However, I have found myself admiring an athlete in boxing in Manny Pacquiao. Not only is he a fierce athlete and one of the best in the sport, but he also has character and a personality that I have not seen in another athlete. He has donated money to the point where he has put himself in financial trouble. He is a role model in his home country of the Philippines and has taken on many philanthropic initiatives. He fights to briefly escape the inevitable third-world poverty that takes place in his country. He also is a proclaimed Christian and is outspoken about his faith in the Lord. How can you not like this guy?
As a result, I find myself keeping up with this guy to know when his matchups are. He is fighting tonight and I plan to watch it.
What makes tonight more exciting than most is this: He is not only fighting tonight, but he is fighting who is considered the best boxer in the game right now, Floyd Mayweather. To make things even more interesting… I do not like Floyd. At all.
Many of you might be aware of the history that has led to the fight taking place today. Both camps have tried to make this happen for years and there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the details. Most people will think that this fight should have happened five years ago, but here we are. This is considered the biggest fight of the century. Everyone is talking about it. A lot of people will purchase the fight to watch it tonight, including myself.
Now, to get onto the point of why I'm writing this. I am not a sports analysts and I'm not an expert in this sport, so I am not going to write an article analyzing the fight. If I were to do that, I would make a fool out of myself and more than likely, copy and say something that has already been said.
When you start following boxing, you don't have teams that you cheer for. You don't have cities that you pull for. And you're not rooting for schools. You are cheering for individuals And not an entire team. Since this is the case, you are putting all of your stock into one person in a boxing fight and if they lose you run the risk of being heartbroken, especially in boxing as it takes on an all or nothing mentality. I really like Pacquiao, and I really do not want him to lose. But I will not obsess over it. Most people are dubbing this match as good vs. evil. Pacquiao comes from the Philippines where he is a member of the house of representatives, has taken on the role of pastor, and his actions identify him as an overall good person. Floyd, although considered right now as boxing’s greatest, flaunts his millions, has more supercars than I have fingers, and gambles an obscene amount of money. Floyd has also been charged with domestic battery. Five times.
Maybe you will cheer for Mayweather, because he is unbelievably good at his craft. You could cheer for him, because you think he is a “baller.” Maybe you will pull for him, because he has what everyone obsesses over… money. That’s not me. I do not care how good someone is at a sport, as I cannot support an athlete that leads a lifestyle like Floyd. Since I dislike Floyd, its possible for me to be grossly disappointed if the result does not go in favor of Pacquiao tonight. However, I have accepted all possible outcomes of this fight, and afterwards I will continue to admire Pacquiao the person, not Pacquiao the boxer and whether he defeats 47-0 Floyd Mayweather.
Its important to remember why we root for people and teams in sports. Is it the culture that we admire? Is it maybe the swagger they exude? Regardless of end results for our admired athletes, we should continue to pull for them and stick to why we started liking them in the first place. I will always admire athletes that help their communities, donate to those who are in need, and look to set a positive example for kids. Pacquiao is the epitome of what I root for and hope for in an athlete. If I were to idolize his record as a boxer and stop following him if he were to lose tonight, then my admirations for him would be fake and shallow. And at the end of the day, sports are supposed to be fun! Right?
But… Pacquiao will win tonight. He is going to put Floyd on the canvas in the 8th round.
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