to he's no longer champion.

The Bradley controversy reeks of Pacquiao's debatable result last year on November 12, 2011 Juan Manuel Marquez lost to Pacquiao via majority decision by garnering scores 114-114, 115-113 & 116-112 from scorecards of three judges. Upon the results being announced, the crowd reaction was largely negative with thousands continuing to boo as Pacquiao spoke with Max Kellerman. Marquez asked what he had to do to get a decision over Pacquiao as he thought he won the fight.

Tim Smith of New York's Daily News wrote that Márquez "was robbed of a decision by judges who were either blind or corrupt." However, ringside punch stats showed Pacquiao landing more strikes, 176 to 138, and landing more power punches, 117 to 100. Michael Woods of ESPN stated that Marquez was not robbed noting the Compubox stats, all of which favored Pacquiao. The bottom line is controversy works both ways and this time the decision went against Pacquiao.

Pacquiao hasn't been right since he took out Rickey Hatton in the second round May 2nd 2009 when he was 30. Since that time he has fought 72 rounds total in his six fights and age three years while partying throughout that time. Prior to that it goes back to the Eric Morales fight on the 18th of November 2006 when he was only 27. To accumulate 72 rounds in the ring from the middle of that fight he fought seven times over times over a three year period to accumulate 72 rounds in the ring.

That doesn't spell relief for the Pac Man it spells work too hard and is tired… he is burnt. Top that off with the wine women, song and gambling it doesn't look good. The fire in his eyes and his thirst for blood are no longer there.

At this point the question is can he turn it around at the age of 33? That's a wait and see as he must decide f he wants to be a boxer, politician or playboy. The bottom line is he can't do all at the same time and be the Pacquiao that the world has come to know as being the best pound for pound fighter in the world. Stay tuned...