REPEAT after me. Boxing is alive and well in Cebu. Kudos to Sammy Gello-ani and Golden Boy Promotions for such a spectacular event. My only minor complaint is that I couldn’t be true to my column as there were no last rounds for me to drink.
Repeat after me again. Z Gorres won that fight. The history books will forever state that Fernando Montiel retained his title by split decision in the Cebu City Sports Complex. But the Last Round will forever soberly swear that Z pulled it off. I had Z up by two points in my card and I certainly would not have deducted any points from him. But I would have deducted three style points from referee Sammy Viruet for sporting that hideous-looking hairstyle.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007
Be that as it may, I still felt Z made too many mistakes. He became overconfident from his success in the opening rounds and it cost him big time when he opted to stand and trade with his murderous punching foe in the later rounds. In the tenth stanza, a monstrous right hand that clipped him right on the point of his chin made him wobbly and he had to hang on for dear life. He was never the same again for the championship rounds.
Obviously, this had a major effect on the judges. Also, he neglected body work and almost exclusively head hunted. Bad call especially when you have an opponent who was born with gums lined with asphalt.
Ironically, his two compatriots found success by attacking the body with mad intensity. Jimrex Jaca started targeting the body in round six and not soon thereafter, Indonesian Butar Butar was sprawled on the ring apron unable to stand until the referee counted him out ala Mike Tyson vs. Kevin McBride.
Rey Bautista boom-boomed his opponent with a gut shot that left the latter pounding the canvas in frustration ala Oscar dela Hoya vs. Bernard Hopkins.
CEBOOO. Repeat after me one last time. Booing is good (well, sometimes.)
After hearing his name booed during last Saturday’s boxing extravaganza, Manny Pacquiao must have felt like he was in a gag show episode. I mean, Manny Pacquiao being booed? You’re busting my chops. Everybody loves him. Hell, even his opponent appears in beer commercials with him, hug him and proclaim him as the best. Well, for whatever reason, it happened and if the latest reports are true, it reportedly had a sobering effect on him as he is now having second thoughts about entering the political fray.
Good work guys, keep the boos coming. Now if only somebody would invite Cesar Montano and Richard Gomez to the next boxing event in Cebooo.
GOOD WORK DOC. Although Jimrex Jaca demolished Butar Butar in seven rounds, the former also took more punches than he would have opted to resulting in a nasty gash on his left eyebrow. Good thing Dr. Carlito Correa of Chong Hua, a confessed Last Rounder, was there to administer his healing touch. Dr. Correa sutured a total of 8 stitches on the crime scene and returned Jimrex to his good looks only his wife could love. (just kidding).
According to Dr. “loy”, the Executioner initially did not prefer any needlework done, but was eventually prevailed upon after being informed that there was a chance he would resemble the real “Executioner”—Bernard Hopkins—if he failed to do so. Cheers Doc!
BAUTISTA LOWERS THE BOOM. I really pitied Marino Montiel Gonzales. This writer had a chance to interview him during the weigh-in last Friday and through an interpreter, he informed me that he was still very tired, groggy and hungry. A few minutes later, he stripped down to his undies for the weigh-in, and put on his game face for the cameras. Very professional. A few hours later, he probably went to sleep and woke up Saturday. A few hours later that day, he climbed the ring to face a bigger, stronger opponent, whose ring moniker “Boom-boom,” gave no comfort. A few minutes later, he fell grimacing from a left hook from hell, delivered with lethal precision.
Nonetheless I gave high marks for this kid for showing no fear. And no, there’s no truth to the nasty rumor that he was actually from Mexico, Pampanga.
THE LAST ROUND. This week’s last round goes out to my good friend, Atty. Oscar Tan Jr. who celebrated his birthday last week. “Oca” is married to the beautiful Atty. Melanie Zosa and is the proud father of “Third” who at a very tender age can recite the alphabet backwards faster than you can sing it. Cheers!
