Former foe Mira touts Pacquiao’s chances vs Mayweather

Ryan Songalia

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Former foe Mira touts Pacquiao’s chances vs Mayweather
A fighter from the earliest days of Manny Pacquiao's championship run says the Filipino boxer has a chance to defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr on May 2

MANILA, Philippines – Before people began discussing the possibility of Manny Pacquiao factoring in the highest grossing boxing event of all time, he was fighting to make a name for himself in the Philippines. 

Pacquiao, who faces Floyd Mayweather Jr on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a bout that is expected to shatter the sport’s previous financial records, initially rose to popularity in the United States due to his battles with popular Mexican champions Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.

But it’s Gabriel Mira who will go down as Pacquiao’s first opponent from Mexico.

Pacquiao faced Mira on April 24, 1999 in his first – and only – successful defense of the WBC flyweight title with an eighth round knockout of Chatchai Sasakul several months earlier. 

Mira earned the mandatory challenger position by winning 7 straight fights before meeting Pacquiao, who was 20 years old and reigning in his first of a record eight divisions.  

Heading into their fight at Araneta Coliseum, Mira tells Rappler he knew nothing of the young champion from General Santos City, Philippines.

He was for everyone an unknown champion,” said Mira, 43, who now promotes 4 and 6 round fighters out of the Centro de Formacion Pugilistica MIRA in San Gaspar Tlahuelilpan, Metepec, Mexico.

“What I saw in that time is that he truly was very popular in his country. But for him to make it to this level, no way I expected it.” 

Mira says his trip to Metro Manila was marred by substandard accommodations -“It wasn’t even a three star hotel” – and says he sought the help of the Mexican consulate to secure a better hotel.

Before the fight, he and Pacquiao made a courtesy call to Malacanang Palace, where Mira presented then-Philippine President Joseph Estrada with a Tree of Life from his hometown.

Estrada promised Pacquiao a half million peso reward (roughly $13,144 at the time) if he defeated Mira, according to archived reports from Agence France-Presse. Pacquiao predicted he’d do the job in two rounds.

Once the bell rang, Pacquiao dominated the action, dropping Mira twice in the second (one knockdown came after the bell), once in the third and three times in the fourth before referee Richard Steele stopped the fight at the 2:45 mark.

The memories aren’t all bitter for Mira. 

“I think that being the first Mexican to face him is something to be proud of and there is satisfaction in having fought for the championship,” said Mira, who retired in 2001 with a record of (24-9-1, 19 knockouts).

Manny Pacquiao (L) lands a left on Gabriel Mira's chin. Photo by Alex De La Rosa/AFP

Pacquiao would lose the title on the scales later that year, missing the 112 pound weight limit before being knocked out by Medgoen Singsurat in three rounds in Thailand.

Pacquiao then jumped 10 pounds to the junior featherweight division in his next fight, crashing the American scene with a six round thrashing of Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in 2001 to win the IBF junior featherweight title. 

Mira feels that Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) has a shot at beating the unbeaten Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) when they meet in a few weeks’ time – but that he has to do it inside the distance. 

“Yes I think he can beat him,” said Mira. “The speed won’t be a problem for Manny as he has developed in previous fights much speed and power.

“A few in the media have asked me my opinion and I’ve said that he has to win by knockout.” 

Rappler.com

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