Saturday, October 11, 2008 Talk back: Boxers are gamblers By Diony Cuizon Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City
(This letter is addressed to Jingo Quijano)
I READ in your column Last Round your take on the upcoming fight between De La Hoya and Pacquiao which was not clearly expressed. As an avid reader of your column, I would express my view on the matter for you to comment.
Let me premise my opinion of the fight that boxing is gambling. Pacquiao and Bob Arum are gamblers among others. As a matter of fact, Pacquiao had already signed a contract with De La Hoya as promoter of his future fights.
However, upon arrival in the US airport from the Philippines, Pacquiao was ambushed by Arum and in a restaurant, signed another contract for Top Rank Promotion owned by Arum as another promoter of his future fights. This for 500,000 reasons given by Arum.
As a consequence, Arum determined and prepared the list of the names of prospective opponents of Pacquiao including Juan Manuel Marquez, Juan Diaz, etc.
In the Pacquiao-Marquez fight, Pacquiao was clearly the loser. But Pacquiao won against Marquez. Why? Because if Marquez was declared the winner, for his next fight Arum et. al., could not earn millions of dollars as they did earn in the Pacquiao-Marquez tussle. As per newspaper accounts, in the Pacquiao-Marquez fight. Pay Per View grossed an income of $20 million, excluding paid advertisements in and broadcast media.
Indeed, if Marquez was declared the winner in that fight and pitted against Juan Diaz in the succeeding fight, could Arum et. al. earn that much? To recall Juan Marquez fought twice, defeated twice against Chris John and earned only $30,000 each fight. Why? What makes the difference between Pacquiao and Marquez for which Marquez earns less in his fights
compared to Pacquiao?
For me, it is STYLE. Marquez is indeed a scientific boxer. But the paying public appreciate but is not satisfied with scientific style. They want blood, not necessarily life lost in the fight. On the other hand, Pacquiao has it all as far as style is concerned. He slugs, hooks, Jabs, etc., etc., He does not run circles around the ring. His style is indeed a crowd-getter.
Marquez should therefore not cry foul for his defeat but profusely thanks Pacquiao for receiving a hefty price money for the first time in his career, a whopping $1.5 million dollars aside from his share of pay-per-view and perhaps, advertisements.
Concerning the forthcoming Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya fight, Pacquiao’s mother’s advice was appropriate when she said; “Son, do not gamble your life for money.” Boxing experts also commented; “a mismatch,” “a joke,” “a freak show between a middleweight and a midget,” “a circus,” etc., etc…Money is the reason for this fight.
Imagine 5-foot-11 against 5-foot6. What happen in the fight between Elorde and Ortiz, Margarito and Gotto will be the same result in the upcoming fight between Pacquiao and De La Hoya, with Pacquiao losing the fight. To recall, De La Hoya fought twice and lost against Mosley: Mosley fought twice and lost against Vernon Forrest; Forrest fought twice and lost against Mayorga; and Mayorga fought against De La Hoya and lost by knockout.
Mayorga is bigger and taller compared to Pacquiao. Add to this is the principle in all contests, including boxing, which states: A good, big man against a small, good man – the good, big man will surely win. I hope and pray that Pacquiao will disproved this principle.
