Jingo Quijano
Last Round

I’VE always wondered what BJJ living legend Royce Gracie was saying in Ken Shamrock’s ear when he had the latter in a rear choke after Shamrock tapped in the very first round during their first encounter at UFC 1.

The referee had failed to acknowledge Shamrock’s voluntary surrender and so the “World’s Most Dangerous Man” attempted to continue.

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I would have thought Royce was saying something like “you tapped out, admit it and don’t be a wuss…you tapped.”

But during last Saturday’s press conference, Royce clarified that he was saying: “Alright, you want to continue, that’s okay I will also continue” while tightening the choke even more.

And so Shamrock relented and gave up. Now, that’s the stuff of legend.

IMPRESSIONS. The first thing that grabs you when you meet Royce Gracie in person are his eyes. Those unbending, unyielding eyes that have stared down many a man of brutish proportions.

Those smoldering windows to his soul that bespeak of the fire that burns within.

Even at age 42, and at the denouement of his brilliant career, Royce Gracie still retains that fiery personality and this much was apparent at the press conference.

He showed his witty side and engaged in banter with those game enough to hurl questions.

Royce told of running 30 plus miles one day when he woke up because just felt like doing it. When asked of his preference in the Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao fight, Royce offers no apologies about the fact that he hopes the Puerto Rican superstar will emerge victorious.

“And that’s not because I’m here in the Philippines. I mean, c’mon,” he enthuses.

Later that night, over dinner and some live entertainment at Patio Ecila, Royce appeared relaxed and at home with the jovial ambiance, and obligingly answered queries peppered at him from all sides.

Indeed, it was a phenomenal experience meeting Royce Gracie and chilling with him for a few hours.

SURVEY. I’ve been asking around and so far majority of those queried have Manny Pacquiao defeating Cotto inside 8 rounds. Make that 70-80 percent of the respondents.

Around 10 percent had Manny by decision while very few thought Cotto will win by decision. Not one person I asked predicted a Cotto win by knockout, which I find surprising, actually.

Maybe it’s just our collective national pride, but Cotto is a very dangerous puncher at the welterweight division. Manny has fought only once before at this division and that’s when he stopped Dela Hoya inside of 9 rounds.

Note that Dela Hoya was on his feet the whole time and it was the accumulation of punches that wore him down and made him cry uncle.

It’s not likely but it’s definitely a legitimate possibility.

DAVID BEATS GOLIATH. David Haye did it by fighting a very smart, tactical fight against the ‘ginormous’ Nikolay Valuev.

Haye limited the exchanges when he felt he had the advantage and used the ring a lot.

The judges’ cards were close and the press row scoring was reportedly divided but the bottom line is that the “Hayemaker” is now WBA Heavyweight champion of the world.

His brawling skills and punching power will definitely ignite this lethargic heavy “wait” division.

Afterwards, Valuev complained that it was like running a marathon. Now, that’s wishful thinking.

LAST ROUND. It’s on Atty. Erwin Rommel “Heyboy” Heyrosa who celebrates his birthday this week. Cheers!

(jingo_quijano@yahoo.com)