Lethal

The greatest Filipino athlete is reported to fight one more time. No one knows if it is for the last time. He called it a career four years ago, but now wants to defy time and slug against a foe almost half his age. Easy to take those punches, he survived stronger blows in life and now lives in style, especially the spouse.

But not a student boxer who died a day after a fight in a collegiate games. The referee had to stop the fight, presumably on superiority of the foe and inferiority of the woe. No way the Southern Tagalog region representative would win the fight. He was to lose the match, but at least he should not lose his life. Unfortunately he lost both, the day after he was rushed to the hospital, in another grim reminder boxing is a brutal sport, savage even.

Any sport is supposed to entertain the fans. It drops their jaw in awe at the speed of sprinters, strength of lifters, height and length of jumpers. These are strangers who train in obscurity and suddenly appear in the limelight of greatness. Otherwise known as athletes who represent not only the victory of physical body but also the triumph of the human spirit.

A number of boxers were either disabled or killed by the sport they hoped would better their lives. Many of them are not only their country s expectation but also their family s salvation. A few of them succeeded, only to flush their money down the drain. While many are unable to handle their fame, many more squander their fortune. A few Filipino boxers had rags to riches story, others rags to riches to drugs and rags. Largely their choice, also known as indiscretion, or those around them, also known as leeches.

Why people choose to celebrate when a fighter in the ring is knocked down and out defies logic of civilization. Or why people do not care about abuse until it happens to them defies natural empathy. Or worse, even if it happens to them. Repeatedly. Their abusers call it resilience. Culture calls it forbearance. Faith calls it deliverance, from suffering on earth for reward in heaven.

Worst is when some people delight in the agony of others. Or beyond worst, when some people pretend to solve poverty but at the same time cause, maintain and worsen misery. Otherwise known as, never mind. Many of them will be picked in a few days. Not by the police, they have perfected the art of impunity, but by those who perfected the curse of stupidity.