Tuesday, August 05, 2008 Quijano: Manufacturing Manny By Jingo Quijano Last Round
CALL mine a lone voice in the wilderness, but I am totally against the proposed Oscar dela Hoya-Manny Pacquiao match-up.
It’s quite amazing how some people will do or say anything to sell this fight.
Unbelievably, no other than Manny’s own promoter Bob Arum and trainer, Freddie Roach are driving this gravy train ride and fueling it with speculation and intrigue to make sure it doesn’t get off the track.
Apparently afflicted by the dreaded selective amnesia syndrome, Arum, Roach and company are intent in manufacturing Manny into a welterweight
In their eagerness to do so, some facts are conveniently forgotten and ignored. In their place, speculation is generated and peddled as gospel truth.
EVIDENCE. But I’m not wired that way. As a practicing attorney I always stick to the evidence. It puts food on the table for my kids and a couple of cold last rounds in my fridge.
So let’s filter fact from fiction.
Roach says Oscar had trouble pulling the trigger against Floyd Mayweather Jr. That may be.
But the evidence shows that even a trigger-shy Golden Boy managed to hold the best pound for pound fighter in the world (at that time) to a disputed split decision. That was just last year, by the way.
Roach says Manny can kayo Oscar. But the evidence suggests that unless Manny can grow to Bernard Hopkins- like proportions by fight time, the chances are quite paltry.
On the other hand, the evidence also suggests that Manny got wobbled by right hands coming from junior lightweights Oscar Larios and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Remember big bad Ricardo Mayorga? Power punching dynamo Felix Trinidad couldn’t put him down with head shots despite teeing on him for about six round rounds. Tito had to shift to a body attack to finally wear down the tough Nicaraguan.
The feral Fernando Vargas didn’t even come close Guess what? Oscar floored Mayorga with a searing left hook in the very first round. Mayorga got up but was clearly a beaten fighter already.
Imagine what it would be like if that same left hook lands flush on Manny’s jaw.
I don’t recall Arum and company ever considering that. Maybe that’s not relevant? Hmmm..
Let’s continue.
Oscar is slow. Naah…Well, maybe. But at this point, in the absence of more convincing evidence, its still mere speculation.
A “slow” dela Hoya did quite well against Mayweather and dominated Steve Forbes, a fighter who relies more on his speed than anything else.
WEIGHT CLASSES. There’s a damn good reason why boxing is a sport divided into weight classes.
Aside from ensuring that the fights are competitive, potential dangers to the boxers’ health are considered and minimized.
(to be concluded on Sunday)
YAW YAN. The Yaw-Yan ArDigma Martial Arts Federation, Inc. will be having an in-house Tournament called “Yaw-Yan Fighting Challenge I” a “Tribute to the Master” Kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts Fights.”
The no-holds barred tournament will be held at the Yaw-Yan ArDigma Gym, 3rd Floor Rm. 304 Villacampa-Capuras Bldg., Sanciangko St., Cebu City across UC-Main Campus, this coming August 9, 2008 (Saturday), 7:00 PM.
For inquiries please contact 09198215582.
THE LAST ROUND. It’s on Vashti Careen C. Young who recently celebrated her birthday. Cheers!
