UNLIKE election lawyer Romy Macalintal, boxing scholar Hermie Rivera, who joined Team Pacquiao at the Wild Card gym a couple of weeks before the Hatton fight, didn?t have the extra $5 to bet on Manny Pacquiao.
Hermie didn?t end up gloating, but he was very glad nonetheless.
?Lakay, I could have raked it in if only I had money to bet. I?ve always maintained that Hatton?s style is cut out for our compulsive puncher. I swore it would be over anytime in the first three rounds,? Hermie wrote days after returning to his place in San Jose, California.
For the record, many people in the Pacquiao entourage, including close-in accountant Rex Wakee Salud, felt Pacman would be able to complete the KO mission in the sixth round or thereabouts.
Hermie, to repeat, did not win a single green buck.
Of course, he scored big when he rushed a column on the eve of the big bout to predict an early stoppage to the Hatton fight.
Hermie asked that he be allowed to share his piece with Inquirer readers:
* * *
?He who falls into a trap gets starched,? Manny Pacquiao?s chief strategist Freddie Roach reminded his prized pupil as he prepared to battle Ricky Hatton Saturday at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tonight, any of the two ?live wires? committing early blunders reaps devastating consequences.
No probing rounds for the sell-out crowd.
Nothing but unmitigated punching for the fans catching the action on TVland.
* * *
Ricky the Manchester puncher is not only defending his 140-pound title but is staking his ?rep? as an exciting wrangler to boot.
The beer-guzzling British brawler who rose to prominence by relieving Kostya Tszyu of his 140 lb title has promised a mugging of GenSan?s crackerjack.
Super Manny, a San Miguel Beer-swilling southpaw, has a huge stake in this matchup of the planet?s certified punchers.
He has the tools to ice the Hitman. He aches for an early ending to his 12-round tiff with the credible Mancunian.
For a hurried commitment at a postfight victory bash?
* * *
From the time of Pancho Villa up to the reign of Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde and Luisito Espinosa, the Philippines has produced some of the world?s all-time greats.
But none became successful as a politico.
Manny is hoping he can change all that.
By sweeping Hatton off the scene, Pacquiao gets to rid some snags that could derail the ?Pacman local? as it chugs its way to the 2010 polls.
* * *
Oops?I digress.
The Pinoy idol?s final touches of what has been laid out as a perfect fight plan is set for execution.
Manny wants a short night by going full throttle from the opening bell.
No way for the Briton to escape loss No. 2, Champ?
The junior welterweight of Manchester has honed his jabs, head movements, body shots and other covert ring ?strats? for execution as well.
A far cry from the old ?Hat? who struggled on occasion in the past.
* * *
Not an easy read this time, Ricky?
No one is going to be a bore here.
No one is sleeping in a rollout bed.
Neither is one using the sofa bed.
The ring mat, like a trap, is the place where to lay down to sleep once the big blows connect.
The 64-dollar poser: Who?s gonna sleep?
Why, the fighter who does not speak Tagalog, who else?
