PHILIPPINE professional boxing is alive and well. It is sitting atop the boxing world with a cup that runneth over.
But while our attentions were focused on the heroic exploits of our warriors, elsewhere in the boxing world, super fights between superstars were also being made.
Damn, it’s a great time to be a boxing fan. I’ll never get tired of saying that.
Pacquiao-Barrera II isn’t the only big fight that we can look forward to for the rest of 2007. Here are two intriguing fights that have gotten me pretty darn excited.
MAYWEATHER VS. HATTON. This is the best fight that could be made in boxing right now. Two undefeated superstars atop the pound-for-pound list.
Two contrasting personalities and styles. One is a slick, trash-talking, flashy boxer-counter puncher. The other is a polite, soft-spoken, blue-collar type of fighter who likes to fight in the trenches at a frenetic pace.
I will be cheering for the “The Hitman” all the way, as he has the style to foil pink Floyd.
But I fear that he may be too small.
Listed at 5’ 6”, Ricky will be two inches shorter than Floyd. He only fought once before at welterweight where he engaged in a life-and-death struggle with Luis Collazo.
Mayweather has fought at junior middleweight and though he struggled with Oscar dela Hoya, that was because the Golden Boy was much bigger and stronger.
Hatton could probably play the mauler part a lot better, but being the smaller man in the ring this time, I wonder if can take Floyd’s punches coming in and find a way to dish out the hurt.
VARGAS VS. MAYORGA. You’re right. This hardly qualifies as a super fight. A few years ago, both of these fighters were pound-for-pound materials. Today, they’d be hard pressed to crack the top 50.
But if you know your boxing, you know why this fight is being made. Let me put it this way. This fight reminds me of the time when I was in grade school at Sacred Heart School for Boys.
During Chinese class, for some God-awful reason, we would have to change classrooms. And during these sojourns, the resident bully of section A would finally meet up with Mr. Congeniality of section C.
All hell would break loose.
Yes, it’s that type of fight. At a wild press conference last month, pandemonium ensued and Vargas landed two good rights on the Nicaraguan’s chin.
Too bad, they never attended school at SHS-B. Back then, I was already a boxing scribe, eagerly awaiting the inevitable rematch at the next Chinese class.
LAST WORD ON GERRY. Today, I’m giving Last Rounder Don Yballe the last word on one of my favorite boxers, Gerry Penalosa:
“Thank you for writing about Gerry. It sickens me when everyone says it was a lucky punch. It came from experience, skills, training. That precise left hand also caught Rolando Pascua years before when he opted to jab all night.
Your articles are so good to read because you are a boxing purist. And, yes, Pacquiao sparred with Gerry when he was still WBC superflyweight champion.
I often saw them spar before when I went with my father to Mr. Wakee Salud’s “manokan”. Pacman had no answer to those counter punches then.
More power, you’re my idol next to Homer Sayson. Hehehehe”
YAW-YAN ANNIVERSARY. Congratulations to the YAW-YAN ArDigma Martial Arts Federation, Inc., which is holding its 35th Founding Anniversary today, Aug. 25, 2007 at the Vismin Headquarters, M 304 Villacampa-Capuras Bldg., Sanciangko St., Cebu City.
THE LAST ROUND. It’s on my high school buddy, Dr. Gerry Ypil, who recently celebrated his birthday and on Atty. Allan Siu and lovely wife Liezl who are now proud parents of Ethan Victor Siu. Cheers!
