International correspondent Alex Vidal might be the one to cover the event for the Reyfort Media Group as he is still in the United States today. The Reyfort Media Group has been very active in covering many major events in the United States and the North America these past weeks and the weeks ahead before 2010 bids farewell.
The most memorable activity we had during our week-long rendezvous in Texas was the turning over of Vancouver Mayor Greg Robertson’s important letter to Manny Pacquiao’s factotum Michael Koncz.
Mayor Robertson has invited the Filipino eight-time world champion to visit this beautiful city of Vancouver and should the fighter, who toppled a scion of the powerful Chiongbian clan for a congressional portfolio in Sarangani, Philippines in the recent elections, accept the invitation, the mayor would declare a “Manny Pacquiao Day”.
Also unforgettable was our interview with crowed drawer and bejeweled Nanay Dionisia who vowed to oppose plans for her 31- year-old son to fight again next year saying her son had promised her the Margarito joust would be his last dance in the ring.
Nanay Dionisia apparently is more comfortable to see her rich son focus on his job in the House of Representatives rather than extending his fistic career and risking a life-threatening injury that would jeopardize his health during retirement.
But Nanay Dionisia, as she is wont to do, would always change her mind and would capitulate once Pacquiao makes the final statement. And the grapevine says that Pacquiao, already a global icon in fight business, is willing to fight once more or twice next year before finally hanging up his gloves.
Top Rank boss Bob Arum himself had shrugged off speculations Pacquiao would no longer fight in 2011 owing to his obligations in the Lower House. In our post fight press conference, Arum ended in the guessing game when he declared (whether or not Pacquiao will fight Floyd Mayweather Jr.) “is not anymore a question of yes or no but when.” Take it from the man who owns Pacquiao’s contractual obligations.
-o0o-
I feel sorry for the heartbreaking setback suffered by previously unbeaten Juan Martin Elorde (11- 1, 4 KO‘s), son of Johnny, our friend and former colleague in amateur boxing way back in the 70’s, who lost a four-round scrapper to Houston boxer Angel Rodriguez (5-4-2-1, 4 KO‘s) in one of the undercard fights during the Nov. 13 promotion at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Nobody had expected Elorde to lose that important bout, his first international debut. He lost steam early in the third round and allowed the patsy Rodriguez to roll him past en route to a unanimous decision.
I could feel the pain in the hearts of Elorde’s parents -- Laura and Johnny -- who cheered Elorde in the ringside like it was a championship brawl. As a parent myself, I share their frustration seeing their unbeaten son, trying to make a name in international market, being sledge-hammered from pillar to post and unable to weather the storm in the last two crucial rounds.
If Elorde, 25, had enough gas in the breadbasket, he could have easily broke Rodriguez’s weak defense and penetrate his body with uppercuts for an easy points win. But when he was gasping for his breath midway in the third round, it was only a matter of time before his downfall was officially declared.
Kudos to the two other gallant Filipino fighters who saved the pride of Filipinos that night when they steamrolled their foes in contrasting fashions.
Perennial undercard showman Dennis Laurente bounced off Rashad Holloway, Pacquiao’s sparring partner in an eight-round super lightweight appetizer. He was followed suit by Riche Mepranum who toppled Antonio Villareal in another eight-round flyweight scrapper.
All in all, the Filipinos logged three wins and one loss that night.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|