MOST Filipinos and most boxing aficionados and experts all over the world don’t doubt that our Manny Pacquiao is Juan Manuel Marquez’s master. That is why two out of three boxing experts and fans surveyed say PacMan will will win today’s fight. And the betting odds are 3-1.

If you bet 30 dollars, British pounds or pesos for Paquaio you only get 10 when he wins. If you bet 10 and Marquez wins, you get 30.

But Marquez’s claims that he has been the real winner in all the three previous fights with Manny has been given a lot of space by boxing sports media and that is why today’s Pacquiao-Marquez 4 is being held.

Our champion—the world’s pound-for-pound best boxer who set the hard-to-beat record of winning the top spot in eight different weight divisions—drew his first fight with Marquez, won the second by split decision and the third by majority decision in November last year.

But boxing is big business. Making it appear that who the true champion is has not been resolved by letting a loser’s claims gain currency is good for business. It creates a reason for a return bout.

Pacquiao-Marquez 4 is not required at all. No title is at stake. The only reason it is being held is to satisfy Marquez’s demand that he and Manny face off to determine once and for all who the better pugilist is. And to this the PacMan has obliged.

Correction. The above is not the only reason. The main reason is that the boxing promoters and the venue will make tons of money. And, of course, the boxers also.

Big money being made
The report by Scott Christ in Bad Left Hook (Global Boxing News and Commentary), in the story titled “Pacquiao vs Marquez IV: Fight is sold out, $10.5 million gate in Las Vegas,” tells us “Top Rank says that 16,000-plus tickets have been sold for tomorrow night’s (today’s) Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, a complete sell-out which accounts for a live gate of over $10.5 million.”

Scott Christ quotes promoter Bob Arum, who “as you would imagine, is pretty happy” saying: “Manny and Juan Manuel may have unfinished business in the ring, but as far as the live box office, it’s business as usual – another sellout.”

Scott Christ also touched on the money to be made from TV. “Some fans have wondered if there would be brisk business for this bout. There’s no telling what the pay-per-view will sell, but at least one million buys are expected, and there is talk it will equal the 1.3 million the two sold in November 2011 for their third fight, which was seen as a mismatch going in. This one is not — it’s been recently made very clear once again that Marquez is still Pacquiao’s equal, no matter the weight class, and nobody is talking about an old Marquez not being able to handle the weight jump for the fight, as they were last year.”

Charming, lovable Manny Pacquiao
Some have written critically of the PacMan for being a womanizer, a typical nouveau riche—in Tagalog a biglang yaman—who uses his money ostentatiously.

The deeper thing to realize about the PacMan is that he is really a generous soul. Ask not only his close friends but his province mates.

And look at this piece of news from Agence France-Presse.

LAS VEGAS, Neva: Boxer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has pledged support for the victims of a devastating typhoon in his native Philippines that has left a quarter million homeless and killed over 470 people.

“I am aware of what is going on, and my prayers are with the people of the Philippines,” Pacquiao said. “I have people who are monitoring the situation, and they will handle anything I asked them to do.”

Pacquiao, who is a representative of the Sarangani province, talked about the tragedy on Wednesday in Las Vegas, where he is preparing to fight Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez for the fourth time.

“I’ll go out and raise money for the people who were affected,” Pacquiao said. “I have helped my countrymen before, and I will do whatever they ask me to do to help.”

Pacquiao is running unopposed for re-election in May. He said that his district was not severely affected by the typhoon but he is willing to assist in any way he can.

Pacquiao the Christian pastor
Some may wonder if Manny has become another one of those “false prophets” who have managed to gather around them scores of thousands—maybe even millions—of followers who love to hear the word of God from their mouths. These followers donate generously and help let their religious leaders live in opulence.

We hope Manny Pacquiao is in fact using his money to support his flock, who we understand are made up of poor Mindanao families.

In our special report, one of the articles is about Manny as a Christian and a biography of him focusing on this aspect of his life.

If he has indeed become a true Christian, he will know what God wants him to do, if Juan Manuel Marquez beats him. And if, as we pray he wins decisively against Marquez, we also pray his victory leads him not into bigger temptations but to higher levels of virtuous living and Godliness. And may he have more wisdom to continue his support of the correct position on the RH Bill in the House of Representatives.