Of Boxers and Preachers

As I write this, our “Pambansang Kamao” (literally National Fist), Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, just came out on top with a unanimous decision victory over Timothy Bradley to reclaim the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight crown.

I, as the rest of my countrymen, am jubilant and inspired by Pacman’s latest victory. But I cannot help but notice that inspite early pronouncements by Manny’s trainer, Freddie Roach, that the “old” Pacquaio is back, the one bent on inflicting pain on his opponents, Pacman, at 35, is no longer as fast nor his punches are as powerful as before.