When it was first announced that Manny Pacquiao's next opponent would be future Hall of Famer "Sugar" Shane Mosley, Yahoo! Sports columnist Kevin Iole wrote a scathing article about the match-up. "You know it's garbage. I know it's garbage. Heck, even Bob Arum, the guy who is putting the money up to stage the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight, which will take place May 7 in Las Vegas, knows it's garbage," he would write just weeks ago, suggesting that fans send a strong message by refusing to purchase the pay-per-view event. It's the second time Iole has had strong words regarding Pacquiao's selection of opponents, even going so far as to call the pound-for-pound champion "despicable" for agreeing to face Antonio Margarito last November. Obviously fed up with Iole's constant criticism, Pacquiao himself has decided to respond to the writer's recent remarks.
"It's easy for an influential writer [Kevin Iole], who I believe has never experienced a real fight, or wore gloves or put wraps on his hands, to say this fight is 'junk' and say you should boycott against it," Pacquiao responded in an official statement released on Philboxing.com. "There is never an easy fight. Every time I step into the ring, I risk my life and my future. I had to find ways to negate the advantages in size of Diaz, Dela Hoya, Hatton, Cotto, Clottey and Margarito. I have stepped up to face men easily bigger and taller than me. To say that every fighter I face in the ring does not deserve attention talks about ignorance. How can a fight be easy when I have been working my hardest efforts every single time? I am no superman. When I get hit, I pretend I did not get hurt so as to frustrate my opponent. That's part of the sacrifice! Funny, these same writers who ask for a boycott almost always cover my fights, anyway."
Take that! Score one for Pacquiao, who makes some excellent points regarding the hypocrisy of a journalist like Iole. Indeed, despite his harsh criticism, Iole always seems to find a way to show up for, watch and cover Pacquiao's fights, while at the same time telling his loyal followers to do exactly the opposite. Might I suggest to Team Pacquiao that it's time to boycott the boycotter. Since Iole is clearly against the May 7 showdown with Shane Mosley, perhaps Pacquiao should tell Top Rank and the individuals who handle credentials to deny him access to the fight altogether. Then he won't have to worry about providing coverage for a fight that he seems to think is "pure garbage."
[EDITOR'S NOTE: FightHype.com would like to claim first dibs on Iole's comfy, cozy front row credential...unless, of course, they planned on sticking him right next to Dan Rafael. There simply won't be enough elbow room next to the big man.]