I refer to the report “I’m the smarter one, says Mayweather” (April 30). The Floyd Mayweather Jr-Manny Pacquiao fight draws parallels with the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier battles years ago, especially as they represented the beginning of the end.
The two fighters then had passed the summits of their careers, with age being but one contributing factor.
Their three fights damaged each man to the point where there was no coming back. They were never the same again.
Such was the price of their pride, their egos leading them where no man had gone before.
Both pugilists were American, whereas the latest match involves an American and a Filipino, with the latter born dirt poor.
So, pride may not come into it as we are made to believe. I hope Pacquiao uses the prize money to help lift his people from poverty, if not in the country as a whole, then at least in General Santos City.
If nothing else, it is the story of the underdog who rose to stake his claim in this short, unforgiving life on earth — reason enough to be inspired. There are not many uplifting stories like this in one’s lifetime.
