It came with the suddenness of an earthquake.
That, simply, was what happened to Manny Pacquiao yesterday in Las Vegas.
I was not surprised.
Whenever two boxers engage in a toe-to-toe combat, chances are big that either one of them will fall. Knockout.
Unfortunately, it was Pacquiao who fell. Knockout.
Not Juan Manuel Marquez.
It is universal in boxing that every fighter has a knockout punch. When it will come, though, is oftentimes the most elusive thing to predict.
Marquez?s KO shot came exactly when it wasn?t expected; mostly, it happens through a lucky punch.
This is not to belittle Marquez?s sixth-round KO victory yesterday over Pacquiao.
Like Pacquiao, Marquez packs power. How to land that killer punch has always been also the universal question each time both great, durable fighters meet.
Now, as I said, when two powerful combatants decide to mix it up a la telephone booth brawl, one of them will surely be hit by a haymaker.
In short, when all offense dictates a fight, defense is as alien as E.T.
Pacquiao had no defense in the last 10 seconds of Round 6 yesterday. So with Marquez.
One lucky enough could land the haymaker that will win it?as proven by Marquez when his overhead right hit and attacking Pacquiao smack in the face.
So powerfully exact on the dot was the Mexican Dynamite?s blast that PacMan fell like a chopped log, the impact of the blow creating a thud so loud everybody at ringside watched in horror at the bizarre result.
Anxiety was written all over the faces of those who saw Pacquiao fall face first; as he lay almost motionless on the canvas, people panicked. Jinkee, Pacquiao?s wife, wept unabashedly at the sight, desperately trying to climb up the ring herself and check on her hubby?s condition.
Thank, God, Pacquiao would soon regain his bearings and assured everybody, ?I am all right.? Still, he was taken to the hospital for precautionary tests.
Immediately, the nation described Pacquiao?s knockout loss as the second tragedy to strike us in two successive weeks, adding the loss of hundreds of lives caused by typhoon ?Pablo? last week in Mindanao?not to mention more than 500 more listed as missing in the Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and Surigao.
But even as Pacquiao absorbed his only knockout loss since 1998, a fifth fight with Marquez was quickly floated after the fight?with no less than chief Pacquiao-Marquez promoter Bob Arum not discounting the possibility.
When it happens, it could be dull, boring, and not worth watching anymore, you might say?
Uh-oh. Think again, fellers.
Suckers teem in boxing.
Besides, ask the dude seated next to you. He?d tell you Pacquiao merely lost on a lucky punch.
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ALL IN. Top guns at the Baguio Country Club, led by GM Anthony de Leon, Resident Manager Shin Paul Chan and Assistant Recreations Manager Roanne G. Galicia wish to thank the following for their invaluable services during the 63rd Fil-Am Invitational Golf: OJTs Julie Ann N. De Guzman, Jojie M. De Guzman and Donabel R. Oribado (Hospitality and Tourism Management at Panpacific University North Philippines?Urdaneta City, Pangasinan); Marvin C. Rivera and Domingo Q. Rico (University of Baguio?s School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management); Anne Jerimae D. Estacio, Mark Lester B. Guevarra and Racel Rose C. Romero (University of Sto. Tomas?s College of Tourism and Hospitality Management); and audio technical expert Wilzor ?Chino? L. Cortes of Baguio City?s famous Audio Enhance?Congrats to Matikas for its stunning victory in the Am championship of the Fil-Am Golf. ?Team work did it,? said Allan Pasion, the cheerful captain in his rookie stint in the fabled event. ?My feeling is indescribable right now. This is God?s gift to us.? Pasion?s victorious wards included Erwin Temena, Jung Soo Park, Rading Decepida, Gen. Alex Ignacio and Nike/Everlast owner Thirdy Escano. Cheers!
