My idol’s unimpressive win

  By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

ACCORDING to my Mexican cousin Dagoberto Garcia Soto, soccer is the numero uno favorite sport of the Mexicans. Boxing is their numero dos.

No wonder, there are a lot of Mexican boxers who ranked high in world groupings, then and particularly now.

In the Philippines, surveys indicate boxing is our numero tres, next to basketball and billiards (also known as pool). And like the Mexicans, we also have a lot of globally-ranked pugilists and our number one hero is the General Santos City-born Manny “Pacman” Paquiao.

Juan Manuel Marquez, the World Boxing Council (WBC) reigning super featherweight titlist, is my number one idol among the world-rated foreign boxers these days.

It’s not because I got acquainted with him before and after his Hidalgo, Texas encounter against Cebuano fighter Jimrex Jaca last year, but because I like his boxing idiosyncrasy, his humility and accommodating attitude. I believe he’s one of a kind among the world champions in any sports. He’s not cocky, neither a flambouyant fellow unlike other world champions.

Last Sunday, over a bottle of wine and seafood tapas, I with The PUNCH colleague Jun Velasco, Bonuan Gueset barangay chairman Angel Gumarang and UPang’s ageless director Dominador “Boy” Rayos watched his much-touted title combat against his compatriot Rocky Juarez.

I believe you saw that, too, where Marquez scored a lopsided unanimous decision, an easy victory but unimpressive poundage by the titleholder that dismayed his fans a bit, including this writer.

Marquez, taking the advantage of a bad cut suffered by Juarez early in the first round, me and Boy Rayos predicted an easy technical knockout victory.

But we were wrong. It went to the full distance.

Marquez was unable to finish off the former world featherweight champion Juarez.

We observed his punches lacked sting this time, unlike in 2004 when he fought Pacquiao and his punches were telling blows.

In that fight, he experienced three knockdowns in the first round, but still recovered in the succeeding eleven rounds and forged a draw verdict.

And also unlike the day he fought countrymate, another ring icon, Marco Antonio Barrera toe-to-toe last March and scored a convincing unanimous decision.

“Marquez is not a ring warrior if his opponent is not a gladiator,” said Jun V after the battle.

“Or maybe he’s not in tip-top-shape this time because Juarez is not a world-feared fighter,” Jun V added.

“Lalabas ang kanyang tunay na gata kung ang kalaban niya ay kasing class niya,” commented Gumarang.

I’ll buy their words. Marquez is a real brawler if his rival is a mauler.

But despite that unimpressive win by Marquez last Sunday, I still pick him to win against Pacquiao when the two do a rematch. And it will be a hell-bent close fight.

But please don’t think I’m anti-Paquiao. I just want to play contravida this time para naman maiba at hindi lahat puro Pacquiao, may hiyawan at makakadagdag ng kulay pagdating ng laban.

Remember, my father is a full-blooded Mexican.  That draw verdict should be resolved. That’s the wish of the world boxing fans.

And if that happens, it will be a blockbuster, a mega-bucks deal.

But it is in the hands of the two giant promoters, Oscar dela Hoya of Golden Promotions, the chief handler of Marquez and Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions, who contracted Pacquiao fights.

Reports say there is a possibility that the two world boxing legends will clash on March 15 next year.

Hopefully it will be done.

A case of beer is my bet. Jun V accepted it, with pulutan, to be dined at the beach.  

Inviting my tres cumpadres Alfonso S. Mendoza, Angelito C. Gumarang and Modesto F. Bonzo.