Sunday, June 01, 2008 Quijano: Where Eagles fly By Jingo Quijano Last Round
BY the time you read this and bar ring any accidents—Malcolm Tuñacao would already have disposed of Tanzanian Rashied Ally.
During the press conference a few days ago, Ally approached this Last Rounder to bizarrely predict that he will dispose of “The Eagle Eye” inside two rounds.
No disrespect to the guy (who was quite game during the press con) but Tanzania has yet to make its mark in professional boxing. Class always tells especially in this sport, and he is nowhere near the class of a Malcolm Tunacao.
FLASHBACK. From the start of his career, the word potential has always been freely gushed around whenever talk centered on Malcolm.
Originally part of the “Golden Boys of Cebu Boxing” together with Rev Santillan and Randy Suico, Malcolm seemed the most talented of that bunch.
He had the speed and defensive guile of older sibling Noel “The Eel”, a feather-fisted but slippery counter puncher who challenged for the world title quite a few times. But Malcolm would define himself as the better Tuñacao, as he had knockout power in his fists to complement his boxing skills.
In May 19, 2000, Malcolm finally lived up to that potential. There aren’t too many who remember it now, but after a weight-drained, clean-shaven Manny Pacquiao lost the WBC flyweight belt to Medgoen Singsurat a few months before, Malcolm salvaged Pinoy pride by sharp-shooting his way to a unanimous decision over the Thai champion.
But inexplicably, Malcolm was unable to capitalize on that win as he failed to maintain his fighting prowess at that elite level.
The result was a paltry take of two draws and a loss in his next three bouts. In the process he also gave up the WBC belt to Pongsaklek Wonjongkam. Malcolm assigns it all to escalating personal problems at that time which hampered his focus.
He managed to put together 10 wins and a draw after that, but by then the fighter on everybody’s lips was no longer the eagle-eyed Mandauehanon but a ruthless, take-no-prisoners banger from General Santos City.
Then came the loss to fellow Filipino Rolly Matsushita early last year. Pressed by this writer for an autopsy for that loss, Malcolm again ascribes it to personal problems.
MOVING ON. Malcolm who is a big fan of Pacquiao, Gerry Peñalosa and Floyd Mayweather, admits that it’s been quite frustrating to ingloriously drop out of the boxing limelight and into the doldrums of anonymity.
He says he has realized that his being too emotional when it came to dealing with his demons affected his performances.
If that’s the case, then Malcolm’s greatest opponent is himself. It’s an accepted fact that fighters are often beset with troubles outside the ring, but true champions can transcend those problems and still perform at their optimum best.
At 29 years of age, Malcolm better get his act together and lock those eagle eyes on a world title shot very soon, personal problems notwithstanding.
BIGGER Z. During the press conference, Z Gorres looked a bit bigger than Nick Otieno. Having been used to seeing Z dwarfed by the more muscular Fernando Montiel and Vic Darchinyan, it was a refreshing change to see him with a slight size advantage.
I also noticed the African fighters wolfing down their food, in stark contrast to Gorres and Tunacao who were sipping the piping hot halaan soup like they were having tea.
But at the weigh-in the next day, both Otieno and Ally came in much lighter than their Filipino rivals. Quite amazing, really.
LAST ROUND. It’s on the wonderful Arevalo family, Armand, Joey and Adrian, who are here in town for some boxing and grilled steaks. Cheers!
