Last month, I had the chance to do an exclusive one-on-one interview with Mexican boxing champ Oscar Larios at the ABS-CBN Studio in Manila. I was only given very short notice, right after my evening news program, that I will be taking the first flight to Manila. While I admit to be no boxing guru, I did not want to pass the chance to meet the next challenger of sensational Pinoy People?s Champ Manny Pacquiao.
The first question that came to my mind was: Who is Oscar Larios?
While we are familiar with the other Mexican boxing warriors Marco Antonio Barrera and Eric Morales, both of whom were previously humbled and humiliated by our very own Pacman, the name Larios sounded alien to me. Indeed, who the hell is Larios?
I had to do a quick browse of the ever-reliable internet to learn a few important points about the guy. Contrary to my initial reaction, I found out that the man is no push-over. In fact, in many opinion columns and in ‘blog’ exchanges, both professional and amateur boxing enthusiasts, including many Filipinos, are warning Manny against over-confidence as Larios can really give him a run for his money.
Why not? This 29-year old boxer shares a lot of similarities with Pacquiao. His boxing prowess has been honed not in the professional training camps but in the tough and dusty streets of Mexico. While clearly underrated, his track record is respectable. He won the WBC Junior Featherweight championship in 2001 and lost only once in 52 bouts, with 34 knock out victories. In fact, during our interview, he bragged about the fact that he has never lost a fight in Asia and he expects to continue this feat in the Philippines.
Contrary to the comic, and now very showbiz, personality of Manny, Chololo (nickname of Larios) gave me quite a good impression. He appeared humble, simple, amiable, yet serious about and dedicated to his craft. There seems to be an intense, almost burning, passion for him to win, which he admitted during the interview.
Larios is a man who is hungry for both respect and recognition. Despite having won an international title, he realizes that he is no boxing superstar like Pacquiao, even in his own country. He was candid in saying that he is dead serious and passionate in beating Pacquiao right in the latter’s turf. While he is determined to do this, partly to vindicate his Mexican compatriots who were pulverized and defeated by Manny, he is also doing this primarily for himself.
Larios considers his fight against Pacquiao his biggest break ever and the biggest fight of his life. He desperately needs to win this one. This can be his much-needed passport to boxing fame, including the many perks that go with it. He was also very honest with me in saying that he is also doing this for the money. He needs to earn more for his growing family. Oscar was also quite emotional in saying that his mom and dad are his constant sources of inspiration. Unlike Manny who was influenced by his strong Visayan mom, Larios learned the ropes of boxing from his dad who was himself a boxer. To get him off from fighting kids in school, his dad, who was then a construction worker, would bring him to work. His on-the-job training was doing tough duels as a young boy against his dad’s muscled colleagues. Asked who the better boxer between the two Larioses is, he was quick to say that he is undoubtedly the better one, having been a world title holder.
Manny should keep in mind his opponent’s humble yet strong beginnings. Similar to Pacquiao, boxing experts rated Oscar very high on both stamina and heart. Larios told me that he is leaving no stone unturned, he goes on training at least eight hours a day and intends to do even more.
Many of the national sports writers who were present when both boxers were later introduced, jokingly, but with a grain of truth, told Manny he appears to be out of shape, even overweight. In fact, he also appears out of focus to me. I wonder where Manny finds time to go to the gym in the light of his many commercials, endorsements, and, yes, even movies.
I hope Manny does not do an “Onyok” Velasco, who after getting the much-coveted silver in boxing at the Olympics became a run-of-the-mill comedian on TV. We were even told that Manny’s American coach even had to plead to him to go back to the US so he can exclusively train without distraction.
So it remains anybody’s game come July 2 at the Araneta Coliseum. Mano-a-mano. Pacquiao vs. Larios. Philippines vs. Mexico. This is Manny’s first big fight in his own country. I hope Manny trains and prays even harder. He cannot allow himself disappointing his fellow Filipinos who have looked up to him as their genuine source of inspiration.
The national pride is at stake. I hope Manny goes down to serious business and leave his showbiz career temporarily behind him. He has to bear in mind that he is boxer first and foremost and that he carries with him the Philippine flag. (For comments and reactions, email at [email protected].)
