Missing the world title fight

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

IT WAS TWO months ago when I read about the WBO light flyweight title defense of our very own Donnie “Ahas” Nietes against former IBF-WBO minimum weight titleholder Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez of Mexico to be held on July 4 at Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City. Being a boxing buff and a fan of Nietes (I had already watched some of his title fights in Cebu City especially his classic draw with Chicano Moises Fuentes), I, together with my close pal and my village kagawad Felipe “Boy” Cabrera booked ourselves at once to avail of the Cebu Pacific Airlines promo airfare that was purposely offered for the fight. Unfortunately the clash was postponed to July 11. The new schedule gave me a problem knowing that my plane ticket is a promo and cannot be rebooked at anytime.

The airline receptionist said I have to buy a new ticket if I really want to fly and watch the title encounter. Well, I could no longer afford that so decided to fly last July 10 and only to visit the Queen City of the South, and nothing else. I felt cheated that I had to miss an important boxing encounter between two protagonists who are my both country mates.

The more experienced Nietes is holding a professional record of 40 fights with 35 wins (21 knockouts), one loss and four draws against Rodriguez’s 17 wins (11 knockouts), two losses and a single draw. Boxing purists, connoisseurs and hard core fans say Nietes is heavily favored to win the fight. I agree. Remember, he’s the longest reigning Filipino world champion, undefeated for almost eight years now (much better than Pacman) and majority of his victims were Mexicans.

By the time you read this piece the fight would already be over. Honestly although I have a Mexican and Filipino genes, I like Nietes to win again. We always met after each fight in Cebu City. I’m not bragging that he’s my friend, and my boxing idol after Pacman.

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“Hopefully it will not rain on July 12 because the First Ricky Diocares Memorial Duathlon Championship will definitely be held.” This is what Engr. Rodolfo “Boy” Dion said when I asked him about the possibility of the event being postponed because of rains brought by typhoons Egay and Falcon. Dion is one of the organizers of the event planned in memory of the former Metro Dagupan Cycling Club president Diocares who died last March 15 due to massive cardiac arrest.

“Diocares is fun of cycling and running and so we are dedicating the event to his memory, ” said Jojo Ramos, the new president of the club. He said the invitational run-bike-run competition will be held at Jose R. de Venecia Sr. Expressway Extension of the city and will be conducted in four-age categories, 15=25, 26-35, 36-45 and 46 and above. Ramos also pointed out that the first running event would be five kilometers while the bike leg would be 40 kilometers and the third and last strut would be another three-kilometer footrace. Of course, cash prizes, trophies and medals are up for grabs. Ramos said that if the event proves successful, it will be held annually. See you there. After the event, I have to rush home to watch the Nietes vs Rodriguez brawl on TV.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” MATTHEW 7: 13-14

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