BY flying to Argentina, Ana Julaton is already a winner.
But first, let me say that I like the name of the place in Argentina where Julaton is now and where she had trained for a week or so: Mendosa. Yes, with an ?S? and not with a ?Z.? Wine is good from there but also, we share a special affinity with the Argentines.
Argentina, like the Philippines, was a Spanish colony.
By tradition under Spanish customs, they say that a surname with a ?Z? if that surname is supposed to contain a ?Z? is usually of poor origins.
But if a surname supposedly with an ?S? contains a ?Z,? that person is of wealth.
So, you should be rich if you are a Gonzalez and poor if you are a Gonzales.
You are not my relative if your family name is spelled ?Mendosa? and not ?Mendoza.?
My father, although he was of Spanish roots, was from poor folk.
Anyway, after having said that, Julaton is now in Mendosa, Argentina, to defend her WBO 122-lb world title for the third time –against the unbeaten Yesica Marcos.
That?s today.
Julaton had brushed aside the destructive riot that marred the fight of another Filipino in Argentina against also an Argentine only a while back? she showed enormous courage embarking into hostile territory.
Johnriel Casimero suffered injuries inflicted by angry fans that raided the ring after Casimero?s foe?a 40-year-old has-been but considered a national hero in Argentina?was declared loser by the referee by a 10th-round knockout.
Casimero evaded serious injuries by hiding underneath the ring. He came out only after the police arrived to escort him to safety.
Julaton, 31, is 10-2-1 win-loss-draw, with one knockout. Her two defeats were on points against Lisa Brown and Dominga Oliva.
She faces a formidable foe in Marcos, who is 18-0-1 with 6 KOs, when they do battle at Teatro Griego Juan Pablo Segundo gym. In her last fight, Marcos stopped Simone da Silva in the 5th round in October.
But ?Hurricane? Julaton, who was born in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, is unfazed.
?I?m confident of victory,? she said. ?This is for the Philippines.?
Dear God, no more riot, please?
