Bye to Kuya Ric; Pacquiao’s new honor

By Al S. Mendoza

MY condolences once more to the loved ones left behind by Kuya Ric (Pasaoa), my dearly beloved, lamented buddy from San Francisco, CA.

The brod-in-law of Philippine boxing’s greatest boxing analyst, Hermie Rivera, Kuya Ric was a great man, a kindred soul from whom I once received as a surprise gift the Yucateca, the best hot sauce in a bottle ever invented in Mexico. No amount of Tabasco can “out-hot” Yucateca. If Tabasco is hot and siling labuyo is hotter, Yucateca is more than both. Yucateca is fire.

May God grant eternal repose to the soul of Kuya Ric, called fondly by friends as Carding, who retired as a civil engineer at the San Francisco International Airport.

I will miss you, Kuya Ric.

* * * *

WITH Floyd Mayweather announcing yet his retirement from boxing, our own Manny Pacquiao has been installed the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world at the moment.

Another feather to Pacquiao’s cap.

Another honor brought to this poor country of ours being perpetually battered by scandal after scandal, no thanks to a national leadership that is bankrupt not only in self-esteem and dignity but also in core values as well.

When will our suffering as a bewitched, bothered and bewildered nation end, only Barack Obama can tell? I doubt. But before Barack can attempt to become Nostradamus, if not Mother Teresa, he must first win his historic quest for the US White House in November.

Until that happens, let’s just thank our guardian angels for our continued salvation, despite Cosme and all – or whatever is left of it.

Anyway, thank God we have a Pacquiao who has become the last decent Filipino, the last decade or so, who has punched   unto the world a sense of decency through a Filipino’s honest exploits atop the ring.

Isn’t it an irony that we gain world renown through the bloody sport of boxing, not in honest leadership that we were once known for when the likes of Quezon, Recto, Diokno and Tañada roamed the corridors of power?

Life, indeed, is stranger than fiction.

* * * *

But did Mayweather really deserve the accolade before it was transferred to Pacquiao?

Yup. I can believe that.

Because he was unbeaten, Mayweather easily took that honor, especially when he had out-slugged the glamorous and dangerous Oscar Dela Hoya a while back in a contest I thought Oscar had won.

Mayweather was like the smaller version of Muhammad Ali: he can sting like a bee, float like a butterfly.  He just didn’t have the aura and charisma of an Ali. And Ali’s glib, poetic tongue.

* * * *

Again, the question: How is Pacquiao? Will he really win? Again?

There’s not an iota of doubt he will win.

For one, for climbing up the 135, he has killed the pain of struggling to hit the 130-lb limit in his six previous fights.

For another, he will be in peak form come fight night, as assured to us by Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s American trainer.

“Manny will knock out Diaz (David), that’s for sure,” said Roach.

If it’s Roach talking, you better believe it.

Me? Diaz will be lucky to last six rounds on June 29.

(Readers may reach columnist at also147@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/general-admission/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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