A Close Fight?!

Timothy Bradley is not to blame for winning the Welterweight crown, because he just did his job as a boxer and a fighter whose duty is to box and fight. He did his best; and like Pacquiao, he fought to win. Unlike the other fighters who fought the Eight World Division boxing Champion (De La Hoya, Cotto, Margarito, Clottey) he engaged Pacquiao in battle up to the last minute, up to the twelfth round, which is crucial and a deciding round in close fights. Being a dirty fighter, if indeed he is, is not enough to blame him for winning either; for dirty fighting is not new in this savage sport and it was not the reason why Pacquiao had lost.

Interviewed just after the fight was a boxer who is a believer and a convinced victim of controversial decision in boxing; according to Juan Manuel Marquez, the bout was a close fight, and close fights are decided by the judges who could go either way. Pacman and his followers believed that it was not a close fight, but a one sided bout in Pacquiao's favor. Understandably, some people believed that it was indeed a close fight. The underlying question therefore is whether it was a close fight or not; for if it was close fight, no one can truly blame the judges who scored it in Bradley's favor.

People must have so used to seeing Pacman won either by knock-out or by a lopsided victory; as if for them, any victory lesser than a knock-out is not a win. This might be the reason why mostly of Pacquiao's close fights end up in controversial decisions. Pacquiao and his camp should have known this and should have avoided it to happen.

But maybe to win convincingly is not easy; particularly, if one fought an undefeated younger fighter, who understandably is hungry and so eager to make a name for himself. One who is coming from the bloodline and legacy of great fighters; and one who has the home court advantage being born and raised in the proud and most powerful country: "the home of the free and the land of the brave".

The Championship bout was a close fight; and in my humble analysis, if we really should blame anyone, the one to blame is the one who has the power to avoid it by winning convincingly, if not by knockout; Manny (The Pacman) Pacquiao. The preceding seven paragraphs are my probable reasons why:

(1). His age (Time Factor): Pacquiao is 31 years old who had fought so many fights, and some of those fights were against big known powerful fighters who can incur an unimaginable damage to their opponents. Physical conditioning is very vital in his training, but his strength coach, Alex Ariza, left his camp during his training in preparation for Bradley's fight.

(2). His Over confidence and complacency: He is rumored to watch and finish the Boston Celtics' game 7 loss to Miami Heat just before he went up the ring. Understandably, Boston is said to be his favorite NBA team. Furthermore, Freddie Roach prediction that Bradley will go down before the seventh round is a proof that they don't take him seriously. It was a Championship Match and it is hard to believe that lack of concentration, out of focus, and a subtle show of disrespect to an opponent had caused him to lose a crown.

(3). His Karma: Regardless of whether the judges are fair or not, two out of three decisions of Pacman's controversial fights favored him. Now the score is even; now he is on Marques shoes experiencing the feeling of one whose win was robbed. 

(4). His change in religious denomination as shown of him not wearing his rosary when he went up the ring. There is a Filipino axiom, "One who doesn’t look back will not reach his destination". One may ask, Why look back, it will only slow you down?  The answer is, to make sure that in anyone's journey, nothing, especially important possession, is left behind. Intentionally or not, Pacquiao on his way to the square ring had left something, and that something is faith. He should realize that there is only one God and his Rosary is a long time companion that has nothing to do with his change in so-called religion.

(5). His Singer: Music is a very strong subtle force that affects everyone, particularly for fighters who are representing a country in battle for supremacy, crown, glory, pride, and honor.  Pacquiao's  choiced  diva, young Jessica Sanchez' exceptionalrendition of his opponent's Anthem that brought the house down is a prelude that indeed something is about to happen; that, as Timothy Bradley Jr. predicted, will shock the boxing world.

(6). His faith; Being a renewed Christian and Pastor, Pacquiao, together with his outlook in life and in boxing, has changed. And many of his fans believed that his faith had turned him into a merciful fighter which to them is not a ring gladiator should be. As what occurred in his skirmish with Margarito and Cotto, Pacquiao knowing that he is points ahead slowed down and refuse to box his opponent. Indeed it was; although, I personally believe that The Pacman has nothing left to prove in boxing and in winning, what he has to prove is his faith. The defeat means nothing to him, and in his words and action, he is telling us how to accept defeat, even if that defeat is a robbed win defeat.)

(7). Lastly: Why is it that significant boxing matches are judged by people who are chosen by gamblers? To echoed the dirty thoughts of some boxing fans and analysts: Vegas, being the gambling capital of the world is a sin city where anything dirty and corrupt could happen. Cheating, if not caught, is legal in gambling; and boxing, which had turned into a form of gambling, draws a lot of bucks and betting. Given the chance, the rich and the powerful people of gambling would have a hand on the outcome of the game; particularly, if the protagonist and the judges would allow it, and if they can hide it in a split decision of a close fight. 

Cheap Shots of a Cheat Win

In ancient times, a warrior will not attack an opponent when an opponent surrenders, when he turn his back and run away, and when he is defenseless and without a weapon. These are but some of the code of behavior of a warrior in the old days. On the other hand, in modern time, as what we saw in the recent skirmish between two combatant champions, Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz, we saw the absence or disregard of such code of conduct. Sadly, what we perceived was the arrogance and shamelessness of a warrior who comprehensively is close to past of his prime.

Victor Ortiz is a passionate warrior, his goal is to knocked out an opponent, and to knocked out an opponent like Mayweather is a task of a lifetime for a fighter like Ortiz. A no one had ever succeeded task. And during the match, there was a stage when he was on the attack and he was connecting. He knew that one punch is enough for that elusive knock out for an elusive opponent. He was giving it all; and for a while, he had forgotten that he is up against the former pound for pound king and the greatest defensive boxer of all time. He got frustrated especially when his opponent was just standing in front of him, against the roof, waiting for more; but He was tired, he already had given it all, his fist can do nothing anymore, and all he got was his head, which is so close to his opponent’s chin, his target. And the rest is history; he uses his head, which is. understandably, like his fists are already empty.

Victor Ortiz was fast to realize the stupidity of his action and for him two sorry were not enough; too bad and he did not expect that the third sorry would cost him that much.

Mayweather, on the other hand was actually in a tune fight for his most awaited battle against the boxing world’s living legend Manny Pacquiao, and he did not expect such a strong resistance and onslaught from a miscalculated adversary. Probably, he even comes out not fully prepared for the fight. He look tired, his mouth was open and was breathing heavily.  He did not expect such preparedness and passion from a boxer to knock him out. He was afraid that if the fight would go on this fighter would have his chance; and he knew that Victor Ortiz will not be as merciful as Sugar Shane Mosley when he embraced him during their bout as if begging for mercy. One more of that scenario would cost “too much” for the unblemished great Floyd Mayweather Jr.

He was also angry, and he was thinking that Ortiz is like him who is cunningly impudent and would do anything to win. There is a saying that a thief believes that everybody steals and a thief like him. Similarly, a cheater believes that everyone is a cheat like him. He had plenty of time to cool down his anger and he is not a neophyte boxer who could easily disregard the ethical standard of a true champion. Nonetheless, he still delivered those cheap shots for a cheap win to buy time and to save his name. Unlike Ortiz, his cheap shots were pre-meditated and not a continuity of momentum.

Mayweather followed the protocol and he did not break nor violate any boxing rules; in fact, he followed it by the book, he is very much aware of it, and he uses it to his advantage. For him, at that point in time, the goal is to win regardless of the consequences of such win.  In my article, “Fight for us by not fighting”, I had mentioned that Mayweather is a shrewd dirty fighter; and indeed, he is. And that cunningness is visible when he is afraid; and now, as this recent bout of his had shown, when he is up against the wall. -Kali92011

NOTE;  The weakness of  Mayweather is his legs which are weak and the reason why he lean on the ropes for his defensive stance.