Sports Eye
PH boxing slump continues
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
AFTER Manny Pacquiao, Sonny Boy Jaro, Brian Viloria, and Nonito Donaire, Jr. who all lost their world crowns in a span of 10 months, the latest Filipino victim in the international arena of boxing was Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista. The Cadijay, Bohol-born Bautista lost his WBO (World Boxing Organization) international featherweight title to the raging Mexican Jose “Negro” Ramirez via split decision.
Bautista, 26, tried his utmost best to defend his title but his best was not good enough to trample the visiting Chicano to the dismay of his fans. The Tagbiliran City-based Bautista nicknamed “Boom Boom” because of his explosive and dreaded punches was not the same Bautista that he used to be since the time he was knocked out (his first loss) in the first round by Mexican Juan Ponce de Leon on August 11, 2007 in Sacramento, California. His loss last April 20 in Davao City was only his third (so far) with 34 wins. It’s noteworthy that all his losses were all in the hands of Mexican fighters. His other defeat (unanimous decision) was against Heriberto Ruiz on November 22, 2008 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas Nevada. Yes, he also defeated some Mexicans like Daniel Ruiz and Eden Marquez but not in a very prestigious title fight. His thrashing last April 20 extended the country’s losing streak in the international arena. Tsk, tsk, tsk. “What’s happening to our Filipino boxers?” quickly asked Punch colleague and boxing buff Jun Velasco in his text message to me just after Ramirez was declared the winner. I answered back, “our world rated boxers are obviously slumping.”
And I can sense that there is now a ‘ring jinx’ affecting our world rated boxers or baka naman nagkataon lang like what happened to Mexican boxers before. Or maybe the Mexicans are proving to the whole boxing world, especially their archrivals the Filipinos, that they’re more superior as far as boxing is concerned. This is their second favorite sport (next to football) and already won two gold medals, three silvers and seven bronzes in the Olympic Games. Records say the Philippines never-ever won the gold in any Olympic Games up to now since joining the quadrennial meet in 1924 in Amsterdam. So far we already achieved two silvers through the hands of Anthony Villanueva in 1964 Tokyo and Mansueto Velasco in 1998 Atlanta, and three bronzes through Jose Villanueva (father of Anthony) in 1932 Los Angeles, Leopoldo Serrantes in 1988 South Korea and Roel Velasco in 1992 Barcelona. And if you’ll base it on these records, my half-blood mates, the Mexicans, are better than my half-consanguineous, the Filipinos at this time. So far our world rated boxers are unexpectedly slumping. We don’t know why. But I believe this is temporary because I know we’ll recover soon. “Sinisuerte lang siguro ngayon ang mga Mehikano,” said my neighbor Jojo Lagera and that’s my perception, too.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. PROVERBS 4: 14-16
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