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Philippines, 06 Nov 2024 |
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HUSTLED? Did Floyd Mayweather just pull an antic on a fan? By Rich Mazon PhilBoxing.com Sun, 04 Mar 2012  Rodolfo "Jun" Aquino was an excited man going to Thursday last week. He was invited by his friend Jhay Otamias to go to the Floyd Mayweather - Miguel Cotto press conference at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Aquino, who is an art painter by profession, took a break from his busy schedule and started work on a 3 x 5 painting of Mayweather and Cotto to bring to the said event. He was hoping to have the two paintings signed by both boxers so he can use them in his upcoming art exhibit. He has been painting portraits of boxers for a planned art exhibit in the future. Little did he know, that his excitement will soon turn into disbelief and surprise. Aquino is a struggling painter who was given his biggest break by Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao last November when he held his one man exhibit of Pacquiao paintings in relation to the festivities of fight week during the third fight between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. They flew him from the Philippines to exhibit his various paintings of the Filipino boxer. His exhibit ran for six days at the Dal Toro Ristorante, located at The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. Aquino's paintings were well received by both boxing fans and non boxing fans who were in Las Vegas at that time of the event. After the exhibit, Aquino spent his time doing artworks and paintings for various organizations, one of which was auctioned to benefit the victims of the recent flash floods in Cagayan de Oro City late last year. He also painted the Muhammad Ali portrait that Manny Pacquiao gave to the "Greatest" as a gift in celebration of his 80th birthday celebration last month. Aquino was also invited to teach art classes for kids in Miami this month. Aquino took a break from his busy schedule when he got that invitation to attend the press conference. This is his chance he said to get to two of the most popular boxers in the world. He dropped what he was originally painting and started work on his paintings of Mayweather and Cotto. It took him eight hours each to finish both paintings. So he trooped to the historic theatre, with both paintings in tow and hoped that he will be blessed with luck to have his work signed by the two famous boxers. He unrolled the two paintings and displayed them outside the theater while waiting to get in the venue. His paintings attracted the attention of fans who were there as well. They posed for pictures with the said paintings and praised the artist for a job well done. Aquino was unable to enter the theater because unlike his pals who work for a TV network, he does not have a press pass to go in. He also was unable to squeeze inside the general theater as well because the venue was packed with fans wanting to see the event. He waited outside and found delight in fans appreciating his work. And then, someone informed him that the boxers will make their exit by the way of the parking area beside the Chinese Theatre. So Aquino and Otamias excitedly went downstairs to try to catch either Mayweather and Cotto. They encounter a large number of fans there and decided not to take their chance, fearing the paintings might get ruined. Instead, they waited in front of Mayweather's parked blue Rolls Royce. When Aquino saw Mayweather on his way to his luxury vehicle and escorted by his big, burly bodyguards, Aquino and Otamias raised his painting of the boxer and waved it in front of Mayweather's car. He also was waving his pen, signifying that he wanted the painting to be signed by the famous boxer. Aquino's painting caught the eye of the boxer, because the passenger seat window where Mayweather was seating rolled down and the boxer yelled "We want that.", pointing to the painting. Aquino and Otamias approached the vehicle and Otamias asked Mayweather if he can sign this paining for them. But the boxer's bodyguards pushed them back and told them to "Back off!" Mayweather's bodyguards were shielding the car from a large group of fans that were chasing the boxer's car. Aquino and Otamias then walked away from the melee and decided to head for the exit. But Aquino saw the car's driver gesturing at them and yelling "We want that painting, Come!" So Aquino approached the vehicle for the second time but was once again blocked by one of the boxer's bodyguards. The said bodyguard then snatched his painting and threw it away. He then shouted at Aquino, "We don't want that. Back off!" Aquino retreated and went to direction where the painting was thrown, picked it up and decided to get out of there for good. As they were walking out of the parking garage, the Rolls Royce stopped by them and the boxer's driver rolled his window and once again asked for the painting. "Give us that painting," he asked Aquino and Otamias. So they approached the vehicle for the third time, handed them the painting and the pen to used to sign it. "I quickly handed them my painting before the crowd went wild again and I handed my sign pen to the driver," Aquino narrated. "I first thought he will invite me to his car because his bodyguard let me (go) near Floyd. But as soon as I hand(ed) them down my painting , quickly the driver stepped on the pedal," the frustrated Aquino told me. Mayweather and company just fled away with Aquino's painting, and yes his pen as well. This left the two in awe. They were shocked at what has just transpired. Did the unbeaten, popular boxer just pulled one on them? Did that really happened? Were they bamboozled by Team Mayweather? Then reality sunk in, when they realized that they were left there in the middle of the driveway, without the painting in hand. Yes, they were tricked. They were conned. And they cannot believe it. They are left with no autographs, no desired pictures, no painting and no pen in a parking garage in Hollywood. They were blown away at what just happened. Did Mayweather just picked on a lowly fan and a struggling painter who just wanted a simple autograph of the boxer on his artwork? Aquino and Otamias left the venue feeling frustrated and rightfully so. Fans who witnessed the incident expressed anger on what they saw. They expressed disgust on the actions committed by Team Mayweather. Aquino though was not quick to judge. "I understand their situation because the crowd that was following them were like zombies in a movie," he told me. He consoles himself with the thought that one of the most popular athlete in the world liked his painting. But you can sense the frustration in his voice as we talked over the phone. You can feel his pain and humiliation. It's amazing that Aquino, who has the moniker of the "Pac-painter" owing to his artworks of Mayweather's biggest rival off the ring, was the subject of the boxer's antic. "It's a small world indeed," exclaimed Aquino. I nor Aquino aren't saying that Mayweather and his team intended to steal the painting. They probably were rushing to get out of there to avoid the horde of fans clamoring for an autograph and pictures. They probably wanted to buy it but did not have time to make an offer. Or they probably wanted to simply sign it and give it back to the owner but circumstances forced them to drive away with it. Questions only Floyd Mayweather can clarify and answer. That is why I am writing this article as requested by Aquino himself. We do not judge him but simply wanted answers and clarification on what happened. And yes, Aquino want his painting back, if that is fine with Mr. Mayweather. "Even though this thing happened, I am so thankful to the Lord because I know that painting is in good hands right now," Aquino expressed. Mr. Mayweather, we shall wait for your response and explanation at your convenience. And Aquino wishes you luck on your forthcoming training and fight with Miguel Cotto. For reactions to this piece, please feel free to email the author at rrmaze24@aol.com Photo: Aquino's paintings displayed by fans. Photo by Jhay Otamias. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .  |
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