Sports Eye
My forecast was right
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
PRIOR to the Barrera-Marquez world title fight, I told a lot of people – my cumpadres Recah Trinidad, Alfonso Mendoza, Adonis Peralta, Angelito Gumarang, my Mexican kinsmen Rolando, Rogelio, Dagoberto, Pete, Jr., my Filipino kindred Jazy, Alex, Bhots, my friends Jun Velasco, Johnny Valencia, Jun Figueroa, Blandino Caguioa, Boy Cabrera and Ruben Rolloda – that the underdog, Juan Manuel Marquez, will win the clash. Recah and Jun V. also picked Marquez to win. We were right.
I also told Recah and Jun V. that Mexican Daniel Ponce de Leon will win against our very own, the aging Gerry Peñalosa. I was also right.
I didn’t pick Peñalosa to win because I believe at his age of 35 years, he’s now slow and at the twilight of his career.
With Marquez last year
I predicted that Marquez will win not because I got acquainted with him personally and became a friend, but because I was deeply impressed when Marquez demolished the Filipino pug Jimrex “The Executioner” Jaca during their World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title fight held at Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas last November 25. Marquez won a sensational ninth round kayo.
Representing this paper, The Sunday Punch, I was there and watched that classic battle with my brothers Rolando and Rogelio and cousin Dagoberto. That was my very first time to watch a title bout and had the fortunate opportunity to meet the champ and the challenger before and after the match.
I was also so impressed that despite being a world champion, this respected boxer from Mexico City, also known as “Dinamita,” was so humble, not snobbish, and accommodating when I interviewed him together with his staff.
I asked him if he would like to brawl anew with Manny Pacquiao to break that draw verdict in their meeting, he humbly quipped “anytime, anyplace and any weight.”
He also said that despite being downed three times in the first round, he recovered in the following rounds to clobber Pacquiao and believing he outpunched the Filipino ring icon during their memorable encounter.
After that Barrera-Marquez epic pugilism last Sunday, my dos cumpadres Recah and Al texted me.
Recah said, “tagilid si Pacquiao kapag nakalaban niya uli si Marquez. Natuto ng boxing si Pacquiao dahil kay Marquez.”
I think what Recah meant was when Pacquiao downed Marquez three times in the first round, maybe Pacquiao surmised that Marquez was on the verge of an easy defeat. But that did not happen and it was the other way around. Pacquiao was lucky he scored the three knockdowns and that’s a big account, because if not, for sure he would have lost the fight.
Meanwhile, Al said, “Marquez fought a very different fight. Pacquiao battles Marquez either in August or September. And by doing so, Pacman will be the first congressman in world history to fight for the world crown. Mark my word.”
I believe Al is right because in case Pacquiao wins a congressional seat this coming election, he will be the first lawmaker from any country to battle for a world boxing title. And I hope he will not be ruined entering the dirty politics of this country.
I hope, too, that a Marquez-Pacquiao second encounter will push through. And if that happens, it will be a blockbuster war, could even be better than the Morales-Pacquiao grand finale or the just concluded Barrera-Marquez rumble.
Let’s wait and see.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
