He will forever be able to tell his children and grandchildren that he knocked out one of the greatest featherweights to ever step into the ring?
?He?s out. Oh my God, it?s over; it?s over, oh my God. It?s over. His eyes are crossed. It?s over. Oh my gosh!??TV Announcer
?When he went down, I knew he wouldn?t get up. The referee could?ve counted to 100 and he wouldn?t have been able to recover. I prepared for him. I knew after throwing a jab, he would follow up with a straight or an uppercut. I waited for him to jab, then I countered.??Rustico Torrecampo
This relatively unknown Filipino light flyweight fought from 1993 to 1997 and finished with an unremarkable 15-8-6 mark, though 6 draws in 29 fights is a bit unusual. He was 1-4-1 in his last six outings with his sole win (and arguably his career second best) coming against solid Noel Tunacao (28-4-2 at the time).
But it was on February 9, 1996 in Mandaluyong City, Manila, where he would win his biggest fight, though he would not know it at the time. His opponent, 11-0 and being highly touted as a comer, failed to make weight and according to reliable sources was?as a penalty for weighing over the limit and ostensibly to level the playing field?mandated to wear eight-ounce gloves, compared to Torrecampo?s six-ouncers.
During the fight, Rustico held his own and then some through the first two rounds against his somewhat poorly prepared and overconfident foe and then he stepped things up in the third. As both parried and then launched hard shots at each other, Torrecampo drove a well timed hook to the face of his heavier opponent who was coming in thus increasing the impact of the blow.
Many said it was a head shot that ended up striking the body as well; others said it was a fully torqued, incoming shot to the right side of the body. Still others, especially the victim?s fans who went into collective denial, contended it was a low blow. However, finishing body shots usually don?t make a victim?s eyes cross.
While the most popular replay of the knockout at the time showed an angle in which Torrecampo appeared to hit his opponent with a borderline belt shot, Torrecampo?s left landed across the face did the trick. After endless reviews of the videos available at the time, I concluded that it was a head shot.
Whatever the case?head, body or both?it was academic because the Kibawe native went down in a heap and was not only counted out but had to be picked up by referee Danny Rodenas as if he were a rag doll. Torrecampo?s opponent no longer was undefeated, though to his great credit and determination, he shook off the loss as a learning experience and immediately launched a sizzling streak of wins, most ending by stoppage.
As for Torrecampo, he failed to capitalize on the upset victory. A month after winning another fight, this one against Ricky Sales, he suffered a wrist injury for which he inexplicitly failed to get medical treatment. The memory of his boxing career is immortalized, in part, by the grisly sight of a small bone sticking out of his left wrist, the gruesome result of that fracture not healing properly.
More recently (and after his retirement from the ring in 1997) Torrecampo, a food vendor, was involved in a nasty vehicular dispute in Tondo in which his food cart was upended by a truck who?s driver then tried to get away. A heated argument resulted in a killing. This occurred in 2007. As a result, Rustico remained a fugitive from the law. The matter was eventually cleared up, though there is little information as to exactly how. Given the circumstances of the argument and subsequent fatal stabbing, my best guess is that self-defense may have been invoked as a successful argument.
After a 14-year hiatus from boxing, Rustico at age 38 made a successful one-fight comeback in February 2011 by knocking out hapless Jovanie Bualan in Imus, Cavite, Philippines. But despite high hopes expressed by his manager, he would never fight again. Perhaps he had heeded the opinion of International referee Bruce McTavish, watching at ringside, who said Torrecampo could continue fighting?but only in four-rounders. Games and Amusements Board staffer Romel Gutierrez said referee Silvestre Abainza was justified in stopping the fight. ?Bualan was beaten up badly?although I noticed Torrecampo was breathing heavily when the fight was stopped.?
Today, Torrecampo reportedly lives with his family, his wife?s parents and siblings in a crowded squatter?s home on Nepomuceno Street in Tondo. Nevertheless, he will forever be able to tell his children and grandchildren that he knocked out one of the greatest featherweights to ever step into the ring.
The featherweight?s name was Manny Pacquiao.
Years later Rustico said, ?I?m happy for Manny?He?s lucky. He?s now rich. If he ever wants to see me, I might not be able to go because I?m tight for money. I?ll have to pay for transportation. But if he gives me P1000, I?ll be absent from work for a day and see him.?
PostScript: Once this particular video became available, I no longer had any doubts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OshURAKHmY8
