Manny Pacquiao: Can A Legacy Built Up Be So Quickly Torn Down?

boxingBy Vivek Wallace: The sport of boxing now sits on the cusp of a moment more monumental than arguably any other moment in the history of sports. Time has found a way to separate legends of the past, preventing the world from seeing epic showdowns such as a prime Jordan versus a prime Kobe, or a prime Tyson versus a prime Ali. For once, it appears that history got it right, as arguably one of the best offensive fighters ever has come at the precise moment in time dominated by a man who some would argue serves as potentially the best defensive fighter ever. With the lights dimmed, the audience awaiting, and the stage set, rather than having the curtains pulled, it appears the rug itself was, directly from below the feet of the public. With so much at stake and so many anticipating, the long-awaited Mayweather/Pacquiao showdown is believed to be dead in the water without hope to survive. The finger pointing goes in every direction possible, yet buried somewhere deep beneath the veil of excuses stands a rather small source with the ability to step up and do big things, as evidenced in his past ring escapades.

Forever known as an amazing fighter, the battle that Manny Pacquiao now finds himself in is for far more than his voice could sing, his fist could break, or his money could buy.. Right now, for Pacquiao, it goes much deeper, as the very legacy he set out to build is in the process of slowly crumbling down.

For quite some time now, we all marveled the prowess behind one Manny Pacquiao – totally bewildered at how a man who once stood at a very frail 106lbs found the inner strength to devour those seemingly twice his size. An old adage states “if it seems too good to be true, be sure it is”, and as the days pass us by, the reality has set in that perhaps…..well….perhaps it is. When he defeated the likes of Morales and Barrera, we said he was “good”. When he defeated the likes of Hatton and De la Hoya, we said he was “great”, but still within range because there was someone who had also recently defeated these men. When he effectively stepped out of the shadows of that man (Floyd Mayweather jr.) by facing another who few felt he had a chance against (Miguel Cotto) – and won – at that moment, the legend of Manny Pacquiao was born. Sounds good in theory, but the questions have shifted from “who he can beat”, to “how could he beat them”, and the list of people asking the question have grown from his enemies, to his critics, to what now stands as a group of his staunch supporters, as well.

A recent decline at the opportunity to take steroid test which would only serve as a way to preserve his legacy has left practically everyone wondering what really is their to hide? In an effort to hone in on the issue a little closer, I present this 10minute video segment….you decide!

(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexemail@yahoo.com, 954-292-7346, YouTube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), Facebook and Myspace).

MERRY CHRISTMAS….PEACE….BLESSINGS…..AND PROSPERITY TO ALL….ONE LOVE!