I am one of the many who did not feel well during and after the unforgettable March 19, 2005 classic battle between Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao. I was at the Imus Tennis Club TV area with my tennis colleagues having a festive picnic like gathering for the much awaited fight.
Having heard the fight progress and result over the radio while the Jorge Arce-Hussein Hussein fight was still being shown on television, I decided to accompany my wife shopping, which I don’t really enjoy, instead of watching the fight which was already about to be shown. I did watch the fight, though, days later, courtesy of the www.mannypacquiao.ph website.
It’s not that I was disappointed with Manny for not winning the fight which connotes a blame for not doing enough. In fact he did much especially after the 5th round injury where a lesser fighter could’ve just quit. Like many who do, I commend Manny more for the courage and the never say die attitude he has shown to the whole boxing world. He has made his countrymen proud for giving a good fight as he promised. I simply felt bad at that particular moment for the fact of loss.
Wile I admire both fighters, I was tilted in favor of and rooting for a Pacquiao victory because I believe my country needs it more than Erik’s.
Looking back at the fight, we can learn vital lessons even as Manny himself later said that he learned lessons which he could use to improve his performance in future fights.
In particular, I share with my friends at www.friendshipwaylife.org the parallels of the Morales-Pacquiao classic battle with the Christian fight.
1. The mental pre-fight focus is to “fight the good fight”
It is not unknown to boxing enthusiasts that the fight was a potential “Fight-of-the-Year” candidate it being contested by pound-for-pound listed fighters. So serious was Erik in his preparation he made sure nothing could distract him by having his training done far away from onlookers.
It could not be said also that Manny was remiss in his own preparation. Some even believe he overdid it. The point is Manny promised to give Erik and the boxing enthusiasts “a good fight”.
No wonder the fight was dubbed a fight “Con Todo” or with everything at stake before a record number of worldwide audience.
With everything at stake, that is, one’s life, the Christian is likewise admonished to,
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confessions in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12)
2. The post-fight feeling is encouraging the fighters “having fought the good fight?”
I read a commentary which says that while one won and the other lost, both actually came up winners.
Erik executed his fight plan well and got the unanimous nod of the three judges as well as the viewing public. The serious bible student is given lessons on how to fight an identified adversary. He could overcome if he executes the fight plan well as Erik did.
Manny won admiration for displaying tremendous courage and determination despite the adversities he faced well worthy of emulation by any fighter – the boxer and the serious bible student alike. As pointed out earlier, Manny did not quit, he not only held on to finish the scheduled 12 rounds, he bravely fought back to keep his promise to put on a good fight.
The apostle Paul confidently assessed, while near the end of his life, that he had fought a good Christian fight.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. (2 Timothy 4:7)
Many believe the Pacquiao-Morales March 19, 2005 epic fight will be talked about years from now in the boxing world. I do believe so. In addition, this fight will be a source of analogy for my wards and friends at the www.friendshipwaylife.org the courageous fighters involved undisputedly having “fought a good fight”.
