Pacquiao - Marquez III Fight Card: Boxing has stayed on it's Feet

The past few months in the sport of boxing were filled with disappointments and controversy. It started with the Mayweather - Ortiz clash with an after apology knock-out. Then came the Hopkins - Dawson debacle, when Dawson threw the 46 year old champion into the canvass, after a clinch. It also continued with the Donaire - Narvaez fight, showing a too defensive Narvaez, and Donaire, unable to knock him out. These fights almost left a scar in the sport of boxing, and made me think, UFC is on the rise. Something like magic, the wounds of these mishaps have healed. Boxing has stayed on its feet. Although, one can never decide whether the sport is really dead if it is compared to an entire year of jeers, but somehow, boxing has now recovered from an almost dying state. I, as an analyst, fan, and fighter, can feel it. Experts usually say that the key for a good boxing event  are good under cards. We saw that yesterday, and the Pacquiao - Marquez III is a match of historic proportions. Every fight that night, was that of Legends. Those good events we saw in the 80's, 90's, 2000's, and 2010's were blown away with the combination of match-ups in yesterdays event. The under card was more than what fans, like myself, have wanted. The Drama that boxing have been missing over the past few years, like determination, fighting heart, excitement, bad blood, and etc., has now been resurrected. I mean, sure we got recent fights with some of the drama, but what I am referring to, is the combination of it all, or the total package. For me, the Pacquiao - Marquez III Event was a total package. Forget about skills, all top fighters have that, but the attitude is more of a spectacle to me. I just hope for these kinds of events to keep happening. In all honesty, boxing was dying, but yesterday's event made an immense jolt in its rise. It wasn't a half step, or a full step, it was a great leap, and Boxing is far from dying now.

Hopkins - Dawson, a disgrace in the sport of Boxing

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Before I start, I want to thank everyone who have read my posts or those who stumbled into my blog. This blog has just reached its 6000 mark and I'm very thankful to everyone.

Now, I have just watched the recent clash between Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins and "Bad" Chad Dawson. I was in a very relaxed and almost getting into bed until I was enraged with what I saw. Bernard Hopkins, known to be the oldest World Boxing Champion was supposed to defend his Light Heavyweight Championship belt after winning convincingly against Jean Pascal. Chad Dawson on the other hand, had a loss against Pascal, and is now into his comeback into regaining the Championship that was once his. That was the template of the match-up so far, entering into the match. The earlier fights were great, but this fight spoiled everything.

The early rounds were a toss-up. Chad Dawson using range and spearing his punches into Hopkins. The older Hopkins, looked to get Dawson into a hold and hammering him on a semi-clinch. Dawson looked frustrated as he was unable to hit Hopkins on the inside, because he immediately clinches. Ultimately, as Hopkins got close to Dawson on round two, Dawson immediately lifts Hopkins and throws him down on the canvass. Bernard Hopkins clearly unable to continue, as he may have dislocated his left shoulder after being thrown. The referee warns to give a Technical Knock-out if Bernard was unable to continue, which he did. Chad Dawson wins by Technical Knock-out by round two.

Thoughts:
I thought this match was the most craziest thing I have seen in boxing. The Mayweather-Ortiz fight was alright, but the Hopkins-Dawson? Come on. I would have understood if Mike Tyson would bite the ears of Holyfield again, but that is not the point. I have seen the imperfections in the sport of boxing, and to some extent, I have come to enjoy them. Just like when a slip gets called a knock-down or a knock-down turns into a slip. This is what a champion faces in the ring, and he must appear to be unfazed by it, and overcome obstacles.

In the case of the Hopkins-Dawson showdown. I was very disappointed. I mean, you could use the privilege to judge a knock-down without the replays, but to judge a fight because you were not sure what just happened? That to me, is an abuse of privilege, and things must change in boxing as well. I also would like to give emphasis, that this is BOXING, not MMA. Take-downs are not a part of boxing, and if you ask me, you are not supposed to judge the fight as a TKO with that. It almost looked more of an MMA bout rather than a boxing match.

This is what kills boxing.. what destroys it, and I don't want to be put up to this pressure. I too, am an aspiring fighter, and with the kind of reputation that boxing builds today, it makes me have serious doubts if I would be interested to get inside a sport with so much confusion and issues. It all comes down to the judgment of the referee. For me, personally, I blame the ref' for that wrong call. I could pass out a loosely judged knock-out, but to decide the fight is over on a take-down? You must be out of your freaking mind.

The people who watched the fight know that this fight should be judged as a No Contest rather than a Technical Knock-out. People who watched the fight must be really disappointed too, since they paid a fortune to get their seats into this fight, but it ended up short and disappointing. To state it, overall, it sucks! I would want it to be called a No Contest, and let them have a rematch, not because they need it or want it, but for the honor of boxing. It's hard to win fans back into boxing when this sort of things happen.

My Proposal:
It is high time that we should change certain aspects in the sport of boxing. In the old times, fighters would go unlimited rounds until one quits. It changes, and rounds would reach until fifteen. After the death of Duk Koo Kim in their match with Ray Mancini, championship rounds were then cut to twelve. What I want to propose, is the use of replays in boxing matches. For the longest time in sports history, boxing is a sport that do not rely on replays, they resort to the referee's judgment.

It affects all common sense. This is the age of  High Definition LCD screens, Cyber-internet communication, Digital-age, and a lot. Times have past, and so, the sport of boxing must adapt to it as well. I mean, why should we continue with the old? when common sense tells us, there is a replay. This is high time for change, especially with the Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson debacle. It just kills the sport, if we are blindly going out through our ways. I know it must be a miracle for me to give everyone a heads-up, I'm just a blogger, but I am a person too, and I say my opinions when things get ugly.

Picture: Bernard Hopkins after a take-down from Chad Dawson.

Taking things for granted

There are moments in life when you just take things for granted. You wake up, eat, work, and sleep. The cycle goes on for the monotonous lifestyle that is not a stranger to man. There may be times that I do my tasks in life, but I knew there was still something lacking.. Something that I have lost for a while, and it's my fighting heart. I knew I was just way different from the time I was so excited to fight and punch for the first time. The dedication to my work has somehow lessened over the past few months. There have been the regular training, but never have I been at my best in a while. I remembered days, when my punches were far more solid, crisp, and accurate all the time. I was feeling great that I knew no one could stop me. Things have changed, I have taken everything, from my talents, gifts, and my youth for granted. I started reading the Bible for some answers, for I knew God would never abandon me nor hurt me. I know that I am being prepared for a greater task in my life. I have learned to forgive, and it somehow opened a lot of luggage out of my somehow weakened spirit. Just recently, I was riding the public transport so I could reach an appointment that I am already late in. Suddenly, I noticed an old woman who was frail went inside the transport. As we were going, the old woman exclaimed that she had forgotten her wallet. The woman opposite to her, lend her twenty pesos without question. Although out of my business, I felt concerned to the old woman. As she reached her destination, she asked of me to help her, and so I did. I held the old woman on my arms in order to stabilize her to just even stand. I knew from then on, she must be suffering from severe osteoarthritis. As a nurse, I felt an obligation to support the old woman as she crossed the street. I knew that I was late, but decided to help her cross the street, as she had no companion at that time. I went down the transport and carried the old woman's bag and umbrella as she held in my arms to stabilize her. Despite the heavy traffic, I found way, although difficult, to bargain with the drivers on the road. The old woman walked short and slow, that made the ordinary crossing of the highway a five minute walk. I was protecting the old woman, for there were drivers who just don't give a damn about the situation that an old woman is trying to cross the road. As we reached the other side, I somehow felt resolved as I brought her to her destination a few steps after. I asked the old woman in Cebuano dialect, "How old are you?" and she answered she was 61 years old. So I said goodbye and went on to my appointment. These are those few moments that show me that I should not take things for granted. I have seen fighters fighting off their prime and showing their resilience even at such an old age. It was their fighting heart.. the heart of a champion that just takes my breath away every time I see greatness for real. Fighters like Erik Morales, Bernard Hopkins, and a few others who still believe in their capabilities and their passion is fighting. I admire them tremendously that I want to follow their footsteps. I can't be a slump all throughout the day. I will work my best, with inspiration equal to the same fighting heart that started me in this. My talents, gifts, and my youth will not be wasted. I will take the world on my prime, and show them that there is still another fighter out there that is worth counting on.

Picture: Defying his age, Erik Morales, lands a straight right hand on Marcos René Maidana.

The Fight of the Century

It has been years, since we saw one of the most significant fights in boxing. There have been gaps wherein boxing has become cold. The last fight however that made a significance in the sport of boxing was the Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. versus Pernell Whitaker match. That fight was the last time a fight has been regarded in utmost importance. It was important, because two of those people have achieved the rating as two of the best fighters of their era. Whitaker, a defensive mastermind versus the slugger in Chavez. The great fights, however, started way back since the days of James Sullivan. Sullivan, was a fighter who totally dismantled all his opponents, was the first fighter to ever hold a title belt in boxing history. He is the first ever heavyweight champion. Throughout the years, boxing has become a staple for people who wants to get their excitement in a combat sport. It then winded down to the days of Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, and Rocky Marciano. Those three, were one of the best fighters of their days, and no wonder they are part of the hall-of-fame and as well as the all-time greats. Then came the days of Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, and Willie Pep. It has been way back in those days, and boxing has already become a very respectable sport. Robinson was the first in their time to receive the first to benefit in pay-per-views. Henry Armstrong, on the other hand got almost half of the boxing title belts. Willie Pep, is one of the all-time greats. Pep had the most victories in boxing than any fighter in the world. Until now, that title still belongs to him. He had 229 victories and a total of 241 fights, a record in boxing history. Those were part of the back and forth existance of the "Golden Age" of boxing. Golden Ages come and go. As great fighters come and go, the age also begins to end and will surely begin again. It is the promise, that brings everyone in boxing believe, that greater days are about to come. As the years goes further after the Robinson Era, a new generation begin to surface. Then came Muhammad Ali, or in the past was Cassius Clay. The Three fights with Frazier was tremendous. The third fight was, to me, the best fight that was made, in the history of boxing. Of course Ali, starting out had to beat the puncher, in Sonny Liston. It was drama in those days, there was the young George Foreman who was sensational in his hay day. Ali was very articulate and he was one of the most influential people in those times, and as well as today. Then there was The Four tigers, as what Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum calls it. It was the era of the eighties. Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler. These four were the greats of the sport in those times. They all have fights on each other, and that was another "Golden Age". Ever heard of the famous sayings, "No mas"? Well, that was the reported words that Roberto Duran said, after he took an embarrassing loss to Leonard. Today, fights that go all-out and non-stop can be compared, defined, and easily associated to the "Hagler-Hearns". In the Eighties it was exciting, although I wasn't yet born, the impact that these four made in boxing is present in our generation. I just love the fights in this era, that I keep watching them. All of the four, are my favorites. In the nineties, however lots of fights took place and the center of it was Oscar De la Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, and Sugar Shane Mosely. These were the names in the nineties that shook the world once again, in the name of boxing. De la Hoya was the most popular as he defeats Chavez. After the De la Hoya-Chavez, Mexicans started hating on Oscar. Then the rise of young heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, who I believe is one of the best punchers in history. Tyson beat Berbick, who was the person who beat the aging Ali. Then comes the fight between Tyson-Holyfield, it was a good fight, but only tarnished by the bad blood, when Tyson bite the ears of Holyfield. Also, the mega-fight between Chavez and Whitaker. Then days come when boxing began to be cold. Then fueled up again with the featherweights in Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. They were the dominating forces in the 2000's. The three fights of them are a memory in my mind that I cannot forget. Up until, the rise of Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao beat them all. In those times, the significant fights were, Barrera-Morales, Pacquiao-Marquez, Pacquiao-Morales, Corrales-Castillo, Hopkins-Taylor, and others more I can remember. In present times, there was the mega-fight De la Hoya-Mayweather, Mayweather-Hatton, De la Hoya-Pacquiao, Pacquiao-Hatton, and the very recent Pacquiao-Cotto. It always was a pleasure for me to watch boxing, and until now, it is what keeps me in a good mood. In the recent events where Pacquiao and Mayweather is left as the "ultimate dominating force". It is important to consider their strengths. Pacquiao, is a total offensive genius in the history of boxing, as I would believe. Mayweather, is a total defensive genius in the history of boxing, as I too also believe. These are the two best fighters of their era, that if a clash would happen from them, it will generate millions of dollars in the fight and in pay-per-view. Not only is money the bigger deal, but what matters most are the memories, that will remain in our minds as one of the greatest fights in boxing history. As a boxing fan, I love the idea and would pay a fortune to see them fight. This fight will definitely be one of a kind, and is something that people would talk for ages. I really hope that this fight will happen so that we will feel the excitement once again that the sport creates in itself.

Picture: Floyd "Money" Mayweather on the left, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao on the right.