The Inquirer got it! They sure did. This is the photo that tells the story of how Manny Pacquiao beat a much bigger and much heavier Margarito. Yesterday, when I saw the stills used by the tv stations on the Pacquiao- Margarito bout, mostly photos of the Associated Press (AP), this was the photo i chose

 

 

(by AP, i didn’t publish it because it’s not mine and i didn’t pay for it; but i think for non-commercial purposes, with full and proper attribution/ credits, and when it’s been published by the copyright- owner and made available, and for review/ commentary purposes or promotion of the photographer, you could use it, but the copyright owner can still ask you to take it down if they want to, and you have to comply if they do…)

While most media organizations used photos that showed the power punches of Manny Pacquiao, i thought those photos were of the same quality as any other photo of any other boxing bout.

From a layperson’s point of view, here: This photo shows speed: when his rival punched, Manny Pacquiao was already in another space — and time; his opponent’s punch landed on air then it tried to locate him, and not finding him, the punch rested softly on Manny’s back, see photo, Manny was no longer there when the punch got to the place where he was. Margarito is punching at a memory of where Manny was.

Still, from a layperson’s view: The photo shows power: Umilag na nga, nakasuntok pa or Manny eluded his opponent yet was able to jab him from below, and to connect – on his opponent’s face!

Again, from a layperson’s view: The photo shows giftedness: This movement happened in a microsecond, 0.0000001 microsecond, at lightning speed, in a moment of “crisis” as boxing afficianados call it, a time when your well-being is in danger (pinned to the ropes, etc.). Most people/ boxers would cower/ cover their faces/ bodies to protect themselves. Check out the photo, this occurred in microseconds and the person who executed the move would probably not be inclined to break-down in small parts and boxes his own wizardry – that’s left for ordinary mortals like you and me – we make do with a snapshot of the brilliance.

In microseconds, he bends – sideways, not in the way most would bend, he bent like a ballet dancer – is this move even taught in boxing school — from the waist, up, [his legs poised in a straighter version of the warrior pose (a lunge), i’m sorry i’m doing this but ever since we practised ashtanga yoga, i started analyzing a movement after the first and second execution before  executing again, sorry po, apologies… this movement as frozen even looks like a half side-angle pose except that those poses are executed very slowly — do a warrior two and ease slowly into a side angle pose. They are  worlds apart, there are no frozen moves here….As everyone knows, the Manny Pacquiao  moves  are so massive and quick they are lethal to those on the wrong end), turning disadvantage (his height relative to Margarito’s) into advantage, into a “Crouching Tiger” move — General Sun Tzu, “The Art of War” would say, “that’s what i’m talking about.”

Then, look at the long stretch Manny creates at the side of his torso, it’s a full stretch… culminating in a punch from him on the side that’s  bent, arms raised up in a “superhero” pose, in a big jab connecting!

Look at his eyes — fully open, very calm, no fear but a steady, quiet gaze at his opponent(his expression even looks like he’s greeting his rival, “hi, i’m not there anymore, i’m already here”). And all these occur in a flash of light, and then he’s in another dimension altogether.

I better stop blabbering. Here are more photos from Associated Press and Reuters, i just put “power” and “speed”, from a layperson’s point of view, that is:

POWER

 

 

XXX

SPEED

 

 

XXX

PSY-WAR

 

 

XXX

SPEED

 

 

XXX

POWER

 

 

XXX

This photo below: SPEED, most definitely SPEED, Manny Pacquiao has already crossed the galaxy when Margarito jabbed, look at the distance. Look at Manny’s hair, this movement is so fast that it created a whirlwind around him that fluffed up his hair, away, away in the direction of  the stars: Alertness — it’s like he exists in a time- dimension  five seconds ahead  into the future

 

 

XXX

PSY-WAR AGAIN

 

 

XXX

POWER, most definitely: SHEER POWER, Manny Pacquiao’s punch broke thru Margarito’s raised arms in cover

 

 

XXX

This is my third most favorite photo of the fight: POWER, SPEED, AND INTELLIGENCE. Margarito has an arm-reach half-a- foot longer than Manny’s, yet, look at this photo: Face to face, he still could not reach Manny because… Manny’s jab anticipated him, landed on his face, reducing Margarito’s stance and jab into a soft, harmless slap that never connected, Manny’s head and torso has already whizzed on the other side of the firmament, Margarito’s jab is still trying to reach…the trees; then, look at the stance…

XXX

Finally, my second most favorite photo: POWER, SPEED, INTELLIGENCE, and GRACE. Manny Pacquiao connects a jab with his body weight/ mass that is so strong and fast that his body tilts sideways, his heels leave the floor and he maintains and fixes his balance on the edge of his feet — like a ballet dancer, his torso tilted sideways as he delivers impact but he slightly bends his back to look at his opponent.  In this photo, he looks like he’s flying yet at the same time he shatters his opponent’s face and keeps his balance firmly on the ground. look at the feet and legs — he’s dancing! goodness!

 

 

 

as of this writing, the wires report that his opponent (Margarito) had to undergo surgery for crushed “facial orbital bones”, or fractures in the face; while Manny Pacquiao, after the fight, practised his singing for a concert he would hold, as the super welterweight world champion — a legend in his own time.