(Last line of the Filipino National Anthem)
Beautiful land of love, oh land of light, In thine embrace ’tis rapture to lie; But it is glory ever when thou art wronged For us thy sons to suffer and die.
A simple translation of the last bar in the Filipino national anthem reminds us why the citizens of this country remain so patriotic. The ancestral pride is one that comes with great emotion, great honor, and if necessary, perhaps even the greatest sacrifice of them all…..which is the sacrifice of life itself.
In the Philippines, passion and pride are two things that remain as synonymous as the sun and the moon, and never was this realization more prominent than recently when Fil-Am Ana Julaton entered the ring against Canada’s Lisa Brown.
In a classic case of addition by subtraction, the end of the night gained the beautiful filipina even more fans despite her loss, due in part to an undying passion to entertain and an uncharted level of class in defeat.
From her days in the amateur ranks, Julaton has always maintained one mission. That mission? To bring a certain quality to the sport of female boxing, and to represent her culture and her passion for the sport with pride while doing it.
Knowing that she had no plans to be in the business forever, the agenda was to take as many tough fights as possible, against the toughest level of competition possible.
Before her loss to Brown, in only 8 pro fights, her resume contained one loss and one draw, but also 6 victories over very quality competition where she not only earned a title, but subsequently another, partly unifying the division with less than 10 pro fights which remains an unparalleled act on both the male and female side of the sport.
The real intrigue in her latest effort was the fact that this story couldn’t have received a better script in Hollywood when you look at the intricate details involved. Many women of the sport have found a certain level of marketing success despite marginal talent based on looks alone.
If there were ever such a reason to think Julaton was all looks and marginal talent, watching her go toe to toe with a veteran champion while unable to see due to two severe gashes above the eyes, her warrior spirit could not have provided a better defense, as she fought to the bitter end, knowing that it had practically already come.
Defeat is never an easy thing to bear, but watching Julaton celebrate in the corner of her opponent after a bloody battle went a long way in proving why she is who she is.
In a recent conversation, I had the opportunity to ask Jualton about the entire affair…..everything from the reception, to the fight, to the aftermath….and what became abundantly clear was that despite the pain it caused, the losing result was more of a catalyst than a hindrance, as it showed a core blueprint of a champion.
In her words, “the entire occasion was beautiful. I was received very warmly, and the people showed me a ton of love, to the point where it was like I was from there, myself. The fight didn’t go in my favor, but after spending time with family and relatives, everything is ok…..I wouldn’t change a thing”.
When asked why wouldn’t she change a thing, considering the defeat, Julaton responded in saying “I just feel great to know that we’re part responsible for this type of amazing exposure, giving female boxing a stage to be showcased in over 90 countries, and I just feel it was a great move for female boxing. When i got into boxing i never saw this type of thing happening, and although there’s still limited knowledge of the women side of the sport, I feel this move helped our cause”.
Few fighters on the male or female side of the sport have been that gracious in defeat, and for those that thought it would slow down her progress, perhaps her response about the future will clear the air.
When asked where would she go from here, Julaton chimed: “I had to wait a bit to remove the stitches, but I’m ready to get back in the ring right now. I think these type of fights do an incredible job in promoting the female side of the sport. I don’t plan to do this forever. As a matter of fact, by next year i plan on walking away from the sport, and that isn’t long from now. So, Marcela Acuna, a Lisa Brown rematch….there are some great fights out there, and I’m game!
So for those who felt her defeat makes it safe to walk the streets…..think again! A temporary setback only delayed an inevitable outcome.
Next destination…….the top……and judging by her star power, let it be known that this trip to the top may be with or without the gloves.
With a character this defined and a heart this brave, there’s simply no other place she could be!
(Vivek Wallace can be reached at [email protected], Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), Facebook, and Myspace).
