Do MMA or Kickboxing Have Even a Potential Manny Pacquiao?

After this weekend something was extremely clear, even those that proclaim that boxing is a dead sport and is limping to the finish line had to put that aside and watch in awe as Manny Pacquiao put on what could be considered a career-highlight performance against an easily vilified opponent, Antonio Margarito. Manny Pacquiao is a lot like a superhero; mild-mannered, works incredibly hard, is always in the public eye and has very few missteps. What is most important is that much like a superhero, Manny Pacquiao makes you a believer, no matter how jaded or how many times you've been around the block. You watch Manny Pacquiao and you sit in awe. 

This weekend I remember watching the fight (notice how I call it the fight? UFC has yet to reach that level to where it is 'the fight' yet) and telling my friend that this was like watching something out of a movie. Margarito is a hulk of a man compared to Manny Pacquiao, he is bigger, stronger and looks like a movie villain. He walked out to the ring in an ominous robe with his long beard and grizzled face, his first fight back on American soil after an exile for being caught cheating with plaster wraps, potentially dangerous and life-threatening in the sport of boxing behavior, which made everyone call into question all of his big wins over the past few years. There were actually complaints about this match up, that Margarito didn't deserve a Manny Payday or such spotlight, but after watching any of the coverage, it was clear this was a David vs. Goliath affair, this was good vs. evil, as black and white as they come in the combat sports world.

Manny Pacquiao absolutely dissected Antonio Margarito. Margarito made a few valiant comebacks, where he'd push the smaller man into the ropes and begin wailing on him, but the quicker Pacquiao was able to escape every time with minimal damage. To understand how ridiculous this is, Manny Pacquiao was fighting forty pounds heavier than he was when he began his career and was still giving up fifteen pounds to Margarito once Margarito was fully hydrated. Imagine it like this, if a MMA fighter who fights at 135lbs had been fighting at 155lbs, then decided to cut his teeth against Thiago Alves at 170lbs. 

What does this all mean and have to do with MMA and kickboxing? Manny Pacquiao transcends the sport of boxing. At this point, he is bigger than the sport. He is a politician, he is a superstar, he is a household name, and in a way, he is Superman. At this point, his main foil is Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who has been seemingly avoiding the inevitable superfight between the two. I understand, for Floyd, if he beats Manny he is just Floyd, for Manny, if he beats Floyd then he will be considered by many to be the greatest of all time. MMA has some big names and top fighters, like Anderson Silva an Georges St. Pierre, but both have shown weakness within the past few years. On top of that, neither have been able to transcend the UFC machine, nor will they ever be. 

You won't turn on the news and see GSP's mug on there making a public appearance. Even his in-ring performances have been called into question for being "too safe" and not being flashy. Just when he was beginning to get an aura, Matt Serra knocked him out. GSP came back, but the tarnish of that loss is still there.

In kickboxing, Semmy Schilt is without a doubt on top of the Superheavyweight world, but Schilt is very human, with losses within the past few years and a fighting style that gets on the nerves of many, including his bosses. Badr Hari has an aura unlike anyone else and if he and his handlers could pull things together, Hari could easily have that Mike Tyson aura of Badr being a destroyer. Giorgio Petrosyan is closest to Pacquiao in the skill department, as I think you could make a sound argument that each are pound-for-pound the best in their respective sport (same with GSP). What Petrosyan has in skill, speed, power and raw ability he lacks in charisma and appeal. There is something charming about when Manny Pacquiao talks or how he is always smiling.

This just leads me to believe that for right now, Manny Pacquiao is the undisputed ruler of the combat sports world and the only person who will bring that to a halt will be himself when he decides to retire.