Fred Pfahl’s knock-out
Last Sunday’s title fight of Manny Pacquiao against Dangerous David Diaz was more entertaining and credible compared to Pacquiao’s last fight against Marquez.
Like the Triple-D that Diaz wore on his shirt prior to the fight, the win of Pacquiao this time was a Triple-D — decisive, deadly, and determined.
Like the past two title fights of Manny Pacquiao, the wins in the boxing arena of the Philippine boxing champion and national icon of Manny Pacquiao was made more satisfying and enjoyable because of the free treats of my American client Fred Pfahl who consistently hosted free breakfast and beer and lunch and a huge-screen live viewing of the Pacquiao fight.
I give credit for patriotism to an American who feels more of a Filipino that Fred Pfahl is. But, as I gave credit to the fettuccine that he served in the last fight of Manny Pacquiao before last Sunday, I give credit now to the sashimi and the surprising unique sauce that went with it in last Sunday’s fete for about thirty people who were there in his house to savor the sashimi and the lechon and all the delicious food which were all served after we relished the knock-out win of Manny Pacquiao over David Diaz.
But this article is not only about the delicious food of Fred Pfahl and his hospitality to us all who were his guests last Sunday as this is more about how Manny Pacquiao improved so much in skill and ability as a professional boxer. Of the eight rounds prior to the ninth round knock-out of Diaz, Manny Pacquiao won seven and, as per common observation, had one apparently a draw. From the first round to the final fall of Diaz into the canvas in the ninth round, Manny Pacquiao was clearly in control of the fight which turned out to be one of the best fights that Manny Pacquiao had in his professional boxing career.
Unlike Pacquiao’s last fight with Marquez which I criticized his win to be unfair because I and many others thought that Pacquiao lost, the fight last Sunday was a triumph of the heart and the determination and the skill of Manny Pacquiao who will live down in the annals of Philippine boxing history as the greatest Filipino boxer ever.
I give credit where credit is due. And without batting an eyelash, I give credit and salute Manny Pacquiao and his coaches and trainors for having Pacquiao improved so much as could clearly be seen in Pacquiao’s performance last Sunday.
Even David Diaz admitted that he never believed the power of the left hand of Pacquiao who is a south-paw like Diaz which stunned Diaz to fall faced-down into the canvas. And Pacquiao has proven to the world that he is serious in the business of professional boxing to be able to outbox any Mexican contender or champion in the four categories that he now holds.
And I ardently wish that Manny Pacquiao will strive some more to train and learn more skills and better techniques as a professional boxer and make more conquests in the years ahead. I cannot imagine the day when Manny Pacquiao will lose a fight in the coming years because I cannot also imagine the Sunday of a Manny Pacquiao fight when Fred Pfahl will stop serving his fettuccine and his sashimi and his lechon and his cases of San Miguel beer.
As I write this column in praise of a great Filipino that Manny Pacquiao is, I also write this column in gratitude to a great American that Fred Pfahl is. Manny Pacquiao exemplifies a great heart in boxing as Fred Pfahl exudes a great hospitality in food.
May there be many more victories of Manny Pacquiao in the years ahead as there may be more great recipes in the house of Fred Pfahl.
To both good men, I tip my hat in admiration and gratitude and hope that there be more men of their caliber in the years ahead.
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