A trilogy of controversy

Just for today, like it or not, I will become a pseudo-analyst and in my own kind of way autopsy the aftermath of the Manny Pacquiao - Juan Manuel Marquez fight.   It’s a five-day old item but I won’t let this thing hibernate.

The result, although our fighter won, does not put an end to the nagging question accompanying the two previous installments of this fistic teledrama, on who really is who. The fight ended with JuanMa confidently raising his hands in triumph while PacMan went to his corner with a bowed head, maybe entertaining the thought that he could lose the bout.

Frankly, I saw the match going to the Mexican’s favor, thinking that PacMan would be lucky to salvage a draw. I suppose a good number of Filipino fans also saw it this way.   And as per surveys on local TV stations, half of the respondents were not convinced that PacMan won the fight. But there were judges and they saw things differently.

Most of the fight fans worldwide, owing to the ridiculous 10-1 odds favoring our prizefighter, were disappointed of the outcome. Pre-fight hype already proclaimed that PacMan is a sure winner, and it’s just a matter of up to what round JuanMa lasts. We conveniently forgot that the opponent prepared hard and has a complete pair of hands. Dili pungkol ang kontra. All of us were confident, Team Pacquiao included, of an early knockout.

As in all sporting events, there will always be umpires, referees, judges and officials who, in their sometimes own controversially perverted ways, see to it that the events or matches go within the rules of the game. Whether the results will tempt us to assassinate the match officials or endorse them to sainthood, we just have to learn to deal with it.

The three ring judges have spoken, or rather had given their decision and that was final. They were in a technically better position than us, ergo, since they were given that distinction and responsibility to score for the bout, they don’t really care if people throw things on the square ring or go hoarse shouting and booing their freakin’ lungs out.

As per reports scanned you know where, Nevada ring judges are notorious for favoring the aggressive fighter, regardless if that aggression has minimal effect. I’m ok with this. To win, you have to be relentless in the pursuit of victory. You can’t succeed by being tentative and cautious all the time, and stepping on your opponent’s foot and merrily throwing those jabs.

JuanMa was content with his playing footsie and counterpunches. Oh yes, he connected several times and it shook PacMan and sent his Gard-shampoo washed hair flailing but it was never hard enough to let him kiss the canvass. For JuanMa to win against the Pac Mom’s favorite son, he should have drained the life out of the Motolite batteries on his system then have him consume loads of Alaxan. It should be ‘aray ni PacMan, tagumpay ni JuanMa.’ But it was not meant to be.

The fight as a whole was highly tactical, both fighters doing well with their roles as aggressor and defender.   Pacman punched, JuanMa counterpunched.   The battle ended. Our warrior did his customary prayer after the fight. The decision came. The pall of gloom on PacMan’s corner changed to jubilation. JuanMa’s camp fumed and stormed out of the arena declaring robbery.

Some documents were presented to JuanMa for his signature so that he can get his $5 million paycheck but he snapped, saying, “I don’t need the money, give me the win!” Or something to that effect. He further said that a fourth installment will be useless as the results will be the same, adding that even if he knocks PacMan out, the judges will climb the ring and help him up. Sureness ka?

When you fight a politician, it will always be controversial. And Congressman PacMan perhaps intimidated the boxing judges that they did the dagdag-bawas. Hala no? And by the way Cong. Pac, how can you justify your senatorial or vice-presidential intentions to 90 million Filipinos if you can’t even solve the riddle of a single, 38-year old Mexican. Ay sus!

In JuanMa’s defeat, he should take comfort in the fact that he has done what most of the voting population in the world would like to do without fear of litigation, repercussion, reprisal and death – physically hurt and abuse a member of congress, with matching facial welts and cuts that titillates a cosmetic surgeon.

Of course, the heavens heard the nation’s prayers for a PacMan victory, but with some afterthought. This hairline win is perhaps the boxing gods’ way of reminding PacMan to focus on one thing – be it boxing, singing, acting, game-show hosting, womanizing or politicking. Manny, many distractions. Choose na, now na!

To add fuel to the fire, could this be a ploy to lure fluffy feathers of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and generate a really obscene amount of money? Abangan.

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