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Philippines, 16 Feb 2012 |
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“...rocks in his gloves” By Epifanio M. Almeda PhilBoxing.com Wed, 28 Jan 2009  As he was witnessing the unexpected turn of events surprisingly in favour of then unknown challenger Manny Pacquiao in the latter’s IBF 122-lb title fight against defending champion Lehlo Ledwaba, HBO boxing analyst Larry Merchant commented that while Ledwaba was gaining the reputation of having the “hands of stone”, Pacquiao seemed to have the “rocks in his gloves”. Of course Merchant was merely assessing Manny’s fists to be devastatingly effective that it was as if he had actual rocks in his gloves. Dominated all throughout the fight, Ledwaba was forced to give up while laying on his back on the canvas shortly after the start of the 6th round. He could no longer bear the incessant pounding by the then unheralded but rock hard fisted challenger. Manny didn’t really have rocks in his gloves. But defending WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito had “rocks” inserted in his hand wraps before his last Saturday’s title defense against Sugar Shane Mosley. Mosley’s eagle eyed trainer suspected that there was something wrong with Margarito’s wrapped fists prior to putting on the gloves. And Mosley’s trainer was right. Hadn’t those “rocks” been detected and removed, Margarito could have fought Mosley with actual “rocks in his gloves”. He could have turned Mosley’s face into a bloody mess. After some rounds of pounding, Mosley’s body would have refused to take any more of it forcing him to kneel on one knee and “plead” for a merciful halt to those sledge hammer digs to his ribs. Being repeatedly hit with harder than the hardest of legit punches, Mosley could not have been as effective as he was to win the fight. While the concerned boxing commission has yet to come out with its official finding, the existence of “rocks” in Margarito’s wrapped hands in the pre-Mosley fight is established. Whether or not Margarito had “rocks in his gloves” in his previous fights, like the ones he had with Kermit Cintron and Miguel Cotto, we don’t know. We may no longer know. A retired Filipino boxer who is now an assistant trainer confided that in one of his fights in Thailand, he faced a fighter who punched like he was having sledge hammers in both hands. He felt his head was being repeatedly hit with bricks and not fists so, after assessing the no-win situation he was in, he gave up the fight rather than further risk his health. He suspected that his opponent used a substance in his hand wraps, “like plaster of paris”, which hardened during their fight. We love boxing. Not stoning. Legally wrapped and gloved hands only. Not wrapped and gloved hands with “rocks”. Adding “rocks” violates sound boxing rules and fair play. This is even a crime. The boxer who knowingly bears actual “rocks in his gloves” has no place inside the boxing ring. Freddie Roach makes sure Manny’s opponent does not put on “rocks in his gloves”. Also acting as Manny’s protector, Freddie watches as Manny’s opponent’s hands are wrapped. And so did Mosley’s vigilant trainer-protector. But how many trainers and concerned boxing commission officials could be as vigilant? Boxing needs to thrive. One way to keep it vigorously going forward is vigilance against putting on “rocks” in a boxer’s gloves. Vigilance also starts with the boxer himself. A fair and honest boxer should not allow his trainer or any of his seconds to cheat on his opponent and the paying public. Boxing needs and welcomes a fighter whose hands are as hard as rocks. But it hardly needs an impostor who pretends to be a boxer with hidden “rocks in his gloves”. Mosley (L) tags Margarito during last Saturday's fight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. AP Photo. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Epifanio M. Almeda. Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles: |
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