Monday, April 07, 2008 Quijano: A last rounder's diary (continuation) By Jingo Quijano Last Round
APRIL 6, 7 a.m.—Everybody’s at the hotel lobby. The fighters and family members. Managers, trainers. Even the cerebral Freddie Roach. We are set to leave as we are already running on borrowed time. The pay per view begins on the dot.
A few minutes later, I receive a text message from my buddy Dexter Belarma all the way from Australia, informing me that it’s about to start. He reminds me to wave to the cameras so he can spot me. (I never got the chance)
Unfortunately, our assigned van driver has other plans, as he instead opts to take us on an unwanted and un-scheduled cruise in EDSA. Dodie Boy Peńalosa is livid with rage. Boom Boom’s father is worried. His son’s championship belt is with him.
We arrive at the venue at around 8 a.m. and disembark. But not before, we commit the crimes of grave oral defamation and grave threats against the erring driver.
Poor Bert Batawang. He’s seated beside the driver all this time and was scheduled to fight third. When we arrive, the first two fights are under wraps and so Bert’s fight had to be moved. There was no way he could warm up and get ready for his fight in so short a time. (As it turned out, it was better late than never for Bert, as he dismantled Indonesian Heri Amol with a wicked bodyshot in the seventh.)
While we are lining up at the south gate of Araneta Coliseum for our media credentials, a white limo cruises past and parks a few feet ahead. Without much fanfare, Juan Manuel Marquez emerges. He is casually dressed in a striped long sleeve shirt.
We squeeze in some breakfast. Once inside the arena, we hurriedly look for our seats as we watch Ciso Morales win via TKO in the fifth.
9 a.m.—Marquez is acknowledged by the ring announcer to the delight of the crowd. Manny Pacquiao may be a legend here, but we certainly are not averse to heaping praise upon his worthy rivals.
A few minutes later, Pacquiao arrives and the crowd goes wild.
He’s wearing shades, jeans and has a striped suit on. Marquez is later led over to meet him and this elicits squeals of delight from the crowd. They shake hands. Marquez is enjoying every minute of it. Manny looks a bit flustered.
9:30 a.m.—AJ Banal’s fight is about to begin. His opponent looks very solid with a thick muscular built. But Banal is unperturbed and immediately takes control of the fight by snaking in a hard jab to the head which gets Herrera’s attention.
The action is intense. AJ lands a hard hook to the temple and his superior hand speed is immediately apparent. Herrera looks big and strong and has heavy hands, but his blows are of the clubbing sort. They lack the snap that accompany AJ’s sharp blows, like the right hook that makes Herrera wobbly in the second.
At this point, Herrera is now in survival mode and he lurches on unsteady feet after every exchange. He becomes desperate and in the third attempts a nasty headbutt after he is temporarily pinned on the ropes. The referee lets it go.
AJ finishes matters in the fourth with a beautiful left that violently snaps Herrera’s head back. He is out on his feet and the referee has seen enough.
10:15 a.m.—Not to be outdone, Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista pulverizes his opponent inside two rounds. In the first, Bautista lands a wicked body shot which at first glance apparently registers little effect.
However, this launches Genaro Camargo, into attack mode which spells his downfall. He tries to mount an attack but his wide looping punches, only makes him vulnerable to Bautista’s straight counters.
A short crisp right hand to the jaw that couldn’t have travelled more than a few inches ends matters abruptly in the second.
10:30 a.m.—UFC heavyweight fighter Brandon “The Truth” Vera is acknowledged. I scramble over to get a good look at him and the guy is huge. He is also very friendly and gamely poses with some fans for some photo ops.
The main event is about to begin but Manny still hasn’t taken off his shades.
THE LAST ROUND. It’s on a Canadian buddy, David Wynker, who recently turned a year older. Cheers!
