By Reni M. Valenzuela
This is boxing today. Guillermo Rigondeaux has suddenly become “boring” when everything that he did was superb and masterful in beating Nonito Donaire a week ago. Donaire fought a “close battle” versus Rigondeaux when the fight can’t be any closer to describing it as a one-sided letdown. It is pathetic that some pundits even went as far as blaming Rigondeaux why the fight didn’t turn out to be exciting. What twisted mindsets!
Rigondeaux blossomed in the heat of summer while Donaire wilted as he absorbed enough of the Cuban firestorm. That’s truth.
This is boxing today. Mike Alvarado was hailed as having redeemed himself in a rematch against Brandon Rios from an earlier knockout loss at the hands of the same nemesis when he was seen by bare eyes in that second bout to have remarkably weakened. The cautious Alvarado was battered with punishing “blows” that rampaged from the stronger and aggressive Rios who ended up just with slight bruises and smiles. Alvarado had only multi-colored decorated face and aura which countenance and appearance even a Leonardo Da Vinci would have a hard time putting on canvass in light of the judges’ verdict.
The Rios-Alvarado II pales in comparison with the first bout yet it was praised to high heavens as being equally “classic.” Alvarado was declared the “surprised” or “reluctant” victor in that overly hyped “thriller” when Rios should have gotten the nod of the judges if the judges were apostles of light who stand in the gap and who count points beneath scores (not “scores”), and know what’s in between facts and truth. But since this is boxing today, everyone has to bow to Baal and give way to the third business.
People normally hate being fooled. However, fools fooling one another is a bearable sight to behold.
Wonder of wonders, Timothy Bradley was touted to have increased his stocks almost equal to phenomenon after his “conquest” of the conquering underdog in the person of Ruslan Provodnikov. Bradley “won” over Provodnikov, yet the fight has proven nothing concrete except that Bradley was awarded anew with an “official win” to keep him unbeaten as he is being groomed by Top Rank to figure in another “blockbuster in-house” show opposite Juan Manuel Marquez, Brandon Rios, Mike Alvarado or Manny Pacquiao. Thus Provodnikov had to subject himself to the pervading “culture” of the sport and settle for a pat in the back, weeping alone in his locker room.
Entertaining, this is boxing today.
And this is sobbing reality.
The Donaire-Rigondeaux bout was neither “fun to watch” nor great. It was purely a disappointing matchup in view of sycophants’ hyperbole attributed to a magnified boxer in the pound-for-pound elite category. The Cuban class didn’t just outpoint the “Filipino Flash.” He dominated him. It is not for naught that Rigondeaux won two gold Olympic medals in boxing. He exhibited well his wares in schooling Donaire.
The eye-popping upset of Donaire by Rigondeaux was a shock to many, but I saw it coming from the fight’s inception.
This was why I wanted Donaire to take on Abner Mares before facing the quick, strong and scientific “little Guillermo” because Mares would be the ideal opponent to prepare Donaire for a Rigondeaux fight. Besides, the “Donaire-Mares” was an evenly competitive matchup that could be tremendously interesting and enjoyable. It was a kind of fight wherein Mares could bring out the best in Donaire and vice versa. On the contrary, the “in-house” Donaire-Rigondeaux merely exposed the lesser and complacent “Fighter of the Year.”
It used to be “Arum destroying Pacquiao and boxing.” After last Saturdays “big hit” flop, it’s now Donaire’s turn. “Top grossing” Hollywood matchups are considered “great fights” these days in boxing when solid authentic great fights have either been aborted or are not even being allowed the chance to reach their fetal stage. Blame yourself and continue kidding each other.
A short-sighted person can readily settle for what seems “good” by overlooking those that could be better or by missing out on the best due to ignorance or plain stupidity. There is too much cartel, politics and rottenness in boxing with the willing participation of media or the sport’s supposed “guardians.” Boxing with its present major players is not in any manner different from corrupt governments of the world.
The “astute” promoter had to point out that the fight was so close. Then he has to make excuses for Donaire and invent ways to justify a rematch which could further lead to a Donaire-Rigondeaux trilogy. Entertaining ideed.
What’s your latest? Go ahead, buy it.
This is boxing today, anyway.
renimvalenzuela@yahoo.com
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