Sports Eye
Judgment day for Pacman on Nov. 24
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
AN unprecedented exodus to Manila from Tacloban City is happening these days among Leyteños who were so heavily affected by Typhoon Yolanda. And as I write this piece, an exodus is also occurring among our national scribes, prominent people and die-hard boxing aficionados to Macau to watch the November 24 much-awaited return to the ring of our Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. This time, he will meet a former world champion (like him), the ex- WBA lightweight titleholder Brandon Rios of Mexico.
I was supposed to join my cumpadre, PDI sports columnist Recah Trinidad, but the P25K for the ticket and hotel accommodation for a three-day-two-night stay at Venetian Hotel is too much for me. So I guess, I’ll have to settle with just watching the live telecast on TV like everyone else. You know it has been my long desire also to watch a Pacquiao bout in the flesh but unfortunately I don’t have the means to do just that. I guess the only time that wish can come true is when Top Rank Promotions czar Bob Arum decides to hold a Pacquiao fight here, even a non-title bout. But perhaps will only be possible if Pacquiao wins his Nov. 24 assignment.
Former world champions Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marco Antonio Barrera, and George Foreman, to name a few, said that despite that embarrassing defeat Pacman suffered in the hands of Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez last December, Pacman is still a very dangerous combatant and all of them favored him to win by a rough ride decision or by a knockout. Pacman cannot afford to lose because if he losses to Rios, it will be his third tumble in a row and would be better for him to hang up his gloves for good like what his chief trainer Freddie Roach and his mother Dionisia said. If Rios losses, for sure his battle against Pacquiao will not be his last because he’s still young, 27, and will only suffer his second failure after 34 encounters unlike Pacquiao who already experienced five losses. Three of these setbacks were via knockouts from Filipino Rustico Torrecampo in 1996, Medgoen Singsurat of Thailand in 1999 and Marquez in 2012. His two losses via decisions were from Erik Morales of Mexico in 2005 and Timothy Bradley of U.S. in 2012. His two draws were with Agapito Sanchez (now deceased) of Dominican Republic in 2000 and Marquez in 2004. Pacman kayoed 38 foes out of his 61 fights.
After almost a year of absence inside the ring (which was very unusual for him), he must have already recovered from that 2012 unexpected letdown, fully reenergized, ready to redeem his image and hopefully to reign again in 147 pounds. If victorious especially in a convincing fashion, I believe Arum will not think twice to try his best to talk (again) to reigning welterweight champion Flyod Mayweather, Jr. for a megabucks bout that will be written in history, that the world has been looking forward to. But if Pacman losses (which I believe is unlikely to happen), then it’s time to say “father time” for Pacman and he should just concentrate on his political career. The third loss will signify to him that there are now more boxers better than him. So this bout against Rios is the “judgment day” for his boxing career.
We’ll pray for him to win because his victory will ease the pains and trauma of our countrymen in the Visayas. God bless Pacquiao, God bless Philippines.
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Our UCAAP champions LNU Dukes who were one of the favorites to win the NCL-PCCL leg held in Vigan City recently failed to bring home the crown by bowing to the more robust and taller Lyceum of Subic Bay (LSB) in the championship match, 86-74. The Tapuac-based boys of Atty. Gonzalo Duque mentored by Angel Gumarang lost their first match against LSB, 84-72, but won their three succeeding games against the defending champions La Finns Scholastica of La Union, 103-82, 2011 titlist University of Northern Philippines, 97-79, and University of Baguio, 82-81, to enter the finals. Hopefully the plan of Dagupan to host the leg next year pushes through. If that happens, I think we’ll have a big chance to win the tiara. To play in your own turf weighs in a lot. Let’s just wait and see.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. 2 THESSALONIANS 1: 8-9
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