Sports Eye
Ugly defeat
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
WORLD boxing aficionados chiefly from the Philippines got the shock of their lives last December 9 when the nation’s superhero Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao suffered an unexpected and beyond belief ugly defeat in the hands of his archenemy, Mexican boxing icon Juan Manuel “El Dinamita” Marquez. We saw how Pacquiao was floored face down first and unconscious for more than a minute that made his wife Jinkee hysterical, thinking that her husband went into coma. Thank God he eventually regained consciousness and was cleared by the hospital with negative findings. Sitting at his stall and a bit dizzy, he said he did not know what really hit him and quickly asked his promoter Bob Arum for a rematch after humbly congratulating Marquez.
I said here last week that it will be another close fight weighing the two legends with a 50-50 chance. I was wrong. I also said there could be a knockdown and I was right, with Marquez knocking down Pacman in the third round and Pacman knocking down Marquez in the fifth. But I was wrong again when I said there will be no knockout victory for either of the two (despite their bragging to the media) because the duo are evenly matched. I told my friends during my drinking with them that in case of be a knockout it will be scored by Pacman. I based it on their first two fights seeing how Pacman floored the El Dinamita four times but was unable to finish him off. I was wrong again. But some predictions were right and I said it here last week in Spanish that there could be a great danger waiting for Pacman this time. They were right. “Expect the unexpected,” as the saying goes and it happened.
Pacman was already floored three times in his boxing career. The first was scored by co-Filipino fighter Rustico Torrecampo on February 9, 1996 in a fight held in Mandaluyong City; by Thailander Medgoen Singsurat on September 17, 1999 held in Thailand; and the last was Marquez. I can see that Pacquiao is not at all as invincible as what we all like to think. On the other hand, Marquez was floored a countless times before but never been counted out in his life. Now you can see the difference.
Arum is proposing a fifth fight for the two and probably will happen in September next year. But for sure Marquez will ask for a bigger purse than Pacquiao this time, or else the fifth collision will be kaput. Let’s wait and see. Yes, I have to say this time Viva Mexico!” to my father’s country. Lo siento Filipinas y mejor suerte next time, my mother’s country and the country of my birth.
COMMENTARIES:
Johnny Valencia (Mangaldan election officer): It was not a lucky punch but a well-timed, perfect vicious right straight counter-punch that decked Pacquiao. When Pacquiao, after knocking down Marquez in the fifth, smelled blood due to the broken nose of Marquez, he went for the kill in the sixth and became careless. If there’s a fifth clash, I will go for Marquez this time because Pacquiao will be bringing a phobia of his own now against Marquez.
Engr. Rodolfo Dion (Pangasinan’s 2ndengineering district czar): Pacquiao was so over confident in the sixth round after flooring Marquez in the fifth and lost his patience. He lost his timing and footwork and paid the prize.
Jun Velasco (PUNCH columnist): I liked what happened because I believe Marquez was robbed of victories in their first three fights. He proved to the world now that he’s the better fighter than Pacquiao.
Dante G. Aquino (former BI supervisor from Manaoag): It’s about time for him (Pacquiao) to quit boxing. In their third fight, I think Marquez won. Now, the Marquez camp, studied well his (Pacquiao) style and they were successful. Pacquiao is a great boxer but Marquez is greater.
Jojo Lagera (Building contractor from Mangaldan): Kaya ni Pacquaio ang mga matinding suntok ni Marquez nuon pero ngayon ay iba na. Halatang lumakas si Marquez nuong pinabagsak niyasi Pacquiao sa third round pa lang na hindi niya nagagawa nuon. Nakatagpo rin ng talagang katapat si Pacquiao at yan ay si Marquez.
Angelito C. Gumarang (LNU basketball head coach): Despite Pacquiao’s debacle, we should still respect and applaud him for giving multiple honors to our country and unselfishly helping the poor.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars. And you have persevered and have patience, and have labored, for My name’s sake and have not become weary.” REVELATION 2: 2-3
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