By Robert Cassidy
I will tell you why.
Oscar De La Hoya is done. Even if he is not ready to admit it.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is still retired. Joe Calzaghe has retired. Roy Jones Jr. should retire.
Bernard Hopkins is 44. Evander Holyfield is 46.
The heavyweight division is, well, a division no one cares much about.
And we can’t really be sure if Kelly Pavlik and Miguel Cotto are actually back, given the opposition they faced in their comeback fights. And we can’t really be sure if Antonio Margarito will ever fight from under the A-Rod-type cloud of suspicion that now hovers over him.
So, yeah, boxing desperately needs Manny Pacquiao. But to what degree can he deliver?
We asked several experts in the industry if they thought it were possible for Pac Man to replace the Golden Boy as boxing’s true superstar. Here’s what they had to say:
Doug Fischer, co-editor of RingTV.com: “I don’t think Pacquiao can replace De La Hoya as boxing’s star in the United States. He doesn’t speak English well enough, he doesn’t have the look of a soap opera actor, and he doesn’t have the Mexican heritage, which helped Oscar’s popularity. However, I believe he can at least equal De La Hoya’s presence internationally. Obviously, Pacquiao’s huge in the Philippines, but also throughout Asia, and he’s known to hardcore fight fans around the world. If he adds Ricky Hatton’s scalp to his list of victims, his stature will rise in the UK the same way it did in the U.S. after he beat De La Hoya, perhaps more so, because boxing is more of a major sport in Britain. His willingness to take on quality fighters, his all-action style, and his relationship with HBO coulp help him become the best known Asian pro athlete in the U.S. this side of Yao Ming – as long as he keeps winning. A showdown with Floyd Mayweather would boost his popularity tremendously.
Brian Doogan, Sunday Times of London: “Manny Pacquiao is an exciting, accomplished fighter with clear crossover appeal in his native Philippines. His victory over Oscar De La Hoya will have made him much better known internationally, too, but a win over Oscar does not automatically make that fighter the next Oscar. Felix Trinidad did not transcend the sport when he beat Oscar, nor did Shane Mosley. Bernard Hopkins has done so to a degree in America and Floyd Mayweather is a different personality. If Pacquiao beats Ricky Hatton and follows up with a win over Mayweather I think then he will have become a boxing star recognized more by the general public.”
John Scully, former light heavyweight contender: “I would think it would be very hard. Oscar was such a media a star, loved by the women, very good looking, etc. etc. etc. Other than the fact that he can fight very well, what does Manny have to bring to the table that could make him a superstar? Sometimes I think people confuse what a superstar actually is. Manny could be a boxing star, an idol to his country, but a superstar in my opinion is a main stream star. Ali, Leonard, Oscar. It’s a limited pool to draw from. To be a true superstar you’d have to be able to do commercials, hawk products, conduct great and revealing interviews, have a back story that average people can either relate to or want to get behind. I wouldn’t think Manny could be included in that category no matter who he beats.”
Steve Farhood, Showtime analyst: “Pacquiao is already a superstar, but to even BEGIN to venture into Oscar territory, he’ll have to beat Floyd Mayweather. I believe that if Pacquiao convincingly defeats Hatton, Mayweather will reappear because a fight with Manny would mean “manny, manny” millions. I’d also like to see Pacquiao fight the winner of the title unification bout between Kendall Holt and Timothy Bradley, which will be on Showtime on April 4.
Nigel Collins, editor-in-chief, The Ring: “It would be both unrealistic and unfair to expect Pacquiao to be the ‘new De La Hoya.’ The pertinent question is how much of the void can Pacquiao fill. In many ways, we are fortunate to have Manny as the sport’s new standard-bearer. He is already a superstar within the insular world of boxing and now has an opportunity to soar higher than any of his contemporaries due to his unique qualifications. He is an extremely fan-friendly package of mayhem that practically guarantees a bit of the old ultra violence every time he fights. This is no small thing in an era populated by so many hesitant performers. Most of whom lack the passion to reached beyond themselves in search of glory. Pacquiao, on the other hand, happily pours everything he has into every fight.”
Ron Ross, boxing author: “Even being a superstar is relative. If you hang your hat on a rack in Manila the question of whether Manny Pacuiao can replace Oscar De La Hoya as boxing’s superstar, the response can very possibly be, “Oscar who?” Superstardom was achieved for the Pacman on this Pacific island nation long before he pounded the Golden Boy en route to a one-sided TKO drubbing, but his being accorded such status in North America or much of Europe depends on a lot more than talent, ability and defeating all comers. Generally speaking, greatness is in the eyes of the beholders and the beholders view along ethic and nationalistic lines. These lines do become less rigid in time. Manny Pacquiao has all the equipment – a Henry Armstrong-like arsenal of non-stop punches, electrifying power, speed and boxing skills – to qualify him as a true superstar of the boxing world. He’s already achieved that status in parts of the world. Just like the time zone difference, it may take a little longer but that bright spotlight is going to shine on Manny Pacquiao here too.”
source:
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/boxing/blog/2009/02/why_boxing_desperately_needs_m.html
Filed under: Bernard Hopkins, Erik "El Terrible" Morales, Floyd Mayweather, Henry Armstrong, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Marco Antonio "The Baby-Faced Assassin" Barrera, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton
