By Reni M. Valenzuela
As a Filipino, I should be happy that my compatriot Manny Pacquiao escaped Juan Manuel Marquez, yet again. But I must confess, I am distressed and joyless at the heart-rending decision of the judges as many of us were befuddled in the first rematch where my hero was declared the winner over Marquez by a highly contested split margin.
Pacquiao won in this trilogy, so the judges swore, but most of the people in my country or in the big theater where I watched the bout were not happy either. They were simply “awed.” As we exited that same place after announcing the winner, the comments I heard were one in agreement that Juan Manuel Marquez should have won the fight. I looked around, though, and saw they were not Mexicans.
In the restaurant where we took late lunch, people were saying the same things. Then my wife turned on the radio to tune in to commentary programs in AM stations. Most people who texted and called in, including the anchormen, were of the same mind. We asked our children who saw the delayed telecast on TV upon arriving home, “Marquez won!” they exclaimed.
So sad, but only for that, I am happy and I am proud to be a Filipino because majority of us still have eyes to see and magnanimity to admit that we lost. “Dinamita” is the better boxer and is now the new WBO Welterweight champion. Congratulations, Marquez! We love you, Pacman!
The trilogy brought to light some fraud and pretenses in boxing. Among them is PPV “genius” man Bob Arum who drops a hint of another “rich” rematch only to make it as a leverage against the Mayweather camp in trying get the bigger piece of the pie out of the negotiation in making his long-yearned grandest production ever, the Pacquiao-Mayweather.
Second is that boxing CompuBox is like the Anti-Christ who tells you certain facts and statics that lead to 666 and hell.
Third is that boxing judges today are at their “best” looking at the numbers where numbers are mere numbers to judge a fight while fast asleep.
Fourth is that the two proud credit-grabbers are the biggest losers in the fight. They need to be served sumptuous desserts for eating their words. And they are tandems Freddie Roach and Alex Ariza.
Find an appropriate word please to better picture how I feel the unexplainable now when the immediate words that come to mind in between sobs is: What’s happening in the sport of boxing?
Sobs again.
renimvalenzuela@yaho.com
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