FILE – Manny Pacquiao from the Philippines wears the champion’s belt after defeating Brandon Rios of the United States in their WBO international welterweight title fight Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013, in Macau. Pacquiao defeated Rios by unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)
Manny Pacquiao has established himself as Asia’s greatest boxer of all time, but his reputation is challenged by the rise of the Japanese sensation Naoya Inouye, whose quick rise to the top is now the hottest topic in the boxing world.
The two fighters are already being compared, and speculation is rife whether Inouye, now a four-division champion, could match or surpass Pacquiao’s record of eight divisions.
Article continues after this advertisementBut this so-called challenge is not top-of-mind for Manny, now that he is about to return to the Philippine Senate, actively energizing the 1-Pacman Party List’s campaign as high-performing champions for sports.
FEATURED STORIES SPORTS Blatche looking at life after playing, with coaching Gilas an option SPORTS PBA: CJ Perez leads San Miguel back into the win column SPORTS Pacman vs the Monster: Who is Asia’s GOAT?The undefeated Inouye, 31, is the undisputed king of the super bantamweight division.
Pacquiao once dominated this weight class before moving up to heavier divisions, culminating in the super welterweight class.
Article continues after this advertisementIf Pacquiao were to fight Inouye at super-bantamweight (122 pounds) during the prime of his career, who would win the match?
Article continues after this advertisementThat question may never be answered, but it doesn’t stop boxing pundits from sharing their thoughts.
Article continues after this advertisementIn the meantime, the two fighters are preparing for separate fights early this year.
cuan77 slot onlineOn January 24, Inouye will defend his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization title against a little-known South Korean challenger, Kim Ye Joon.
Article continues after this advertisementKim stepped in as a replacement opponent after Inouye’s initial challenger, the undefeated Sam Goodman from Australia, had to withdraw from the title fight last Jan. 11 due to a re-injured eye in training.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao is in for a different fight: a national campaign to regain his seat in the Senate. He will kick off his campaign next month for the mid-term elections in May alongside his 1-Pacman party list.
READ: Manny Pacquiao, 1-Pacman ‘ready to rumble’ in 2025 elections
With Rep. Mikee Romero, committee chair on poverty alleviation of the House of Representatives, completing his third term under 1-Pacman, the torch is passed to his daughter, sportswoman and entrepreneur Milka Romero.
Milka is 1-Pacman’s first nominee, with Bobby Pacquiao, the brother of the boxing champion, and Shey Muhammad as the second and third nominees, respectively.
Pacquiao cares less about Inouye’s threat to his record than his destiny to serve the masses. He is focused on resuming his political career in the Senate, supported by those who stood by him during his 2022 presidential campaign.
As Inouye, now 28-0 with 25 knockouts and a 90-percent KO rate, continues collecting titles, Pacquiao comparisons are inevitable.
One of the three fighters who lasted the distance with Inouye is Filipino boxer Nonito Donaire. In November 2019, Donaire lost a unanimous decision to the Japanese boxer. However, in their rematch in June 2022, Inouye destroyed Donaire with a second-round TKO.
Predicting the outcome of a hypothetical matchup between Pacquiao and Inouye in their primes is intriguing.
Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty, who is heading the negotiations for the Philippine side, told the Inquirer that some chapters of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the Middle Eastern country are almost substantially concluded after the latest round of talks held last week.
In separate advisories, Cleanfuel and Shell Pilipinas said diesel prices would climb by 90 centavos, while gasoline would increase by 45 centavos a liter.
With his experience, Pacquiao will bring to the fight a wealth of tactical knowledge, adaptability, and ring craft, but Inouye’s quick successes demonstrate a depth of talent and ability to perform under pressure.
Pacquiao is known for his incredible hand speed, relentless aggression, and footwork, which allow him to attack from all angles with relentless combinations.
Inoue, known as the “Monster,” has incredible knockout power and precision. If he can counter with powerful and precise punches, he could neutralize Pacquiao’s speed.
Ultimately, it will be a close fight with only one sure outcome. With their exciting fighting styles, the fight will not last the distance. Too bad they did not have the chance to fight each other. It would have settled the issue of who Asia’s greatest is.
Then again, the Philippine boxing legend vows to continue giving his best for the Filipinos, whom he cares for deeply.
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