Saturday, October 20, 2007 Quijano: Of innovations and bandwagons By Jingo Quijano Last Round
IN its recent convention, the World Boxing Association (WBA) announced some innovations in the fight game it would be introducing to its regional bodies on a trial basis.
Some of the innovations include a revolutionary scoring system that would allow the half point scoring for each round, which would hopefully lessen controversial decisions. Hence, a judge would be allowed to score 10-9.5 for a very close round. According to WBA Executive Vice President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, this would differentiate “A round won by a close margin from a round barely won. At the end of the day, the final score would reflex more accurately what had happened in the fight.”
Another innovation is the reduction of the number of rounds in championship fights to 11 instead of 12. The logic behind this is to peg it at an odd number instead of even, potentially lessening the likelihood of a draw. If you recall, championship fights before were fought at 15 rounds, and later reduced to 12 for safety and welfare concerns. The WBA argues that it should have in fact, been reduced to 13 or 11.
While the efficacy of these variations remains to be seen, the Last Round lauds the WBA for initiating said changes. In order to attract more fans, boxing should definitely have a better scoring system.
In my experience, what usually turns off the casual boxing observer from the sport is a fight won by the wrong fighter.
REACTION. My piece on Juan Diaz (“The Baby Bull is the Energizer Bunny”) elicited this reaction from Last Rounder Tareq (digital_bedouin@hotmail.com)
“An 8 punch combo huh? Impressive indeed when you land all 8 punches, sure some of the other guys, ala Mayweather throw only 5 or 6 but last I remember those landed. Juan Diaz has been impressive considering the range of opponents, but at a closer look, opponents that surely he can look impressive against…Juan Diaz is a good kid, an aggressive guy, but limited, one-dimensional and can’t crack an egg if his life depended on it.. Juan Diaz will eventually have to fight some one who can fight back and has some punching power and only then can we truly access his merit as an elite world champion. It seems you’ve already jumped on the bandwagon, I think ill wait for a few stops to see where it’s going...”
Well Tareq, I can only partially agree with you. Indeed, Juan Diaz doesn’t have one punch knockout power but he has very good basics, throws punches in bunches, and puts up a good defense and has a good set of whiskers.
Actually, Juan Diaz has already faced his share of power punchers and acquitted himself very well. He fought our very own Randy Suico, a devastating puncher with 23 knockouts in 27 wins. It wouldn’t also be fair to belittle Julio Diaz who has 25 knockouts in 34 wins and Jose Miguel Cotto who has 20 KOs in 28 fights.
Of course, we know what Freitas can do. Yes, he quit before against Diego Coralles, but a puncher is a puncher and he was definitely bombing away on Juan Diaz while he still had some fight left in him.
I took my time jumping on it, but yes, I am on the Juan Diaz bandwagon. On any given day, I’ll put my beer money on a guy like him who can’t break an egg, as you say, but is fundamentally sound both offensively and defensively, over flawed power punchers like Edwin Valero, Vic Darchinyan or Naseem Hamed. Thanks for your email.
OOPS. Speaking of Freitas, my companero and Last Rounder Atty. Albert Hontanosas emailed me to point out my faux pas in referring to Acelino Freitas as Argentinean when he is in fact Brazilian. Oops!
Of course, Freitas is Brazilian. What was I thinking? (You’re right, I wasn’t) He is as Brazilian as the girl from Ipanema, and Jiu-jitsu Master Carlson Gracie.
THE LAST ROUND. It’s on my high school batch-mate, Atty. Edward Ramos, loving husband to Hon. Judge Josefa Pinza-Ramos and doting dad to Chantal Therese, and twins Josef Edward and Dean Edward. Cheers!
