Quijano: Blown out of proportion

NOWADAYS in boxing, everybody has an opinion. Some are quite erudite, while the others are infirmed by a morbid paucity of thought, hidden beneath the prolixity of language.

Nonetheless, an opinion is an opinion and everybody is entitled to one. You have to respect that.

Be that as it may, some opinions do matter more than others.

Take the case of let’s say your elderly widowed neighbor who casually cracks that that Manny Pacquiao should probably retire as she detects some physical infirmity slowly creeping over the “Pambansang Kamao” that will shorten his career.

You’ll probably dismiss it as effluvia, nod your head, smile politely and be on your merry way. As dear as she may be to you, her opinion on boxing and Pacquiao’s health certainly is not.

But take the case of a neurologist, Dr. Rustico Jimenez reportedly the President of the Private Hospital Association of the Philippines.

Though he never was able to physically examine Manny, Dr. Jimenez opined:

“If you ask my opinion, maybe it’s time for our national hero Manny to retire. Even though he still shows fast reflexes, I’ve recently noticed—and this is just another view, my personal observation—there are early signs (of Parkinson’s).

“You can see it in the hand movements. It’s usually the hands and not immediately in the head where you can easily see a little twitch. Although I am not seeing this up close, I am seeing there are some early signs.”

Now, that’s an opinion that matters.

DIAGNOSIS. Predictably, the good doctor was pilloried for making a diagnosis without having physically examined a patient.

But was he really?

Note that he qualifies it as just an opinion, and of course, he is aware that he has not physically examined the Pacman. Ergo, it’s not a medical diagnosis within the context of a doctor-client relationship, just an opinion.

Like I said, in boxing nowadays everybody has one.

Sure, it was probably a tad irresponsible knowing how the remarks of an esteemed physician could be misinterpreted into something incendiary.

But unethical? Nah. Sought for an opinion, he gave his honest assessment based on his personal observation.

Some sobriety is in order. The good doctor was just expressing an opinion, that’s that.

Right or wrong, he is entitled to one. Just like some of you insist that the Pacman was leveled by a lucky punch.

Last time I checked, it’s still perfectly legal to have a wrong opinion. Let’s not blow things out of proportion.

UFC 155. Everybody loves a good payback and last year just before we said goodbye to 2012, Cain Velasquez reminded us how revenge is still a dish best served cold.

He dominated rival Junior Dos Santos in a one-sided dukeout to regain the UFC heavyweight championship and get some payback for the 64 second decimation he received during the first encounter.

From the get-go, Cain was the aggressor and never stopped going for the takedown.

He dictated a furious, frenetic pace that the Brazilian just could not match. Dos Santos at first was able to defend Cain’s takedown attempts, but the relentless Cain eventually got to him with some prodigious right hands and broke his jaw in the second round.

From that point on, it was all Cain Velasquez. Though Dos Santos showed some life in the fourth and fifth rounds, Cain would not be denied.

It was hardly the caveman type slugfest most fans expected, but it was a furious, bloody, battle for the heavyweight crown.

I thought Dos Santos was exposed for being a one-dimensional fighter. He relies too much on his stand up game and punching prowess but seems lost when his opponent crowds him and stifles his offense.

Still, he will always have that puncher’s chance with those heavy hands. Can’t wait for the rubber match.

LAST ROUNDS. Are on my cousins, Ian, Christopher and Sheila Quijano and Minda Bucoy Lawrence who celebrates her birthday today. Cheers!

(jingo_quijano@yahoo.com)