by James Slater – The year 2009 has surely been the best yet in the incredible career of the astonishing Manny Pacquiao! Although he had just two bouts – stopping Ricky Hatton in 2-rounds in May, and stopping an amazingly brave Miguel Cotto in the 12th-rounds just one week ago – Pacquiao showed us most vividly how great he really is this year.
As such, is there possibly any other fighter in with a shot at winning the Fighter of the Year award when Ring magazine and various other publications select their winner? It sure looks doubtful, even though a few fighters have also had a good 12 months in 2009. Also, the year isn’t over yet. But all the remaining fights of this year have been scheduled, and there isn’t a fight that can be won by any fighter that would propel him anywhere close to having had as fine a year as “Pac-Man..”
Not only is the Filipino sensation a lock for the Fighter of the Year award in my view, he will also probably pick up the KO of the Year award, for his devastating win over Hatton. And as for Fight of the Year, his excellent battle with Cotto must surely be in the running to have such an honour bestowed upon it. There have been a few great fights this year, though – such as Shane Mosley-Antonio Margarito and Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz, to name just two that will give Pacquiao-Cotto a run for it’s money – and this award will likely take some tough decision making.
Whichever way you look at it, though, and even if Pacquiao TKO 12 Cotto doesn’t win Fight of the Year, 2009 has truly been the year of The Pac-Man. We thought 2008 was a great 12 months for Manny, and it sure was, but this year he has looked even better – even to the extent that people are now asking themselves if he deserves to be placed somewhere in the top-ten of the all time greats of boxing.
Despite the ever growing number of accolades coming his way, however, Manny remains as humble and as likeable as ever. What other multi millionaire, all-time great athlete can you name who has the humility to call his trainer his ‘master’? This is how the deeply respectful 30-year-old refers to the man who discovered him and turned him into the majestic fighting machine he is today – Freddie Roach.
Remembering the poor surroundings he escaped from and the man who was willing to help him when he made it to America, Pacquiao, if you asked him, would tell you Roach deserves a share of any award that comes his way. Face it, Manny is just a great guy; and he’s a great fighter also.
His trophy cabinet already full, Pacquiao had better find a new one soon, because he’s sure to be showered with more plaques and belts and cups and the like as the year ends. Just imagine how great a year Manny will have in 2010 if he manages to get a fight with Floyd Mayweather Junior and win it!
Is there anything this boxing legend cannot achieve?