HE SEEMED quite excited for the press conference to start and when it did, he wasted no time informing those assembled at the Sugbahan Restaurant that the planned World Cup of boxing will be held not here in our shores, but at Sacramento California, USA on Aug. 11.
This writer had raised a call to save Cebu?s opportunity to host the cup here, but trust me, when you have Cebu?s grand patron of boxing Antonio L. Aldeguer in front of you, his cherub-like face alternately breaking into a smile whenever somebody cracked a joke or into a frown when a matter of concern came up, you know that everything possible was done to save it, and it?s for the boxers? best interests for the cup to be held elsewhere at this time.
While it would indeed have been a historic event for the World Cup of boxing to be held here, this writer is confident that we will win the event and then possibly have the opportunity to host it here as defending champions. Wouldn?t that be even better?
REVENGE OF THE BROTHER? Expectedly, Bobby?s loss to Humberto Soto narrowed down the choices for Manny?s next opponent. Shades of Vitali Klitschko seeking revenge against Corrie Sanders for separating younger brother Wladimir from his senses.
Though out-muscled by the bigger Soto, Bobby gave it his all. Sadly, as this writer pointed out, Bobby is better off exhibiting his boxing skills rather than painfully slugging it out when he lacks the firepower and the physical durability to withstand it.
Too brave for his own good, he will now have to wait and watch older bro Manny take his turn against ?La Zorrita.?
NO HEART. Score another one for the Last Round, which correctly predicted a kayo win for Miguel Cotto, although it took him three rounds more than this writer expected.
Judah surprisingly exhibited good behavior even after being on the receiving end this time of some low blows, though the ?Super? one also gave a fine acting performance the first time an alleged low blow landed.
An interesting pattern seems to be emerging judging from Judah?s last three fights, which have all been losses (against Baldomir, Mayweather and Cotto).
He performs well the first few rounds, gets hit more and more often, then disappears into a shell, and seems content on just surviving and finishing the remainder of the fight.
Though he did manage to fight back in spurts during the later rounds, I still believe he could have given so much more as he had Cotto hurt a couple of times. Well, as they say, you can?t teach heart.
SWITCH-HITTING PAYS OFF. The punch that Judah landed time and again which hurt Cotto was the uppercut. The latter, who is known to switch from orthodox to southpaw from time to time, wisely applied the same strategy to nullify Zab?s southpaw advantage. In so doing, he took away the angle from which Judah was most comfortable in throwing the uppercut.
Though most trainers often frown on switch-hitting, I believe that a boxer who can pull it off seamlessly should be given leeway to apply it.
Why limit your talents, when you have the ability to fight with either hand? Miguel Cotto is one such fighter, and the Judah beat-down heralded the arrival of a new boxing superstar.
LAST ROUND. Today?s last round is on a couple of June birthday celebrants, the beautiful Janet Gorne of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas and the precocious Ma. Fiona Rashed Hernando who turns four today. Cheers!
