THE keenly awaited rubber match between our boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Mexican Eric Morales takes center stage at the Thomas and Mac Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on November 18 (19 in the Philippines).
“Ito na ang talaga sa matira and matibay na labanan,” said my friend Allan. “This is what we have been waiting for. Both Manny and Eric are going to climb the ring on an even scorecard,” said my wife sol. Yes. She hit it right on the nail!
Sun.Star Network Online coverage of the Pacquiao-Morales Sunday fight here
Eric the “El Terrible” won their first bout last year by decision. Last January, Manny came back with a vengeance and won the re-match by technical knockout (TKO) on the 10th round. It was a resounding victory for Manny and for all Filipinos around the world. Manny was accorded the red, white and blue hero’s reception when he and his entourage arrived in the country after the duel. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, an avid fan and supporter, bestowed on him the prestigious rank of “Champion for Life” (Kampeon Habang Buhay) Order of the Sikatuna Award in recognition of his victorious exploits in boxing. Very well deserved, if I may say so!
This time, the thrilla in Nevada dubbed as the “Grand Finale” is definitely the greatest show on earth in the sporting world for this month. Both fighters prepared religiously and without let-up. No monkey business! At least three month for Morales and little over two months for the “Pacman”. Let’s hope that both of them hit the scale at 130-pound limit. Morales is confident while Manny is more confident! Remember, Morales ballooned to 165 lbs before he started training. He had to undergo a drastic weight-reducing sked to meet the requirement for the super featherweight. Morales even agreed to pay penalties should he fail to make it.
Manny’s American coach Freddie Roach said his ward will win the fight. He predicted that Morales will fall or kiss the canvass either on the sixth or seventh round of the 12-round card. He said Manny is more prepared this time around with assorted armory combining style, stamina and strength. “He has improved his punching prowess.” Of course, all Filipinos as well as foreign boxing fans and admirers of Manny, including this corner, and even GMA for that matter, are in unison – hoping and praying for the best for the General Santos slugger with a “performance to match.”
Morales, who has been training at the Otami Mountains of North Mexico, said “he is ready to win!” The three-time world champion said the forthcoming fight will be very tough, adding that he already erased the stigma of his loss against “Pacman” which haunted him for months. “It’s a tough fight, it’s a difficult fight but it’s one that I am going to win and that’s all in my mind,” Morales said. He added he will make the scales and that he feels very good. “For this fight, I know I am going to be 100 percent,” assured the Tijuana-born boxer.
With just a week before the fight night, tickets for the boxing spectacle are about sold out to crowd the 15,000-seater capacity of the arena. Meanwhile, veteran international referee Vic Drakulich of Nevada will be the third man on the ring. The three judges at ringside are Glenn Towbridge of Nevada, Guido Cavalieri of Italy and Dough Tucker also from Nevada. At this point in time, I have my fingers crossed and am offering a glass of tapoey to Kabunian for Manny’s victory. Atin ito!
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez announced recently that he will be leaving his post at the end of the 15th Asian Games scheduled in Doha, Qatar from December 1-15 this year. At the moment, there are five names being considered to be on the saddle. Will it be Michael M. Keon, the Gintong Alay pioneer who is serving his first term as a board member in the province of Ilocos Norte, or PSC Commissioner Ritchie Garcia? Will it be former PSC Commissioner Ray Roquero or Ali Atienza, the son the Manila Mayor Lito Atienza? Or will it be former Senator Robert Jaworski, the Philippine basketball legend? Your guess is as good as mine. But remember, this is not a guessing game. It is for real! We all know the fact that Philippine sports are sailing on rough waters most of the time. Any mistake in the choice of the most qualified sportsman to fill the upcoming vacancy could once again spell doom for our country’s sports development agenda. The final rider on the PSC leadership saddle must be the best qualified for the position. The yardstick in the selection process must be integrity, experience, proven efficiency, tested administrative and managerial expertise and his or her acceptance by the athletes who are and will be the premier reason for being the head of the prestigious commission.
God forbids the hand of dirty politics in the selection process. And so, politicians beware! Whoever you are or whereever you come from, please stay out and away from the keenly awaited activity. Just let reason and logic reign. It will be the best for us all, the Filipinos and Philippine sports!
