THEY say you don?t get old overnight. Rather you begin to breakdown, body part by body part. And that?s what I?m feeling right now.
If my body is supposed to be my temple, then I?m probably suffering penance for the abuse I have wrought upon it over the years.
I can feel it give, slowly but inevitably.
Last year, I twisted my ankle when I landed on somebody?s foot while playing basketball. When I was still a sprightly teen, the prevailing wisdom back then was to put a Coke bottle under your swollen foot, roll it to and fro to relieve the pain. After applying some creams, I was good as new.
But now, I can sense my ankle never really healed. I feel it at night when it?s too cold and sometimes when I land unevenly while playing ball. It has shattered my confidence and definitely affected my game.
Just a few months ago, I felt something give while I was carelessly whacking away at a heavy bag with very loose hand wraps on.
X-rays revealed nothing was broken but my right hand will never be the same again. The range of movement in my wrist has been compromised and it hurts when I lift heavy objects. As a result, I haven?t been able to box and lift weights and so my conditioning is shot.
My frat brod Dr. Wilson Dela Calzada, one of the best orthopedic surgeons in town, opined that if I don?t rest my hand, the injury could never heal. Bad timing for me, as I am presently playing in two basketball tournaments.
The past few weeks, I?ve been trying to eat and do other tasks using my left hand.
So why is this finding space in a boxing column? It?s because of a date that I share with the ?Golden Boy? Oscar De La Hoya.
A birthdate. Feb. 4, 1973. Give or take some hours, that means Oscar and this writer?s earthly existence spans the same number of days, weeks, months and years.
I?m thinking the guy must be feeling his age too. Sure, he?s a professional athlete and he takes very good care of his body. But boxing is a sport like any other. The wear and tear over the years definitely takes its toll.
That and the fact that he is fighting at a weight class uncomfortable to his body could definitely be a factor in the Pacquiao experiment.
TALISAY DUKEOUT. Cheers to Golden Dream Productions, SGG Promotions and the Talisay City Sports Commission for showcasing a great night of boxing last Friday.
Two undefeated fighters with lots of potential bannered the card and they did not disappoint.
Johnrel Casimiro owns a vicious overhand right and he used it to bomb the living bejeezus out of Thai Liempetch Sor Veerapol.
Late sub Anthony Marcial proved to be quite a tall order for Thong Thai Rajanondh, literally. He enjoyed a freakish six-inch height advantage and he used it to good measure all throughout the fight.
Although I believe referee Teddy Alivio stopped the fight too soon, admittedly the Thai was totally out-classed and out-muscled in there.
A note to Rocky Marcial?s trainer and all you tall guys out there facing a shorter, compact opponent: don?t just paw with your jab to establish your range. That?s why it?s called a jab. You?re supposed to jar it in, not merely poke with it. A properly thrown jab is a menacing weapon in itself.
Sure, it?s supposed to set up your other punches, feel out your opponent, and all that stuff, but nobody said you couldn?t knock the other guy?s teeth down his throat with it, either.
THE LAST ROUND. The last round goes out to my indefatigable kumpare Eddy Basa and my good friend, Hembler Mendoza, Waterfront Hotel Lapu-lapu?s dapper General Manager who both recently celebrated their birthdays. Cheers!
