Quijano: That phone call

Sunday, January 22, 2012

THE world is indeed getting smaller due to technological advancement. Two decades ago, when I was a gangly, pimple-faced freshman staying at UP Kalayaan dorm, in order to call home I had to take two jeepney rides to get to a decent phone where I could wax prolific to my mom my about my dwindling allowance.

Nowadays, any homesick 16-year-old can just get in touch with his parents in the comfort of his own bed at any time of the day or night.

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Similarly, all that had to be done in order to finalize what is probably the greatest non-heavyweight fight since Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Marvin Hagler was for Floyd Mayweather to call Manny Pacquiao on the phone, right?

It would have leapfrogged all the prolix negotiations and given the world the fight it needed.

Not quite. Alongside the advent of technology, the world has gotten more complicated, too.

It’s not just an issue between the fighters. There’s the not-so-small matter about money and promoters.

As it happens, we are no closer to the finalization of that mega-fight after that fateful phone call.

And while we’re on the subject, I’m just wondering, what took Floyd so long, by the way? And how did he get Manny’s number?

So if he has the Pacman’s number on speed dial, are they now textmates? This, after he tweeted him. Just asking.

PHONE CALL. Anyway, I have it on good authority that it was actually a case of mistaken identity. This is actually what transpired:
Floyd: Hey, is this Pacquiao?

Pacquiao: Yes this is Pacquiao, is this Floyd Mayweather Jr?

Floyd: Yo man, what’s with this full name jazz? Call me ….y boy (cell signal fluctuates)

Pacquiao (hearing only the last word): Okay. Boy. So how are you? I heard you were going to jail? What happened?

Floyd: Yeah, but it’s okay, the judge agreed to give me a few months off so that I can fight.

Pacquiao: Okay boy, so what is this about, you want to talk about the fight?

Floyd: Sure man, for the right price. I heard you were willing to take a cut a few weeks back.

Pacquiao: Boy, about the fight, it has to be equal 50-50 share, to be fair. My brother…

Floyd: Listen Man, I don’t give no s***t about your damn brother, you are going to earn more money fighting me than any other punk.

Pacquiao: No Boy, my brother can get paid a lot of money fighting anybody he chooses...

Floyd: You’re broth…who I’m talking to? This is Pacquiao right?

Pacquiao: Yes, this is Bobby Pacquiao, Manny is still in the shower, but I can tell him that you called. But like I said, Boy, it has to be pipty pipty.. Boy, boy? Hello……?

THE GREATEST. Muhammad Ali recently turned 70 years old and the Last Round salutes this icon of a fighter for his seminal achievements.

He was an Olympic gold medalist and later became the heavyweight champion when he upset Sonny Liston in 1964. He went on to become a three-time champion defeating the likes of Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Ken Norton.

He was also a maverick who dodged the draft and earned the ire of many Americans. Yet, he was irrevocably loved by boxing fans, and his fistic prowess enabled him to appeal to even the most casual of sports fans. After he retired he became a philanthropist and an activist for social and humanist causes.

What saddens me is how his life’s work has left him debilitated with Parkinson’s Disease.

He retired with a professional record of 56-5, 37 KOs, with three of those losses coming in his last four fights. He was 39 when he fought his last fight, a sorry decision loss to a young Trevor Berbick.

Ali’s fighting style generated a lot of excitement for most fans as he was often not averse to taking a lot of punishment. He was willing to get beat up just to tire out an opponent. Foreman became the poster boy as a victim of Ali’s famous rope-a-dope tactic.

I believe, though, that those years of taking too many hard shots eventually caught up with him. Here’s hoping today’s superstars avoid the same fate.

LAST ROUND. It’s on newly-weds Madz Bajarias and Lu-Ann Fuentes. Cheers!

(jingo_quijano@yahoo.com)