PACQIUIAO THREAT TO MAYWEATHER
Manny Pacquiao did much more than end the world-class career of one of this generation's finest talents when he destroyed Mexican great Erik Morales in three thunderous rounds in Las Vegas last Saturday night.
The manner of Pacquiao's victory was so emphatic it marked the Filipino firebrand out as a serious contender to Floyd Mayweather's coveted status as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.
It virtually booked his future place in the sport's Hall of Fame, and when Pacquiao is one day inducted there is every likelihood it will be as the greatest fighter ever to come out of Asia.
That is an honour which for decades has been fought out between fans of the extraordinary, globe-trotting flyweight Pancho Villa, and lightweight star Flash Elorde, who beat both Sandy Saddler and Carlos Ortiz.
Pacquaio is a genuine superstar in the Philippines, and his star will blaze brighter across the continent if his next projected fight against Venezuelan sensation Edwin Valero comes to fruition.
Promoter Bob Arum wants to make the fight in the former Portuguese colony of Macau, creating arguably the biggest world title fight seen in Asia since the 'Thriller in Manila' 31 years ago.
Only Mike Tyson's devastating knockout loss to James Buster Douglas in Tokyo in 1990 has since succeeded in bringing an Asian boxing event to a truly global audience.
The devastating Pacquaio, who mixes a kamikaze, come-forward style with ferocious power and blistering hand-speed, is now big enough news to sell out, whoever is standing in the opposite corner.
If it is the reigning WBA super-featherweight king Valero, it promises to be a mouth-watering showdown to rival Mayweather's mooted clash with Oscar De La Hoya as the boxing event of 2007.
"We would like to make Manny's next fight in Macau against the kid from Venezuela who can't fight in the United States," confirmed Arum. "How is that for a little present?"
Valero, who is banned from fighting in the United States following irregularities in an MRI scan, knocked out all of his first 18 professional opponents in the first round.
In his 19th fight he was extended to round two, before almost keeping his amazing early record intact in his world title challenge last August when he decked Vicente Mosquera twice in round one.
Mosquera got up and knocked Valero to the canvas one round later but the Venezuelan showed he was about much more than simple punch power by going on to finish the job in round 10.
Pacquaio has the ability to turn almost all his contests into true highlight reel affairs - his clash with Morales has already been compared with the three-round war that was Hagler versus Hearns.
Pacquaio shrugs off the plaudits foisted upon him in the manner of a man for whom the love of prize-fighting, and the love of millions of people in his homeland, is reward enough.
The debate over whether Pacquaio has now eclipsed even the exceptional talents of Mayweather will rage on satellite television stations and internet message boards for months to come.
He says: "I think the people will decide on that, not the fighter."
But if he dispenses with Valero in similar style, the people will find the case for Pacquaio even harder to resist.
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