RIKKI don?t lose that number? is a hit song from the 70?s sung by Steely Dan. It?s been reverberating inside my brainpan since yesterday.
Yeah, I know I?m giving away my age, but that?s okay. At least I think I?m still in better shape than Ricky Hatton who just lost his number.
Last week, this former junior welterweight champion of the world, who has not fought since being knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in two rounds last year, was caught on video snorting cocaine through that ruddy nose of his.
According to a report on the www.mirror.co.uk, ?Fatton? was recorded taking out a wrap of cocaine in his shoe before chopping these up neatly into seven lines using a credit card.
KNOCKED OUT. And oh, he was also reportedly knocked out in a bar fight by a bodybuilder twice his size.
My, my?what a difference three years can make in an athlete?s life.
In 2007, the Hitman was on a nascent rise to superstardom, strapping an undefeated record of 43 wins with 31 coming via the abbreviated route.
He was fresh off an impressive win over Mexican Jose Luis Castillo whom he knocked out with a brutal body shot in fourth round.
But then he was stopped by the wily ?Pretty Boy? Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 10 rounds.
Afterwards he reportedly went on a four-day drinking binge wherein he downed 57 pints, 17 vodka and Red Bulls cocktails, four vodkas, three whisky chasers and a bottle of champagne.
And I thought I was the consummate Last Rounder.
RETIREMENT. He regrouped nicely though with a TKO win over Paulie Malignaggi.
Unfortunately for him, up next was the Pacman who eviscerated him in two rounds.
Hatton has steadfastly denied that he has retired from boxing, but with the way things have unraveled, he may just as well forego any formal announcement.
The problem is that Ricky was and probably still is a huge role model for most kids in the U.K. and also holds a boxing promoter?s license.
He is now in danger of losing both when he abandoned his god-given right to utilize his capacious brain.
My heart goes out to Ricky who will always be one of my all-time favorite body-punchers.
ROCKY. Quietly plying his trade in Japan has been local boy Rocky Fuentes who recently won via TKO in the eleventh round against Yasuto Aritomi.
This marks Rocky?s third straight victory over Japanese opponents in Japan and all of them for the OPBF flyweight diadem.
This hard-hitting Cebuano who proudly wears ALA Gym?s colors, is slowly gaining a buzz among Japanese hardcore boxing fans.
Back in 2007, Rocky lost by split decision to another talented Filipino fighter in Richie Mepranum. He rebounded with three wins over nondescript opponents before going on that recent tear in Japan.
Rocky brings a very fan-friendly, action-packed style and could be another diamond in the rough awaiting his big break for a world title challenge.
LUCKY. On a personal note, I would like to congratulate my brother Atty. Ramsey Quijano who ran 43 kilometers from Capitol, Cebu City to Carmen, Cebu to celebrate his 43rd birthday and in the process, raised P43,000 for the Cebu Hope Center.
Among those who joined him were Judge Hernani Espina, my sister-in-law Renee, Joel Garganera, and Brandy Llenos, who flew all the way from Singapore.
I also got lucky during that run. Determined to tag along for only a maximum of 10 kms, I managed to hobble and totter laggardly for 21.5 kms before finally giving up due to the sweltering heat.
Of course, after that grueling marathon, we had to overcompensate by engaging in an ultra-marathon of last rounds for seven straight hours.
Hey, we?re no Ricky Hattons, but we try our best.
LAST ROUND. It?s on my boss, the unassailable Atty. Francis Zosa, who celebrates his birthday this week.
Cheers!
