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Philippines, 23 Nov 2024 |
Home >> News >> Columns >> Rich Mazon |  |
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UN-PACQUIAOLIKE PhilBoxing.com Wed, 16 Nov 2011  When Manny Pacquiao made his way to the ring to for the singing of Jimi Jamison's "Eye of the Tiger" last Saturday, you can sense that something was different from that of his previous entrances to the ring. Gone was the big, wide smile. Gone was the constant waving to the crowd like the celebrity that he is. Gone was he singing to the Rocky theme that accompanied him to the ring. He was quiet. He was serious. He was different. A Mexican fan seated behind my friend asked him, "Why does he look sad?" My friend was baffled himself. This isn't the Manny Pacquiao ring entrance that we are used to. It was a different Pacquiao that climbed the ring of the MGM last Saturday. A Pacquiao that seemed troubled, he seemed to be low in spirit, he seemed worried. I am sure he is not worried about Juan Manuel Marquez. The warrior that is Pacquiao has no fear in him against anyone in the ring. Troubled? Down? Maybe, but from what? A reported dispute with conditioning coach Alex Ariza two days before the fight produced broken cell phones and a broken glass table in his suite. One that Ariza dismissed as "no big deal." They looked to be in good terms during the weigh-in and the fight itself when Ariza gave Pacquiao a big hug before the bell rang for the first round of his third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. But something is bothering Pacquiao that night. You can see it in his eyes and demeanor. He was not his usual bouncy, smiling self pre -fight. Besides his fight with Ariza, Manny is said to be having problems with his wife Jinkee that culminated during fight week. Jinkee used to arrive early during Pacquiao's previous fights. She used to accompany him in the four-hour long trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on Mondays of fight week. But not this time around. A very quiet Jinkee left Manila for Los Angeles then Las Vegas only last Thursday. She refused to utter a word to the press waiting at the airport. A fight has said to have taken place at the couple's room Thursday night; the same night of Pacquiao's spat with Ariza. She was said to have left the room after the pre-fight mass was held on Saturday afternoon, hours before the fight was to take place. The couple's misunderstanding clearly has bearing on Pacquiao's psyche going to his bout with Marquez. Why does he seem to be low in spirits? I am sure he is tired from training and all the activities of fight week. It drains you a lot. Hey being a fan in Vegas last week, will drain your energy. But besides training, Pacquiao has a lot of extracurricular activities as a congressman and a celebrity. Politicians, celebrities and VIP's make a bee line to the 63rd floor of The Hotel at Mandalay Bay every single night of the week. They seemed not to mind that the champ has to rest. I was told that Pacquiao is awake as late as 1 am because of him entertaining his guests. I am sure you will agree with me that this could have been done at an earlier time. I am not here to be gossipy, I refused to be. I am here to find reason on Pacquiao's seemingly tepid performance last Saturday. I am not taking away anything from Marquez's masterful performance either. He fought a smart and great fight against boxing's best. Hence, the debatable results. They were two warriors refusing to give up that night. But Pacquiao was different. I sensed it. My friends in the arena sensed it. Mexican fans rooting for Marquez sensed it, but probably happy that he was. My friends watching in their television sensed it. A friend all the way down under in Australia sensed it. Her exact words were, "The moves were not the usual Pacman, and he looked so disinterested." Yes, he is not his usual self. Maybe that is why. In any profession, you have to be physically, mentally and emotionally prepared. Distractions outside it will definitely affect you. It does not matter who you are. It just does. That is a part of being human. Athletes, although blessed with strength and skill derived from talent and practice are but humans. They get affected, they worry, and they feel down at times. Just like the rest of us. Would you not be affected if there are problems at home? It is easy to say, just leave it when you closed the door to go to work or school. Is it really that easy? You try to do your best with your endeavors, but you always have that thought hanging in the back of your mind. Pacquiao is no exception. But Pacquiao knew what he had to do. He knew he had a job to perform. He knew the expectations of his countrymen every time he fights. He carries them in his shoulders every time he steps in that squared ring. This time, he is not only carrying that. He is also carrying his personal burden. But he taped his hands, laced up his gloves and fought toe to toe with an archrival that would not back down. With a precise, counter punching Marquez in front of him and a problematic scenario behind him, Pacquiao did what he had to do to win. He was the aggressor last Saturday, even if his aggression was used against him by Marquez. He did not backed down when Marquez hit him with his best shots, he kept on pressing. In the end, that is what spelled the difference. Marquez simply did not do enough to make it a convincing win. In the end, even with an aching body and a troubled mind, Pacquiao got the job done. His personal strife might have come at a bad timing. But the worker bee in Pacquiao did not let that thing go in the way of his profession. Most of us, have done it, is doing it and will do the same thing. That is, to work even if your heart or mind is not into it at that time. We will fight our battles even if there are battles behind it. We know the importance of work and industry. We also know the value of family. That is why a lot amongst us report for work despite feeling ill, despite feeling sad, despite the problems in our life. It is because of our family. That is why Pacquiao is there trading punches with a fellow gladiator, because of family and with him, country. Sometimes we don't look good doing our job, but we get it done. That is what Pacquiao did. I am sure Pacquiao did not intend to let us down with that controversial win. He got hurt more from the booing and the heckling he received from the audience last Saturday than the punches he took from Marquez. An unnecessary deed from our Mexican brothers. I am sure they did not intend to do that maliciously. They were just carried away by their emotions. They cannot boo the officials scoring what they deemed was a wrong decision so Pacquiao who was being interviewed by Max Kellerman after the fight, got the brunt of it. That happens in any event in any sports with this much emotions involved. Just as Manny Pacquiao carries a nation of 94 million in his shoulders every time he motions towards that ring. Just as he carries our hopes and expectations every time he laces up his gloves for battle. We should also carry him at this time where he is being critiqued at, after his "bad night." He did not let us down before, he did not let us down last Saturday despite the circumstances surrounding him. We should also not let him down now. We should be like him gracious and humble that the job is done and both he and Marquez are safe after a hard fought physical battle. Some of us should stop from fighting with others who do not share our beliefs and thoughts of the fight. The debate of the results will linger on. That is what you get from a fight this close. We can debate it gracefully but we should refrain from debating it maliciously, especially amongst each other. I am sure Pacquiao would like that. If he unites us with every victory he had won in the past. This win should also do the same. You can reach Rich Mazon at rrmaze24@aol.com for reactions to this piece. Click here for a complete listing of columns by this author. Click here for a complete listing of this author's articles from different news sources. |
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