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Gairy St Clair

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao's connections appear to have got the wind up over West Australian speedman, Gairy St Clair. They have ducked out of the Manila match announced for December.

Instead they switch the PACMAN to meet an ex- - ex! - WBF - WBF! - bantamweight - bantamweight! - titlist called Fahsan 3-K Battery.

Pacquiao bills himself the People's Featherweight Champion. One authority even rates him the world's best pound for pound. After accepting Gairy St Clair, the Pacpeople have had second thoughts.

"He would likely run more than fight," was the alibi offered to Joaquin Hension in the Phillippine Star. "He isn't inclined to brawl and go toe to toe."

Fancy that! Gairy would "run" like young Cassius Clay. Would refuse to "brawl." Might shift like Sugar Ray Robinson or Willie Pep.

Might make the Filipino, charging head-first, look silly.

United States promoter of Pacquiao, Murad Muhammad, put it this way to Emmanuel B Villaruel in the Cebu City Freeman:
"We don't want to see Manny chasing his opponent all over. . . We want to see Manny at his best."

Yes, they cottoned on . . maybe Gairy St Clair would show the small bull at his worst.

Craig Christian's optimist words, circling the world wide web on Fighter Online since 12 October, reached them: "Manny Pacquiao is made to order for Gairy!"

Christian tagged St Clair the "Black Superman," which rang a louder bell that Craig intended.

Wasn't that what upstart Cassius Clay called himself as a rank outsider talking his way to a fight with the invincible Sonny Liston?

Christian yesterday blamed the Pacman retreat on a videotape of St Clair boxing clever, that he sent to Manila in good faith.
"They watched the tape and decided he is too smart for their man. I am just upset that I kept my word and sent a tape as asked . . it showed off too much of Gairy's talent."

Further gall for Craig. He declined a shot at WBO featherweight champion, Scott Harrison of Scotland, because he'd made the Pacquiao deal.

Muhammad Murad reportedly called Pacquiao away from the risky West Australian, substituting the kiddy torch "3K-Battery" as a space filler, by bumping up to $500,000 his purse to Manny against the Mex, Juan Manuel Marquez in February.

Some of these Thais show no respect for their poor packaged pugilists.

Personalities obliterated under the names of Kronsak KT Gym.
Chaolith Jockey Gym. Samson Dutch Boy Gym.
Stripped of identity.

Shakespeare might say a rose by any name would smell as sweet.
Can you imagine if Lionel Rose had been sent in as Lionel Renniegym.