|
Friday, September 30, 2005
Sayson: Klitschko’s glass jaw
By Homer Sayson
Second Overtime
CHICAGO – Because of the recent Cesafi basketball brawl, plus a handful of other notable fights involving Pinoys and two of the heavyweight division’s best, I have managed my e-mails with loving neglect.
So today, I’ll entertain a few of the letters that have been inundating my Inbox, beginning with a nice note from Salven L. Lagumbay (salven2judge@yahoo.com), an accomplished international boxing judge and a sportswriter/columnist for Cebu Daily News.
A regular contributor for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the pacman.com.ph website, Salven posted a Sept. 26 article at Philboxing.com, where he argued that Randy Suico should have won against Javier Jauregui last Sept. 23.
I disagreed and penned a column in Jauregui’s defense two days ago. I expected Salven to retaliate with his patented column-writing eloquence, but what I got instead was a cheerful surrender:
“How can I disagree with your article today? (It’s OK: When you can’t sting like a bee, fly like a butterfly” Sun.Star Cebu 9-28-05), Salven asked.
“Yours was very objective, without sounding sarcastic,” he continued. “Ordinary writers would have done otherwise. Anyway, I still believe Suico won. You had Jauregui the winner, which is fine by me. But jeez, those two judges scored it by a mile?”
Although my column, as Salven admits, enjoyed the advantage of thoroughness and round-by-round analysis, I refused to take the imperious, know-it-all approach. That’s because, Salven my dear, sometimes the sword of persuasion cuts deeper when it is sharpened by modesty, not arrogance.
I’m startled that Jack Reiss and Rey Corona each scored the bout at 99-91 for Jauregui. But unless there is any evidence of grave abuse of their indiscretion, I don’t see the need for an investigation. The bottom line is that the winning verdict went in favor of the deserving fighter.
JINGO ‘DA MAN’ SOUNDS OFF. This column’s resident boxing guru, lawyer Jingo Quijano (jingo@lawyer.com), also unleashed his expert opinion on the Suico fight as well as the Klitschko-Peter heavyweight battle last Saturday, which I deemed as a watershed moment in the career of Wladimir Klitschko.
“When you asked me to cover Suico’s fight in Lapu-Lapu and I had the chance to talk to him for a few minutes, I became an instant fan and I really hope he would go far. But you were absolutely right that ‘sometimes hands of stones are not enough.’
“We were not fortunate to see the Suico-Jauregui duel, but based on some of his other fights I’ve seen ringside, I concur with Suico’s tendency to be too patient for his own good.
“Randy’s management team should be realistic about his capabilities. Randy is talented and gifted with strength, but he’ll never be a slick boxer. And since power is his strongest asset, it is vital for his opponents to feel that power by applying relentless pressure from the opening bell.
“As for the big boys, I still have my doubts on Wladimir. I think a fighter with a chin made of china will not go far in the heavyweight division, traditionally the division with the most knockdowns and knockouts for obvious reasons.”
MY TAKE. I agree. Suico should adopt Manny Pacquiao’s “shock and awe” strategy, where PacMan emerges from his corner throwing punches from General Santos to Las Vegas. As Barrera found out, this ploy allows Manny’s foes less time to think and more time to brawl, which naturally favors the heavy-handed Pinoy.
Indeed, if Suico had come out blasting from the get-go, Jauregui wouldn’t have taken an early lead. And without that early cushion, Suico would have gotten what he desired: Jauregui charging in for a brawl.
Instead, Randy was forced to chase around his wily foe, a task both uncomfortable and not conducive to the Mandauehanon’s style.
Like I said before, I’m a sucker for good endings. Having said that, I’d like to see Wladimir Klitschko conquer his fears, and ultimately, the heavyweight plum. But I share Jingo’s fears that somewhere along the path toward greatness, his brittle chin will betray Wladimir Klitschko.
LAST WORDS. Jack Hall, a retired contractor from Florida who identified himself as a “sponsor for (Tony) Aldeguer at ALA gym for two years” also e-mailed his thoughts. I think Sammy Gello-ani introduced me to Jack at the MGM lobby during the Pacquiao-Morales fight last Mark 19. But I’m not sure.
Anyway, Jack is close to Rev Santillan, Randy Suico and other boxers. He is also friendly with world-class trainers Juanito Ablaca Jr. and Brix Flores. Jack was at the City Sports Club when Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista first met the local media following the Boholano’s scintillating win in LA.
Here’s Jack’s take on Suico: “He hits hard and goes for the KO route. But I think he needs to work on his defense and better movement against a good boxer.”
Amen.
(homsay@hotmail.com)
(September 30, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
