THERE?S a book by Philip Howard entitled ? The Death of Common Sense:How Law is suffocating America? which came to mind after I read with interest ( and relief) the news that the Comelec won?t stop the broadcast of Manny Pacquiao?s fight with Tim Bradley.
To recall, former party-list representative Walden Bello and former Senator Rene Saguisag had filed complaints questioning Pacquiao?s match because it would give him unfair advantage over other candidates in terms of media coverage.
When I first read this , my already overly caffeinated brain turned into hyperdrive.
What will people think of next?
But then I found the humor in it all. I mean, I could not help but admire the imagination these two gentlemen have.
Of course, if a sports event where two men are on top of a ring trying not to get killed could constitute a political advertisement then all is lost.
Perhaps Howard was right. Common sense, as we know it, could possibly be dead.
Thankfully, the Comelec ruled otherwise, claiming cryptically, I may add, there is no ?justiciable controversy? and that the ? event has not happened yet.?
But wait, does that mean they would act only after the event has happened?
Common sense it seems has indeed died.
WARD VICTORY. Andre Ward looked sharp in dominating the rugged and previously unbeaten Guillermo Barrera last Sunday.
Ward was moving up in weight and fighting for the first time the 175-lb. division.
Prior to the fight, he had fought only once in nine months and four times since 2011 due to a recurring injury and some contractual disputes.
This led some pundits to be skeptical about Ward?s chances against Barrera who had looked impressive in compiling six consecutive stoppage wins coming into this fight and had already gained a following owing to his kayo streak.
Me? I never doubted Ward. There are a few articles of faith that I hold true in the pugilistic world, one of which is that class always tells.
Ward (29-0, 15Kos) had beaten the best in the 168-class superstars like Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham and Sakio Bika. He also did well in his lone previous outing against former light heavyweight king Chad Dawson.
As impressive as Barrera looked, he had never faced an opponent of Ward?s caliber.
STYLE. Barrera came in strong, but Ward picked him apart and poked holes in his defense.
Ward scored a knockdown in the third with a left hook, and from there Barrera was never really able to build any appreciable momentum to get him back into the fight.
The punch stats were emblematic of his dominance as he landed 36% of his total punches compared to Barrera?s paltry 15%.
Ward?s workmanlike approach to fights is the key to his success. He can adapt his style to any opponent?s gameplan and stick to it with uncanny precision.
His superior hand speed will be his primary weapon against the bigger guys in the light heavy division, but what will propel him to success is his calculating, cerebral approach to fights.
Sergey Kovalev is the man to beat at this division, but I predict Ward will be a stylistic nightmare for him.
LAST ROUND. It?s on my niece Bianca Nicole Quijano Hubahib. Bon Voyage Ate Bam…You will always have my irrevocable love and support. Cheers!
