Signs of doom

LAS VEGAS – Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia had a bad feeling that disaster awaited Manny Pacquiao in his WBO welterweight title defense against Timothy Bradley, Jr at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here Saturday night.

“There were things that went wrong on the days leading to the fight,” said Leonardia who flew home on a Philippine Airlines flight yesterday morning. “I’m really not superstitious but the signs couldn’t be ignored. Right when I landed in San Francisco, the immigration officer asked why I was visiting the US. When I said I came for Manny’s fight, the officer told me Bradley would win. His explanation that when a fighter starts talking about his power coming from God, it means he’s losing confidence in himself. Of course, I didn’t agree but it was the first time an immigration officer told me something like that entering the US.”

Leonardia was suddenly reminded of an item he had read in Recah Trinidad’s column about a month back. It had to do with Pacquiao losing to Medgeon 3-K Battery after 15 straight wins in 1999 and bowing to Erik Morales in 2005 after an unbeaten streak of another 15 fights in a row, including a draw with Juan Manuel Marquez. Coincidentally, the Bradley bout was Pacquiao’s 16th after a third 15 fight string. Of course, Pacquiao’s first-ever setback to Rustico Torrecampo came in 1996 after 11 consecutive victories so that threw off the consistency of the trend. Still, Leonardia wasn’t comfortable thinking Pacquiao lost to Medgeon after 15 fights and to Morales after another 15 bouts. And here was Bradley waiting in ambush after a third 15-fight grind.

Leonardia’s discomfort became more pronounced when he entered Pacquiao’s dressing room right before the fight. His role was to hold up the Philippine flag in the ring leading to the traditional introductions. Alas, the flag he was supposed to carry had been taken by a US Marine. Leonardia was informed that a color guard contingent would bring the US and Philippine flags into the ring and a US Marine of Filipino descent was designated to parade the Philippine flag. When Pacquiao found out about Leonardia’s predicament, he suggested to carry the WBO championship belt instead.

But Leonardia’s problem was solved when he saw a Philippine flag draped on a table in the dressing room. There was no shaft to hold on to but just a flag which was good enough. Leonardia entered the ring holding the Philippine banner hand-to-cloth with no shaft.

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“That wasn’t the only thing that bothered me,” said Leonardia. “At the pre-fight Mass celebrated by Fr. Marlon (Beof), I did the second reading when I traditionally do the first. Why the switch, I don’t know. It was Romy (Macalintal) who did the first reading. Another thing that was different was Manny went on the treadmill with Alex (Ariza) a few minutes before the fight. Manny watched most of Game 7 of the Miami-Boston NBA playoffs on TV in his suite (at The Hotel in Mandalay Bay) and part of the fourth quarter in the dressing room at the MGM Grand. He didn’t finish watching the game. Alex bought him to a place where he went on a treadmill for about six minutes, leaving Freddie (Roach) and Buboy (Fernandez) doing nothing in the dressing room. That was also the first time Manny did it. There was a delay in the taping of Manny’s hands and I’m not sure if any punch-mitting was done.”

Bradley waited in his dressing room while Pacquiao took his time watching TV and loosening his calves on the treadmill. The challenger was quoted in media as saying he didn’t mind the wait but an insider whispered that he threatened to pull out of the fight if there was further delay.

Despite all the “negative” signs, Leonardia said Pacquiao deserved to win by decision. “Manny didn’t lose,” he said. “The judges or two of them gave it to Bradley. When the ring announcer (Michael Buffer) read out the first scorecard that had Manny ahead then the second with Bradley on top, I knew there was something wrong. It was so unfair. Even assuming for the sake of argument that Manny wasn’t as quick or explosive as before, he still won the fight. Bradley ran away when he felt Manny’s power. You can’t win a championship that way.”

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Leonardia said he hopes the Nevada State Athletic Commission conducts an investigation on the two judges, C. J. Ross and Duane Ford, who scored it for Bradley because “it was evident that Manny won.” He said Pacquiao will come back stronger than ever.

“It’s hard to speculate if there was wrong-doing on the judges’ part or if the promoter had an agenda for Bradley to win,” said Leonardia. “What I’m praying for is a rematch so Manny can redeem himself.”

Bradley anticipated a rematch when he brought out a giant facsimile of a ringside ticket for a Nov. 10 return engagement during a press conference last week. It was his way of guaranteeing a win over Pacquiao last Saturday. Who put Bradley up to the creative gimmick? Surely, he couldn’t have thought about that himself. Did Top Rank have anything to do with it? Who stands to gain in a rematch? Bradley or Pacquiao or carcass. It’s up to Pacquiao if he’ll agree to a rematch as the option is his. Bradley is obligated to engage in a rematch but it’s Pacquiao’s call if it happens or not. If you ask the pastor, the 10,000 angels will guide Pacquiao to a wise decision.

 Top Rank’s Bob Arum? Was the rematch sealed with rigging at Pacquiao’s expense? Was Pacquiao a sacrificial pawn in the machination?

Last Saturday’s result stunk like a rotten carcass. The outrageous outcome has left many fans to believe boxing is that rotten.