I also agree with Jessica: It’s a talent. To win at something as primal a sport as boxing, you need more than the ability to pound your opponent to bits. It takes strategy, knowing when to strike and how to go about defeating your opponent without getting beaten up yourself. I think it needs intelligence to win at boxing–and Manny has that. Even with all the training in the world, I don’t think anyone can just do it–and do it excellently several times over in a weight class other than his own.

And I say bravo to Manny for taking advantage of his talent. You have this guy who came from a hardscrabble existence, who had a talent with his fists and used that get ahead in life and succeeded beyond all expectations. I think that’s the underlying factor why Filipinos are so proud of him. It’s a classic triumph against adversity story, what can I say?

“Shouldn’t we aspire for our kids to be the next Nobel laureate instead? Or the architect/engineer of some “super dam” like the one they have in Venice, that will save us from future floodings due to climate change?”

Yes, we should. But it says more about our frakked up government and educational system than about Manny and Manny’s victory why kids in his hometown want to be like him. I also think he’s a good example–the violence of his sport notwithstanding. Unlike most of our politicians, he got his millions honestly and not through dipping their grubby hands into the nation’s coffers. Manny got his through blood, sweat, and tears–literally!

@brewhuh23: I was actually thinking about this last Saturday. I’m not a boxing fan at all, but I was nervous that Manny would lose. He’s been fighting out of his weight class for several matches now and he can’t sustain this for so long. I wasn’t afraid for him. I was afraid for us, haha!

His opponents were losing weight drastically? Manny actually was moving up in THEIR weight classes. The Cotto fight took place at 145 lbs, well within the welterweight band of 140-147 lbs. The Hatton fight also took place at the weight range Hatton was comfortable with.

Some critics were actually saying that Pacquiao might lose against Hatton and Cotto because he would be fighting in THEIR divisions which the two had dominated. It’s not like it was the first time Hatton and Cotto fought in those weight categories. They actually dominated their class until Pacquiao.

It’s only de la Hoya who was not a “natural” in the weight class they fought in, but de la Hoya had actually fought and dominated that weight class in his younger days.

He’s one of a kind.

Yes, it’s nice to have a Filipino win a Nobel Prize someday. Don’t blame Pacquiao why it hasn’t happened yet.

I wish Norman Mailer were still alive (and young!) so he could also write a scholarly write-up on the Pacman.

The guy just mows down world class opponents like it’s the easiest thing in the world. The list includes future Hall of Famers Barrera, Morales, de la Hoya, Hatton and Cotto. He just doesn’t win–he demolishes his opponents in such a convincing fashion, you can count with your fingers the rounds he has lost since Morales I (which Roach said was the real eye opener for Pacquiao when he realized he had to become more than a one-dimensional fighter).

He even used the rope-a-dope tactic ala Ali in the Cotto fight! Got Roach worried as Manny took some really nasty hits, but you had to give it to Manny for proving that he’s now truly a complete boxer. One of the all-time greats.