How About Manny Pacquiao Versus A “Rocky Balboa” Unknown For His Next Fight?

source: Scoop Malinowski | Boxing Insider

Manny Pacquiao has had to work very hard these last few years, because Bob Arum has been matching the Filipino Destroyer with a non-stop onslaught of future Hall of Famers like Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Sugar Shane Mosley, as well as tough cookies like Antonio Margarito and Joshua Clottey. Some might call that an extremely overworked schedule for the #1 star of the sport by a promoter who might need to give his meal ticket a much deserved break.

Manny Pacquiao deserves an easier fight right about now. Just like Muhammad Ali had his fair share of soft touches, take a look at his record and you’ll see world title defenses against the likes of Jean Pierre Coopman, Rudi Lubbers, Alfredo Evangelista, Leon Spinks, and Chuck Wepner. Ali and Pacquiao are gargantuan attractions no matter who they fight.

Manny Pacquiao is 33 now and time is running out on his spectacular career. Evasive arch-nemesis Floyd Mayweather will serve his jail sentence for 90 days, which will take about until the end of March. Mayweather, who turns 35 in January, is no longer dependable and must be forced to fight Manny Pacquiao as his next fight in the summer or fall of 2012 because the powers that be cannot afford to let Mayweather get into more trouble with the law which could send him to jail for a longer punishment, in effect, canceling the biggest event in boxing history Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather.

So if the powers that be of boxing are able to successfully FORCE Mayweather to eat all of his excuses, obstacles cop-outs, cons and lies, and FORCE Mayweather to finally shut up and fight Manny Pacquiao in the biggest event in boxing history in 2012, Manny Pacquiao should be allowed to take a warm-up, softer type fight on the May 5th date in Las Vegas if he so chooses.

Since Pacquiao has been matched with so many hard fights over the last two years, how about picking a “Rocky Balboa” unknown boxer this time instead of the same old recycled names and styles we’ve seen so many times?

The WBO welterweight rankings show several boxers who would qualify as “Rocky Balboa” candidates. The first name that jumps out is the #7 contender Paulie Malignaggi who is not quite unknown but he is Italian American. Malignaggi might not deserve the honor to share a ring with Pacquiao though because he defamed the Filippino by implying that he used PED’s without a shred of any evidence.

Let’s continue to scan the WBO rankings…

At #12 is Jorge Paez Jr. The son of the former world champion and super-clown character “Maromero” Paez is from Mexico and 24 years old with a record of 30-4-1, including wins over Omar Chavez and Jose Luis Castillo. Paez Jr. might be a sellable name opponent for Pacquiao on the Mexican holiday of Cinco De Mayo, though he is certainly over-matched in skill and experience.

At #13 is Valeri Brazhnyk, a 32 year old from Ukraine with a record of 27-0 with 16 KO’s. Brazhnyk hasn’t fought in America and would be a mystery opponent. Also potentially dangerous about this Ukrainian is that he stands 5-9 and is a lefty.

At #6 is an interesting boxer from Namibia named Bethuel “Unstoppable” Ushana. Ushana is 29 years old with a record of 25-1-1 (8 KO’s) with his sole loss coming to someone named Denton Vassell.

Other top 15 WBO welters to consider are Ed Paredes and Shawn Porter of USA, Gumersindo Carrasco and Diego Chaves of Argentina, Frankie Gavin of Great Britain. Or perhaps Pacquaio could defend against a top 15 junior welterweight such as Chad Bennett or Steve Willis of Australia, Willy Blain of France, Rosbel Montoya of Mexico or Ruslan Provnodnikov of Russia or Karim Mayfield of USA.

Before hopefully seeing Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather in 2012, I think boxing fans would like to see Manny Pacquiao take on a complete unknown like a Chuck Wepner. You never know, something totally unexpected could happen. Wepner, known as “The Bayonne Bleeder” was such an inspiring character that he inspired an Academy Award-winning film made by Sylvester Stallone.

You never know how or what the Magic of Manny Pacquiao could inspire if he were to take part in a Rocky Balboa/Chuck Wepner type of a fight. And this fight could be held in any part of the world, maybe even Manila, or Africa, South America, Australia, Europe.

It could also be a “non-title” fight (when was the last time we had one of those?).

What do you think dear readers, would you be interested to see Manny Pacquiao vs. a Rocky Balboa type opponent instead of the same old merry-go-round retreads with the same old managers and promoters? Isn’t it time to give some lucky kid the chance of a lifetime?

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