Quijano: Sportswriter Lemuel Maglinte walks the walk

PERHAPS he got bored with his salubrious routine of covering sporting events and submitting his stories to his editors.

Or, perhaps, after all those years of watching fights and interviewing fighters, a hankering for something more was awakened.

Or, maybe, he always had it in him, and so one day he decided to go out and walk the walk.

Whatever the case, Lemuel Maglinte, sportswriter for The Freeman and Banat, diligently trained for months under the watchful eye of Yawyan Ardigma’s Master Ekin Caniga and his talented son, Johnlery.

The results of that unstinting effort were on full display last Sunday and Lemuel did his family, friends and the Cebu sports media proud by winning in dominating fashion his pro debut at the MMA event “Ground and Pound 7: Invincible.”

THE FIGHT. Lemuel started out strong, scoring with a kick and a spinning back fist that got his opponent’s attention just seconds into the fight.

He would then proceed to dominate his foe with punches and brutal kicks. Though he was temporarily gassed out after a few minutes, he recovered just enough to demonstrate a brutal stand-up game predicated upon speed and power.

His opponent would not come out for the 2nd round, thus earning Lemuel a seminal MMA debut, one that will be talked about in the sports media for years to come.

Post-fight, a noted MMA matchmaker informed this writer that Lemuel has the potential to become a URCC champion. Time will tell, and so for now, abangan.

Congrats to Lemuel and kudos to Johnlery and Master Ekin for a job well done.

GROWING. With the sport of MMA undoubtedly growing by leaps and bounds, it seems apt that the Games and Amusements Board has finally decided to regulate it.

The sport is attracting numerous participants each day, and most of these are young people who come from all walks of life, sportswriters now included.

I spoke with a GAB official during the press conference and he agreed that several concerns need to be addressed in this burgeoning sport.

One of these was an orientation seminar/conference for referees, and judges with the possible introduction of a system of accreditation so we can develop a pool of competent and accountable officials.

KHANQUERED, AGAIN. Last December, Amir Khan lost via split decision to Lamont Peterson, but the verdict was deemed controversial since Khan argued that the judges had been too liberal in scoring the fight for his opponent.

A master at projection, Khan lambasted the decision, arguing that the lead he built in the early part of the fight was enough to award him the victory.

But last Sunday, Danny Garcia made sure there was no controversy and that the verdict would come from his blazing fists by stopping Khan in 4 action-packed rounds.

This qualifies as a huge upset as the unheralded Garcia was not even on the radar though he came in with an immaculate record of 23-0, 14Kos.

But when mettles were tested, Garcia proved to be the superior fighter and had Khan in trouble in the third after the latter sampled a huge left hook. Garcia proved to be the stronger and more durable fighter and is now poised to be the next big star in boxing.

As for Khan (26-3, 18KOs), with back to back losses and the specter of that first round knockout to Breidis Prescott in 2008 suddenly resurrected, the luster is definitely gone. Will the bluster remain?

LAST ROUNDS. Are on Julie Villamor and my Yakal buddy Jojo Fabricante who recently celebrated their birthdays. Cheers!