Michael Irvin Explains What Separates Pacquiao from Other Boxers

Editor’s note: This report originally appeared online in March, when Manny Pacquiao was preparing to fight Josh Clottey.

Grapevine, TX–Among the many well-wishers and onlookers packing the convention center on Tuesday, March 9 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center to watch MANNY PACQUIAOwork out in preparation for his show down with JOSHUA CLOTTEY, was ex-NFL star–AND EX-DANCER-WITH THE-STARS–Michael Irvin.

An avid boxing fan, the former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver was all smiles as he roamed the area around the ring, where the pound-for-pound champ was pounding away on pads fielded by trainer FREDDIE ROACH. At one point before the work-out began, Irvin ducked under the ropes and, while posing for a picture with Pacquiao, wrapped his hand around the fighter’s closed fist and rubbed it, as if for good luck.

In between signing autographs for fans and chatting up Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Irvin fielded numerous interview requests from members of both the national and international press. Luckily, Top Rank was able to sneak a recorder into the middle of a throng of reporters interrogating Irvin as he was comparing Pacquiao to the greats of other sports. The trait linking them all together, said Irvin, was the fact that each athlete was both naturally gifted and dedicated–a rarity

“You see it in guys like Michael Jordan,” he said. “You see it in guys like Tiger Woods. Gifted guys that work. And you see it in Manny. That’s what makes you say, ‘Wow.'” Pause for effect. “Wow.”

Irvin punctuated that observation with the ultimate compliment one accomplished athlete can give to another: “There’s one person that I got an autograph from in my whole life. And that person wasJULIO CESAR CHAVEZ. Second person I wanted an autograph from….” He pointed toward the ring at–who else?–MANNY PACQUIAO.

One reporter jokingly referenced Irvin’s reputation as a brawler off the football field, to which Irvin replied: “I’ve gotten in a few [fights]. No gloves. And I won’t ever put on any gloves.” Adding that he’s not much of a boxer, which is why he’s such a fan of the sport: “That’s why I love [boxing] so much. I think we all look at certain things and think, There’s no way we can do [that].”

From there, Irvin launched into a soliloquy about the differences between boxing and football. He said, “Football, boxing: warrior/gladiator mentality. Here’s the difference: Football, I have a team. I get tired, I raise my hand: Get another receiver in here! I take a break. But when you walk in[to a boxing ring]…you stand alone. There is no, ‘All right, defense, you go in now.’ There is no half-time. It is hit or be hit.”