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Philippines, 17 May 2024 |
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Does God Watch Boxing Matches? By Earl Blaney PhilBoxing.com Tue, 28 Apr 2015  For a reason I cannot remember I once found myself in the ?family and friends box? of a Korean Basketball Association game played between two teams that were not worth remembering. I do however have one strong memory of that game, a mother of one of the players. The woman was religious; the sort of religious person you don?t want to be around empathetic, loud and full-on. I and nearly everyone else, was disgusted by the woman?s selfish imploration for God?s attention to aid her son?s game day performance. Doesn?t she know? God doesn?t care about sports, God doesn?t care who wins the game. When Manny Pacquiao beats Floyd Mayweather this coming Sunday, it won?t be a miracle. The miracle that IS Manny Pacquiao has already happened and by consequence this fight has been decided long in advance. As is well known both fighters, as good fighters do, came from troubled beginnings. Destitute, poor ? trapped, boxing has a long history of giving the hopeless hope and opportunity. The only difference in their personal back stories are are their geographical proximity to the limelight and the fact that Pacquiao didn?t come from a boxing family- he came from nothing at all. People knew who Floyd Mayweather was via his father?s success and subsequent fall from grace - more certainly due to the respect and sympathy Floyd Jr earned at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Mayweather has been a professional champion since 1998. On the other hand, as should be expected, no one knew at all who Manny Pacquiao was until Freddie Roach maneuvered him into the undercard of a 2001 HBO fight headlined by, you guessed it, Floyd Mayweather- a fight Pacquiao did not win. Still, no one would care who Manny Pacquiao was until two years after this (2013) when he somehow managed the transformation into a world class fighter and stopped future hall of famer Marco Antoni Barrera cold. Considering his origins and background there can be no question this against all odds transformation was marked by a miracle of sorts. Glory came, but so did setbacks Marquez, Morales. There was a stretch (from 2008-2011) where it seemed Pacquiao?s success may have been guided or protected by a higher power because he WAS that good getting through the best De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto, Margarito, Mosley and Marquez. But it was then that we were reminded God doesn?t cheer at sporting events. As Pacquiao fans held their rosaries fast he was abandoned by the judges in the Bradley fight and then six months later dejected by a thunderous right hand from an old nemesis - Marquez. Many Filipino fight fans at first may have thought God had cancelled his pay preview subscription, but in fact it was simply a reminder; God doesn?t have a favorite team. God however does bestow blessings on some people while overlooking others who are too distracted or for other reasons prove unworthy. Pacquiao?s rise from abject poverty took hard work and dedication, not only to the sport but to a higher power (something Pacquiao constantly reminds us of). A humble man always, Pacquiao?s worth in providing hope and upliftment to his people is something that will continue far beyond this coming Sunday, in fact this is likely just the beginning of what will come. Pacquiao has a lot to offer others and although it is through boxing he has been able to reach such stage and stature it is because of his dedication to a higher power , humility and compassion that he has chosen the route of charity, public service and inspiration to others. What a different standing ?Money? Mayweather must have in the eyes of God, if indeed he is watching. Greed, opulence and self-centred exuberance, arrogant egotism (better than Ali? Ridiculous) have caused Floyd Jr?s list of people who can tolerate him to diminish to the limits of his paid full time staff members and soulless ghouls like Justin Beaver. Aside of improving awareness on the issue of domestic abuse (for all the wrong reasons) promoting social network apps are about all this guy has to offer to society outside of the sport of boxing. Unlike Pacquiao, Floyd didn?t come from nothing he came from iniquity, and those tendencies now find themselves fully matured. God won?t be there next Sunday ringside. But who will be there are two men on very different paths encouraged by two very different motives with boxing the only commonality between them. This Sunday is expected to be a long hard fight and will involve a test of will, determination and faith in something. The foundation for the result has been laid long ago by the path these men have chosen and the strength and weakness of what Sunday?s result represents to each of them. Your prayers are not needed, but they are likely to be answered. Earl Blaney Cebu City, Cebu Philippines earlblaney@hotmail.com April 26, 2015 Click here to view a list of other articles written by Earl Blaney.  |
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