IF YOU guys have been following Sun Star Cebu’s sports pages for some time now, you will recall that this columnist first started out as Homer Sayson’s resident boxing guru. Homer was gracious enough to feature my views on boxing topics from time to time.
Well, I guess what goes around comes around. Now that I am wearing the columnist’s hat, I am also blessed with a loyal following of Last Rounders who never hesitate to share their insights with me. Anyone of them can out-analyze me any given day.
So I am going to express my gratitude to Homer again by paying it forward. Today I’m featuring Last Rounder Glenn Ramos who is based in the US.
Here are Glenn’s comments on my last column “How to To Lose a Championship Match” which he also emailed to the ALA Boxing Gym:
“We had a poor tactician on Czar’s side that night. With all due respect to Edito Villamor, he should have forced Czar to box and not slug especially in the middle rounds where the judges gave the round to Katsidis because he was more aggressive, but not necessarily more effective.
What is worse, he did not instruct Czar to slug when it became necessary after the second knockdown, as this was the only chance to salvage at least a draw or even knock Katisidis out. Two knockdowns mean you’re behind by four points/rounds presuming all rounds are scored equal. If he fought like a “mad man,” he could have knocked out Katsidis especially that he was fighting with only one eye and on pure heart by then.
Do I think it would have been a different outcome if Roach was on Czar’s side? Maybe, maybe not.
But I am certain he would have adjusted the game plan as the fight progressed. And that was the big difference in the fight even considering all the tangibles that you mentioned.
I have been a big fan of Edito Villamor and almost cried when he was knocked out in his only world title fight here in US many moons ago. But the last fight proves he is too green to be a world-class head trainer. But I have all the trust and confidence in him that he will learn from this and become a better tactician, not just a trainer. All he has to do is review the tape. That’s what trainers do fight after fight.”
What’s your take on Glenn’s analysis? Shoot me an e-mail and I’ll be glad to feature it.
DISHEARTENED. The Last Round is disheartened by the news that Z Gorres is out of the World Cup of Boxing due to a slight tear in his retina.
Z would have been a vital cog in our chances for victory as the number of wins determine the overall winner. The Fernando Montiel fight was a valuable learning experience for Z–experience that would have served the Philippine team well. With Z out, our other boxers will have to step it up.
Luckily, Diosdado Gabi is ready to step in. “The Prince” is another skilled southpaw with power in both hands and will be a worthy replacement for Z. He will be facing Gerson Guerrero who has a record of 33-7 with 25 KOs.
After suffering his only TKO loss to Vic Darchinyan, Gabi has reeled off three straight wins, all in the US. The glare of the big lights won’t bother him and this will be a wonderful opportunity for the him to shine.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY U.P. LATAGAW. This week the UP Latagaw Brotherhood celebrates its 35th anniversary. During my stint as “Kapatas” for two terms at UP Diliman, Latagaw honed my leadership qualities and taught me the meaning of self-sacrifice. Truly, it is an honor to be one of you brods, in happiness, blood, sweat and tears…
THE LAST ROUND. It is on the “El Presidente” Ramon Fernandez and Karla Kintanar who recently exchanged “I dos”.
Congratulations and may your life together be like a Nonito Donaire left hook- passionate and perfect. Cheers!
