Boxing Crowns Warriors, not Counterpunching Wimps
Pacquiao gets another victory from the defensive and so very cautious Marquez. The history of boxing has acquired another jewel of a fighter in this highly accomplished but humble man from the Philippines, an eight division world champion, who grew up from the slums and is now a true Champion and a congressman, and just might be the next president of that country. This is not so much about Manny’s qualification as the undisputed world boxing victor, or saying that the most recent fight with Marquez was not controversial, but rather, we are looking into what Marquez was thinking when he came into that ring to defeat a warrior who had proven himself countless times over.
I will not belabor this writing with moment-by-moment, round-by-round description of the exchange of blows between the fighters, but I just want a question asked and answered. Did Marquez think that being on the defensive, to stick to the tactic of “counter-punching”, make him deserving of a win here?
He could have gone all out on this one, especially this is already their third fight. If he had gotten his memories straight, his old tactic that of a coiled snake in the grass, come closer and I’ll sting you, is very simplistic and has no creativity in terms of offense. True, he did try to throw small jabs here and there however, as a challenger, risk-taking and wholehearted combinations were missing from his attacks. If you lost by decisions twice already, why not go all out, try to pummel your nemesis till you run out of gas but at least show some determination, bravery, and grit into the round, and let the paying public get their money’s worth? A knock-out would really be a defining moment. I’d say I’ll floor my opponent first, then go on to the defensive, and I’ll really be ready for an all-out barrage from my opposite as well. No. He ran, he counter-punched, then he ranted.
Storming out of the ring after the fight is but a childish way of covering up a defeat he has no way of preventing. That bit about being interviewed with only a sombrero is but a comic relief after the public was shortchanged with a fighter not willing to go down fighting to just might yet win a crown. Of course, he would have definitely get bludgeoned and swollen-mugged if he did try to bash up the defending champion the same way Pacquiao’s other opponents had experienced, but at least they were going for the knockout themselves. Bumps and bruises heal anyway. However, it was either he fears Pacquiao’s knocking-out power or he does not have what it takes to knock-out the Champion. Pacquiao had stood up against larger fighters like Diaz and De La Hoya but Pacquiao’s iron fists had reminded them they’re only human. Marquez went to the ring, probably hoping to win by points rather than slug it out with the Pacman, and still ended up trounced by points. Just imagine a world champion defeated just by points! As if the Warrior does not know what it takes to win! Next time, Marquez, when you meet up with a Champion, make sure you knock him out, or fall to the canvas trying.
The win was not controversial at all. What we saw is a lack of heart, bravery, and creative offense from the part of the challenger, and superiority of boxing class from the Philippine Pacman.
Filed under: Essay, free writing, Short Non-Fiction, Social Commentary, thoughts, Writing | Tagged: boxing, Manny Pacquiao, opinion, sports | 1 Comment »
Manny Pacquiao’s 3rd Victory over Marquez-Opinionated Analysis
Boxing Crowns Warriors, not Counterpunching Wimps
Pacquiao gets another victory from the defensive and so very cautious Marquez. The history of boxing has acquired another jewel of a fighter in this highly accomplished but humble man from the Philippines, an eight division world champion, who grew up from the slums and is now a true Champion and a congressman, and just might be the next president of that country. This is not so much about Manny’s qualification as the undisputed world boxing victor, or saying that the most recent fight with Marquez was not controversial, but rather, we are looking into what Marquez was thinking when he came into that ring to defeat a warrior who had proven himself countless times over.
I will not belabor this writing with moment-by-moment, round-by-round description of the exchange of blows between the fighters, but I just want a question asked and answered. Did Marquez think that being on the defensive, to stick to the tactic of “counter-punching”, make him deserving of a win here?
He could have gone all out on this one, especially this is already their third fight. If he had gotten his memories straight, his old tactic that of a coiled snake in the grass, come closer and I’ll sting you, is very simplistic and has no creativity in terms of offense. True, he did try to throw small jabs here and there however, as a challenger, risk-taking and wholehearted combinations were missing from his attacks. If you lost by decisions twice already, why not go all out, try to pummel your nemesis till you run out of gas but at least show some determination, bravery, and grit into the round, and let the paying public get their money’s worth? A knock-out would really be a defining moment. I’d say I’ll floor my opponent first, then go on to the defensive, and I’ll really be ready for an all-out barrage from my opposite as well. No. He ran, he counter-punched, then he ranted.
Storming out of the ring after the fight is but a childish way of covering up a defeat he has no way of preventing. That bit about being interviewed with only a sombrero is but a comic relief after the public was shortchanged with a fighter not willing to go down fighting to just might yet win a crown. Of course, he would have definitely get bludgeoned and swollen-mugged if he did try to bash up the defending champion the same way Pacquiao’s other opponents had experienced, but at least they were going for the knockout themselves. Bumps and bruises heal anyway. However, it was either he fears Pacquiao’s knocking-out power or he does not have what it takes to knock-out the Champion. Pacquiao had stood up against larger fighters like Diaz and De La Hoya but Pacquiao’s iron fists had reminded them they’re only human. Marquez went to the ring, probably hoping to win by points rather than slug it out with the Pacman, and still ended up trounced by points. Just imagine a world champion defeated just by points! As if the Warrior does not know what it takes to win! Next time, Marquez, when you meet up with a Champion, make sure you knock him out, or fall to the canvas trying.
The win was not controversial at all. What we saw is a lack of heart, bravery, and creative offense from the part of the challenger, and superiority of boxing class from the Philippine Pacman.
Filed under: Essay, free writing, Short Non-Fiction, Social Commentary, thoughts, Writing | Tagged: boxing, Manny Pacquiao, opinion, sports | 1 Comment »