Boxing Anomaly

Except for Timothy Bradley’s camp, most of us were conditioned and primed of Manny Pacquiao’s foreseen triumph. The bubble burst and exploded on our faces and majority of the republic could not accept the fact that our boxer-actor-singer-lawmaker-preacher lost.   Even Bradley was stunned of his victory.

Both fighters became very affectionate and loving in several instances with all the hugging and embracing.   Although our fighter was not his usual dominating self, I saw the fight ending in Manny’s favor and it was reported that Bradley had acknowledged defeat before the decision was announced .

Gauging from his last battle with Juan Manuel Marquez prior to this, a good number of people were convinced that PacMan lost that match and Bob Arum wouldn’t have raised hell like he did now. Our hero has shown signs of slowing down. On the way to that fight, distractions were a-plenty, like the reported spat with the wifey.

This Bradley fight is not without distractions. PacMan’s pastor, Jeric Soriano, assured anyone who cared to believe that 10,000 angels will be behind every punch that our boxer launches. If only just one angel made it to MGM Grand that night, Pacman could have won. Problem was, the 10,000 distributed themselves along the casinos in Vegas and as of last sightings, their wings had been trimmed by Soriano and are grounded until further notice. They will given specific instructions in November and this time, it will be 20,000 angels.

For all intents and purposes, boxing and bible preaching don’t mix. Boxing is a brutal sport and fighters rearrange each other’s facial structures to the delight of the Belos and Calayans of the earth. Do tell me where and what passage in the bible that exactly says you can beat somebody to a pulp and at the same time feel holier than the Pope. Distraction.

Last Sunday, the paying public as well as the millions of global TV viewers and Tim Bradley were made to wait for about an hour as our PacMan watched Game 7 of the Boston-Miami series at his hotel suite. Bradley was asked about the delay and replied that he has waited a long time for this match to materialize. He can wait for PacMan the whole night. Or something to that effect. But an insider said that if it gets any longer, Bradley will walk out. Good thing he didn’t. The Celtics lost, PacMan lost. Another distraction.

About 10 days before their fight, Bradley posted on his Twitter account a photo of an oversized ticket declaring a PacMan-Bradley Part 2 dated November 10, 2012. This is where the conspiracy theorist thrives in their speculations.

A connection was then made with the judges’ decision and the supposedly fuming Arum that was mad with the results. If you’ve seen the interview, Arum was heard saying something that he’s going to make lots of money in the rematch come November. Do we smell a rigged match here at PacMan’s expense?

If Pacman had the Pac-wife seen crying and the Pac-mom collapsing after the results were announced, Bradley had his own drama. He was on a wheelchair on his way to a press conference, explaining that he sprained his foot. He also had this little butterfly that he claimed was his guardian angel which fluttered above him. At least this angel found its way ringside. And I thought only pro wrestling has a monopoly on scripted matches.

Just when we thought things would quite down, enter US Senator Harry Reid, a former amateur boxer, supporting an investigation to the controversy. The Nevada State Athletic Commission likewise ordered an examination of the scoring criteria of the “three blind mice”, as what Arum baptized the 3 three judges who gave the score. A motion was also submitted by Arum to the Nevada Attorney General’s Office requesting for an inquiry.

Looks like these guys are tuned in to the comedic tele-novela of Philippine politics where a senate or congressional inquiry is readily made when these people ran out of ridiculous bills to sponsor, like proposing a six-figure dole out if one gets to be 100 years old. Seriously, how can a frail and almost immobile centenarian enjoy 100,000 pesos?

So, let us be resigned to the fact and admit that our boxing hero, whether we like it or not, anomalously lost the fight to the delight of Floyd Mayweather Jr., merrily clapping like a penguin inside his prison cell. We leave the controversy settling to the boxing gods. PacMan is Paksi for the moment. Meanwhile, let’s enjoy Miami lose again their heat in the end game and watch OKC strike with thunder and lightning. Maybe LeBron just can’t have his championship ring with D-Wade and C-Bosh. Just maybe.

[email protected] — THE FREEMAN