Too bad General Douglas MacArthur and Manny Pacquiao were almost three generations apart. What a mutual admiration duo that would have been since America’s military immortal embraced boxing in the Philippines almost from the moment he became the Army’s Chief of Staff in 1930.

MacArthur’s obsession with the Sweet Science was unmatched throughout the provinces, especially in Manila where the charismatic general was admired as a regular at the various arenas on Rizal Avenue long after he had become military advisor in 1935 to the Commonwealth of the Philippines.

World War II and the Korean “cold war” became the priority for this imposing soldier’s soldier and his historic declaration, “I Shall Return” on Leyete in 1944, the beginning of the end for the Japanese.

MacArthur, with the West Point idiom that “old soldiers never die, they just fade away”, didn’t get to see some of the Philippines’ greatest fighters, expiring in 1964 before the emergence of Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, out of Cebu as world junior lightweight champion, Manila’s Ceferino Garcia, world middleweight king, and Ben Villaflor, twice junior lightweight ruler from Negros.
Though MacArthur’s closest colleagues have long departed, there are still stories circulating that when it came to boxing, the general liked the “warriors who could punch with both hands.”

Enter Manny Pacquiao, 25, a southpaw out of the southern province of Mindanao where there is more revoluntaries fighting than with gloves on.

Pacquiao, moving up as the IBF junior featherweight champion, is now a strong candidate for boxings Upset of the Year after annihilating superstar Antonio Marco Barrera for an 11th round TKO Nov.15 at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio. HBO’s presentation was announced as for the featherweight crown with Barrera hailed as the division’s No.1 fighter without a title.

Pacquiao, improving to 38-2, 30 KOs, was on his trunks in the first round from a right Barrera appeared to miss and referee Larry Cole allowed the knockdown.

The turnaround was quick with the feisty Filipino, a 4-1 underdog, shaking Barrera with combinations and Pacquiao’s road game was keeping the pressure on from round to round and scoring well with combinations to the head and body.

Barrera, who seemed to get very old very early, tried
to fight back sporadically in the middle rounds. Late in the sixth round, the Mexico City legend was down from an exchange but the referee ruled Barrera had slipped. Cole penalized Pacquiao one point in the ninth round for hitting on the break but it was academic as the determined Filipino continued to punish the wearying Barrera, who was desperate to finish on his feet.

Thrice in the 11th round, the well-bruised Barrera hung on to his tormentor to remain erect. When Pacquiao drove his target into the ropes with double combinations, Rudy Perez, Barrera’s trainer, stepped on the ring apron and waved the referee to stop it. Cole obliged at 2:56 of the 11th round, Barrera hopelessly behind on all judges’ score cards.

Ray Hawkins of Dallas and Rick Crocker of San Antonio both had it 97-90 while Gale Van Noy from
Houston saw it 97-89, all for Pacquiao.

Pacquiao was pleased with the performance, feeling that his speed, power and punching accuracy would be enough to win despite Barrera’s huge reputation.

“When I knocked him down in the third round, I thought it was over. I’m surprised he lasted that long because very early I felt I would knock him out. Barrera did come back but it was my speed that enabled me to dominate,” said the new champion via a translator.
“ I wasn’t surprised I was faster than Barrera, especially with my left hand. On that knockdown in the first round, it didn’t think it was unfair. If they talk about a rematch, I’d say yes because of what it means to the Philippines. I know the people are very happy back home, but I don’t want to be higher than the people.”

Barrera, earning $1 million as his resume dipped to
57-4, 40 KOs, had no excuses over such a monumental upset.

“It was Pacquiao’s determination and tonight wasn’t my night. He’s very fast and he punches very hard, giving no quarter. The Filipino has a quick left hand and I couldn’t see a lot of them coming. I don’t know what was wrong but that wasn’t me out there. I am going to relax now and take some time with my family. I respect Manny Pacquiao. He’s the true champion.”

Perez, Barrera’s trainer who had the fight stopped, admitted “it was a bad night for Marco.

“About fighting again, that definitely will be his decision. But if I have things my way, I don’t want him to fight again.”

Pacquiao’s smashing triumph had the bells ringing from the provinces of Luzon to Mindanao to Leyete and back again, triggering the biggest celebration since Muhammad Ali outlasted Smokin’ Joe Frazier Oct.1, 1975 in “The Thrilla in Manila.”

Manila of today threw the biggest parade for Manny since president Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda, his First Lady, rolled out the ermine carpets to salute Ali and Frazier in what was one of boxings most dramatic scenario’s even if there wasn’t one Filipino throwing punch. Pacquiao and his family was doing this gala solo.

President Gloria Arroyo and Manila mayor Jose Atienza Jr., combined forces to honor Pacquiao with a day he wouldn’t forget, details like having the Manila Times, Manila Bulletin, and the Mindanao Times-News run full pages carrying street maps of the motorcade routes so the public would “have a chance to meet the champ.”

The awed double champion told the media “I thought me and Barrera had a good fight and I did all the best I could in my boxing ability because the game rests on the honor of the Philippines. It’s good I was lucky. God gave this.”

Pacquiao earned $350,000 for his career victory deep in the heart of Texas. Marty Elorde is the new champion’s registered manager and he saw no problems when the Manila Bulletin asked if he “was satisfied with his 30 percent share of Pacquiao’s purse. There is no problem with the computation of the purse,” Elorde said, adding that he remits 20 percent to Japanese businessmen, Masami Mat Sunaga and Kuni Takaya, who gave Pacquiao a signing bonus of $1 million (Philippine) when they acquired the talented southpaw from Polding Correa, a Malabon executive, in January, 2000.

Earlier Elorde had expressed some concern upon hearing reports that HBO had budgeted $700,000 for
Pacquiao’s challenge of Barrera, arguably among the five top pound-for-pound performers in the sport.

However, Murad Muhammad, Pacquiao’s U.S. promoter, according to the Boston Herald earlier in the week, might have told Team Pacquiao that HBO Boxing allotted less than $700,000 for the Filipino challenger. In noting that Elorde is listed as manager, the Bulletin also reported that in boxing it known that Rod Nazario calls the shots on when, where. And whom Pacquiao fights.

It is obvious that his fellow Filipinos now embrace the multi-talented fist fighter with the same fervor they showered on “Flash” Elorde, Ceferino Garcia and Ben
Villaflor.

Only time will tell but the way Manny has exploded on the international horizon, he could prove lauding the Philippines as the capital of boxing in the Far
East is not an exaggeration.
When the celebration subsides, Pacquiao is looking forward to spending some time with his family after a
tough seven weeks in the gym preparing to shock the world against Barrera.

“I’m grateful for the purses I’ve earned along with the checks from endorsements, but me and my wife, Jinky, have already put them away in a bank vault for our sons’ future. Our sons, Emmanuel, Jr., 3, and Michael Stephen, 2, won’t be following in my footsteps. Twenty years from now, they will have graduated from college, I want them to earn degrees, I don’t want them entering into boxing. It is so hard to work as a boxer. Your life is at stake. I don’t want my sons to experience the hardships I had.”

Manny and Jinky are on the same page regarding
their children’s’ future. “I know what it is like with Manny and I know I could never stand the thought of watching the children receiving punches from boxing opponents. My chest could explode every time I see Manny being hit. One boxer is enough in the family because it is hard for a wife to see her loved ones suffering,” said the caring mother.

It isn’t likely Pacquiao will step up for a defense until
early spring. And the line of worthy challengers instantly became extended when Manny proved once and for all that Barrera is no longer invincible. The hottest rumor on this deadline is Mexico’s Juan
Manuel Marquez, holding the IBF/ WBA featherweight
titles with a 40-2, 30 KOs ledger.

Pacquiao will be chomping at the bit when it’s time for the bell to ring and the popular native son wants it to ring in the Philippines. But that is easier said then done, especially when you are talking about a big puncher named Marquez.

Just the other day Rod Nazario was talking like Marty Elorde the manager regarding Pacquiao’s next outing being before the home folks, probably in Manila. Speaking in terms of Filipino money, Nazario said to bring a Pacquiao defense to the Philippines a promoter would need at least $40 million for such a venture where it was virtually impossible for him to break even.

“Pacquiao’s purse alone would make it very difficult for a local promoter to raise it. And you can’t forget the purse of the opponent and other expenses. As much as we want Pacquiao to fight here, it’s really too difficult right now ---even for Manila.” Nazario reflected.

(Jack Welsh is a syndicated columnist headquartered in Las Vegas and a regular contributor to Ringsports.com and other fine websites.