Sports Eye
Donaire failed miserably to do a Pacquiao
By Jesus A. Garcia, Jr.
BESIDES the coming fight of ring icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao against the Argentine-Italian blooded American citizen Chris Algieri on November 23 in Macau, the talk among boxing buffs until now especially sports columnists was the failure of our Fil-Am boxer Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr. to wrest the world featherweight diadem of World Boxing Association (WBA) his first professional knockout defeat in the hands of Jamaican slugger Nicholas Walters last October 19.
We saw how the young Donaire was bludgeoned by Walters on the sixth round then shocked Filipinos. Yes, we lost a very important world crown, leaving the Philippines with only two world champs, namely WBO welterweight Pacquiao and WBO light flyweight Donnie “Ahas” Nietes. (Nietes will be defending his title on November 15 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City against a 24 year-old Mexican brawler Carlos Velarde). Donaire, a four-time division world champion, kept going to a higher weight division, is obviously out to follow the footsteps of his compatriot, eight-world division holder Pacman. If successful like Pacman, he surmised he will eventually be a candidate for the prestigious “Hall of Fame” award.
Unfortunately, that dream vanished last October 19. After his encounter with Walters, he unabashedly admitted he’s going down to his former super bantamweight division (122 lbs.) after realizing that there’s a guy (Walters) who’s much better than him in the featherweight. Yes, going down to 122 pounds I believe is a good idea. Donaire carries an immense power, especially with his left hook, that led him to four world crowns, but not good enough to dismantle Walters. “Ang boxing ay parang pusoy din na may good, better and best,” said my officemate Rod Ibasan. “Si Donaire ay good boxer pero Walters is better and perhaps Pacquiao is the best,” Ibasan remarked. I agree.
In basketball, by the time you read this piece, the much-awaited first day of hostilities of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) North-Central Luzon Tournament would already be over.
According to tournament coordinator Jun Amado, on November 3 the opening day, our contingent, this year’s UCAAP champions Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) Dukes will be pitted against the best of Ilocos Sur, Vigan City based University of Northern Philippines (UNP), at 9:00 a.m. at the Dr. Salvador T. Duque Fieldhouse while the defending champion Lyceum of Subic Bay will play against La Union’s LA Finns at 10:30 a.m. In the afternoon, UNP returns to the hard court to face Cordillera region champion University of Baguio at 2:00 p.m. while LNU also returns to battle LA Finns in the main event of the day. See you there.
Kudos to the officials and members of Dagupan City Cycling Club (DCCC) headed by Ricky Diocares and chief coordinator Roy Velasquez with the able support of Engr. Rodolfo “Boy” Dion for successfully organizing the “Ride In Tandem Buddy-Buddy Time Trial Bikefest held last October 18 with 27 pairs of cyclists. Mabuhay kayo mga ginoo at sana maulit pa at palawigin ang naturang karera.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” JOHN 6: 32-33
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