The biggest star in boxing, Manny Pacquiao, will step into the ring Saturday night in Las Vegas to fight “Sugar” Shane Mosley. There’s just one problem: Manny Pacquiao is the biggest star in boxing.
Boxing is a star-driven business, and every fighter from Tyson to Ali to Balboa has had to cope with the limelight when they became the face of the sport.
Now Pacquiao has hit the stratospheric heights. He brought CBS into the upcoming pay per view, the first time in years that a broadcast network has been involved with the sport.
“He’s done a few things that will never ever be repeated,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach. “An eight-time world champion will never be touched. He’s definitely the Bill Russell of his era.”
Then again, the leader of the legendary Celtics teams of the 1960s never appeared in sketches with Norm MacDonald on Comedy Central or sang duets with Will Ferrell on Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show.
“I like Jimmy Kimmel,” said Pacquiao, “and I’m good friends with him.”
“Manny has forged a close bond with Jimmy Kimmel. He’s been treated real well there. There’s chemistry between them, and I think Manny looks forward to being on the Jimmy Kimmel show before his fights,” said promoter Bob Arum.
Of course, every minute spent in makeup for a talk show segment is time away from the gym. Team Pacquiao is saying the right things about the potential for distractions.
“Since the start of training camp, he’s been motivated for Shane. Since day one, he’s been on fire.” said Roach.
“I focused on my job, and that’s why I’m hungry and ready for this fight,” Pacquiao said. “We’ve trained hard.”
Then again, even the distracted fighters say that ahead of time. In the next breath, Pacquiao could be heard discussing his political career.
“All my life, I’ve had to fight. As a child I had to fight to eat,” said Pacquiao. “Now when I fight, the Filipinos call me a hero. I think the world needs more heroes. My biggest fight is not in boxing. My biggest fight is to end poverty in my country. I will be wearing yellow gloves into the ring on Saturday – as a symbol of unity in the fight against poverty.”
It’s a noble cause, but maybe not the best thing to occupy Pacquiao’s mind in the days before fighting a man who’s also won world titles in multiple weight classes and knocked out Antonio Margarito, who took Pacquiao the distance, in nine rounds.
Not surprisingly, Pacquiao shrugged off the concern. “That’s my life,” he said. “To keep busy. I like to do a lot of things in my life. This is how I motivate myself.”
“I’ve never seen a guy compartmentalize life better than Manny Pacquiao,” said Al Bernstein, who’ll be on the announcing team for the fight broadcast. “It’s actually staggering. When you’re around him, there seems to be a stoicism that envelops him. He holds an elected office, he’s a champion boxer, a singer, he’s been in movies, and all his humanitarian works, and somehow, he seems to center himself for these fights.”
For his part, Mosley also has some experience in being the man to bring the Biggest Name in Boxing back down to earth. When asked about the fact that Pacquiao had a new music CD coming out in the weeks leading up to fight night, Mosley said, “When I fought Oscar (de la Hoya) in 2000, he came into the ring with his CD playing. I won that fight, so things are looking good for me there.”
Mosley’s trainer, Naazim Richardson, made sure that his fighter didn’t buy into the hype, interrupting to cut off the topic with a stiff, “Next question.”
“I think Manny is focused and his camp is totally focused,” said Richardson. “I don’t think his job in government is a different distraction…I think their sole focus is on Mosley. When Shane scores this victory over Manny, I don’t want Manny to be declawed or defanged. I don’t want people to reduce Manny into distraction.”
That’s the thing about being the Biggest Name in Boxing. While you’re so busy, it’s easy to ignore all the fighters looking up at you, with all the time in the world.
Boxing is a star-driven business, and every fighter from Tyson to Ali to Balboa has had to cope with the limelight when they became the face of the sport.
Now Pacquiao has hit the stratospheric heights. He brought CBS into the upcoming pay per view, the first time in years that a broadcast network has been involved with the sport.
“He’s done a few things that will never ever be repeated,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach. “An eight-time world champion will never be touched. He’s definitely the Bill Russell of his era.”
Then again, the leader of the legendary Celtics teams of the 1960s never appeared in sketches with Norm MacDonald on Comedy Central or sang duets with Will Ferrell on Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show.
“I like Jimmy Kimmel,” said Pacquiao, “and I’m good friends with him.”
“Manny has forged a close bond with Jimmy Kimmel. He’s been treated real well there. There’s chemistry between them, and I think Manny looks forward to being on the Jimmy Kimmel show before his fights,” said promoter Bob Arum.
Of course, every minute spent in makeup for a talk show segment is time away from the gym. Team Pacquiao is saying the right things about the potential for distractions.
“Since the start of training camp, he’s been motivated for Shane. Since day one, he’s been on fire.” said Roach.
“I focused on my job, and that’s why I’m hungry and ready for this fight,” Pacquiao said. “We’ve trained hard.”
Then again, even the distracted fighters say that ahead of time. In the next breath, Pacquiao could be heard discussing his political career.
“All my life, I’ve had to fight. As a child I had to fight to eat,” said Pacquiao. “Now when I fight, the Filipinos call me a hero. I think the world needs more heroes. My biggest fight is not in boxing. My biggest fight is to end poverty in my country. I will be wearing yellow gloves into the ring on Saturday – as a symbol of unity in the fight against poverty.”
It’s a noble cause, but maybe not the best thing to occupy Pacquiao’s mind in the days before fighting a man who’s also won world titles in multiple weight classes and knocked out Antonio Margarito, who took Pacquiao the distance, in nine rounds.
Not surprisingly, Pacquiao shrugged off the concern. “That’s my life,” he said. “To keep busy. I like to do a lot of things in my life. This is how I motivate myself.”
“I’ve never seen a guy compartmentalize life better than Manny Pacquiao,” said Al Bernstein, who’ll be on the announcing team for the fight broadcast. “It’s actually staggering. When you’re around him, there seems to be a stoicism that envelops him. He holds an elected office, he’s a champion boxer, a singer, he’s been in movies, and all his humanitarian works, and somehow, he seems to center himself for these fights.”
For his part, Mosley also has some experience in being the man to bring the Biggest Name in Boxing back down to earth. When asked about the fact that Pacquiao had a new music CD coming out in the weeks leading up to fight night, Mosley said, “When I fought Oscar (de la Hoya) in 2000, he came into the ring with his CD playing. I won that fight, so things are looking good for me there.”
Mosley’s trainer, Naazim Richardson, made sure that his fighter didn’t buy into the hype, interrupting to cut off the topic with a stiff, “Next question.”
That’s the thing about being the Biggest Name in Boxing. While you’re so busy, it’s easy to ignore all the fighters looking up at you, with all the time in the world.
