It?s been quite a slow few days in the world of fight sports. Bob Arum is still working on finalizing Pacquiao vs. Cotto, UFC 100 is still three weeks away, Tim Sylvia is still searching for that truck that hit him and Floyd Mayweather Jr. is still missing since his ?ribs? started aching.
Surprisingly most of the fireworks so far have come from writers as my colleague here at the Examiner, NY Boxing?s Michael Marley, has been trading verbal jabs, hooks and even low blows with Philboxing?s Edwin Espejo. It?s actually quite amusing to me, although I do understand where Marley is coming from because the attacks he received were definitely unwarranted in my opinion. But still, it?s funny how two sports writers are going back and forth like little kids trading insults as if trying to get the better of each other for the whole world to witness. I guess in this case, two older men going through some mid-life crisis channeling their inner machismo through their articles. The pen is mightier than the sword after all, and by the looks of it, this one is going to be a bloody affair before all is said and written.
With that said, it?s still really been a slow week, but I?m a glass half-full type of guy so I took this time to address my rapidly growing mail box. Now since this is the first time I?m doing this, don?t expect a lot of Q & A?s as there have been few that really sent me any queries about the fight game. Instead I wanted to share some of the stories readers have shared to me from our written interactions.
I encourage all you fight fans and readers of my humble column to send me any concerns, questions, feedbacks, comments or anything you?d like so long as they are within the realms of decency and respect. I appreciate constructive criticism, but I will not tolerate childish insults, hate mail and spam. Come on, I know this is the internet but if you can?t be civilized, my advise is for you to take that trash somewhere else. Contact me through email at [email protected]. Thanks to everyone for reading and all the kind words. I appreciate it.
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Dear Dennis:
I am Truce O. M.D.
I am a Filipino here in the USA since 1966. I knew Flash Elorde and have been into boxing and martial arts for some time now. Gabriel “Flash” Elorde came to my barrio, Mantuyong,Mandaue, Cebu, Philippines, when I was barely 11 years old and being bullied daily because my parents had me accelerated many grades . I was always the smallest in my school and was thus picked on. When Flash built that ring and donated those gloves, I picked up boxing daily and knocked out all my bullies within a number of months.
Now that I am a successful Child and Adult Psychiatrist, I mandate to all my bullied patients to study boxing and martial arts from my handpicked senseis and boxing teachers here in the Quad Cities. I also serve the whole prison system in Illinois and preach peace through inner strength and the use of “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. I am a Buddhist and I abhor violence. Since finishing my training in combat martial arts, I have never used them outside the dojo ever.
I enjoy your writings.
Keep on keeping on !
Thanks for the kind words Truce and the very nice story. ? D
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RE to Entry: Let Manny be Manny
you know what? manny will lose anyways…. i just feel sorry for him, he has to spend all his earnings in politics.,people wont vote for him, trust me….. he didnt win the last elections, and definitely he wont win this election,,, people will not vote for him because he win fights, filipinos are not stupid… and for all of you out there outside the philippines!!! manny will not win even if he runs for president,, so you reporters and analysts outside the philippines, stop saying that manny will make it up to president of the philippines, he will not win, we love manny because he is giving honor to our country not because we want him to lead our country!! and manny is not vocal on running for president,, so how and where the hell you stupid boxing analysts got the news that he will be running for presidency? huh? filipinos are smarter than what you think!!! a**holes!!!
Okay? maybe you misinterpreted the context of those who say Pacquiao can become the future president of the Philippines. Relax brother, I don?t think Manny winning the elections and becomes the president of the Philippines someday means Filipinos are stupid. I mean if it does, then we must be absolute imbeciles, morons and ?nincompoops? since we elected Joseph ?Erap? Estrada for president after all, right?! On that note, anything is possible, smart people are never sure of what the future brings but always prepares themselves for whatever. ?D
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PP/Chief Insp Eugenio Lira, Jr. ?
RE to Entry: Let Manny be Manny
Filipinos must consider that values play a great role in selecting our leaders for public office, especially if it involves higher dignified offices. It’s unfair to say that only people who are smart English-talkers are qualified to run as lawmakers in our country. Why would you discriminate our kabayans who are not adept or conversant in English? Don’t you ever remember that we have plenty of past and present congressmen who couldn’t even talk straight English, and some not even Highschool graduates, but still they were very competitive in delivering the basic services to their respective constituencies. They even led in legislating laws aimed primarily in ushering countryside development in their localities. We must not discriminate people who have good values but not conversant in English as unfit to run for public office. We should consider instead their good intentions. A man such as Manny Pacquiao is what our country needs to set an example that poverty is not a hindrance.
AMEN! ? D
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Melchor M.
Carlsbad, California
Hello Dennis
I just wanted to say how I?ve enjoyed reading your articles lately. You convey your messages really well without having to be one-sided. I?m a fan of the PacMan also, and look forward to your articles about him. I was once a two time muay thai champ, but now a family man. Having two kids and a busy work schedule, if I get a chance to go on the net, I like to go on the k-1 fans website to get latest news and go on Manny?s website and a lot of the articles I read are mostly yours. Anyways, keep up the good work. I really enjoy your articles.
Much respect champ. You are now a 3-time champ for being a responsible family man! ? D
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Don of 904 –
Re to Entry: Forget about Pacquiao-Mayweather Jr. Dream Match in 2009
1st of all…Mayweather IS the biggest draw in boxing now. His DLH and Hatton fights out sold Pacs. As for Floyd faking the injury…Why would he?He has been dominate at every level(84-6) as an amatuer!You would rather see Pac-Cotto??Did you not see Cotto lose his last fight and recieve a gift from the judges?You people keep bringing up mosley,cotto,and these other “elite welters”…did you not see mosley get dominated twice by a defensive winky and get dominated twice by vernon forrest.Now after one win…he is the greatest thing on earth.Did you people not watch pac’s fights against JMM?Who 90% of non biased people thought he clearly lost the rematch.Its obvious that none of you have ever stepped into a real ring!
90% of non biased people? Where did you get your statistics bro? Unfortunately, boxing is a sport about “what have you done for me lately”. Pacquiao could beat King Kong today and lose to Glass Joe tomorrow then the world will say he?s a bum. Boxers get better, others slip and slide. Floyd was 07; Pacquiao was 08 and is 09. This is real sports, not Nintendo. ? D
************ juanix –
RE Entry: Pacquiao cherry-picked Cotto
“Pacquiao cherry-picking Cotto?” hmmm… that’s even a huge compliment, though undeserved, to the Pacman. In this proposed and currently being negotiated fight, Pacquiao is treading on dangerous grounds. I pray he wins.
I agree. I still can?t imagine how many people are underestimating Cotto. The guy is so much bigger than Pacquiao! ? D
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Nonito Donaire Jr.
From his blog
I?m not here to back out or play around or talk smack just cuz. I don?t play that game. I play video games. I have a PS3, a WII and my laptop for GuildWars and CounterStrike. Woohoo for video games.
Nice one Nonito ? D
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MIXED NUTS: Nonito Donaire Jr. told me he used to play the safety position in football. So I guess Donaire was like ?Pacman? in Pee Wee football. Pacman Jones that is? I love ring card girls!… I endorse Nevertap Fightwear? I think Shaq would seriously hurt Hong Man Choi if they fought?. Kimbo Slice in TUF? It would be interesting to see but I already got $10 on him walking out of the show or getting kicked out for doing something dumb when he gets matched-up against a tough opponent? I?ll be in Vegas to cover some events, do some photo shoots and some other business next month. Nonito Donaire Jr. also invited me to train with him and experience how hard it is. Watch out for the video of that… Fight Night Round 4 is coming up. You already know dsource02 on the PS3 online network will bring the heat!
