On this second day of a local legislators’ seminar here in our city, officials of some Negros Oriental cities and towns are the participants. They have come with the mind of learning something for them to help steer their own local government units thru the challenging task of contributing to nation building. Let us make them feel welcome if and when we meet them.
This article is rather misplaced. It should have been written for the sports section. But it may be justified by its off tangent characterization. So, with the indulgence of my editor, let it be printed here.
International boxing referee, Mr. Kenny Bayless, admitted an error of a judgment call he made during the Pacquiao-Mosley world championship match. In so many words he made after the fight, Mr. Bayless tried to achieve at least two things. First, by attributing to an ever existing boxing fact of continuous motion of boxers, he wanted us to accept the possibility that, no matter how referees try to be in a position to see everything going on above the ring, there are times that they don’t. He therefore hoped that we saw no error on his side in ruling Pacquiao was knocked down such that with such error forgiven, he might still be elevated to the ranks of great boxing officials.
Officiating a match between our own Manny Pacquiao, not only an elected congressman of Sarangani province but more importantly the world undisputed pound for pound king, and Shane Mosley, who called himself “sugar” to recall the achievements of the original “sugar” Ray Robinson, was indeed a feather on Bayless’ cap. But somehow, the error he committed gave a stigma to his reputation specially that here in Cebu someone suffered a heart attack on seeing the wrong call. Truthfully, Bayless’ wrong decision factually sullied his professionalism. Bayless failed in the eyes of the knowledgeable. It was thus necessary for him to arrest his slide in stature as a world class referee.
Many tend to let his mistake pass. The explanation he gave appeared anchored upon valid ground. Anyway, it did not affect the outcome. Manny still won by a wide margin. But, was it really an innocent mistake?
Do you remember the fight (I think it was the second encounter) between Mexican Erik Morales and Manny Pacquiao? In the sixth round of that contest, Pacquiao delivered a punch. It was so strong that it staggered Morales towards his back, then unto the rope. As he endeavored to stay on his feet, he bumped Bayless. What I saw was different. Morales was ready to fall but fortunately for him, Bayless caught him. Even if it looked unintentional, I thought that if Bayless was not there, Morales would sag to the ground and a clear knock down would have been scored by Manny. That to me was how powerful Manny’s blow was.
We understand that if a boxer’s fall is prevented by anything other than his own power, a knockdown had to be ruled. Bayless was on the way of a staggered Morales, for which reason the latter did not fall.
Yet, not many raised a whimper. Of course, it was not obvious to those viewing the match. The result? The referee escaped public condemnation. But his act was just as bad as the mistake he admitted. It could even be worse.
Mr. Bayless might not have been that innocent. There were two separate mistakes that were counted against Manny. They affected the scores with the first incident depriving Manny of a 10-8 score and the second putting him on the disadvantaged side with 8-10 score. And they were committed by the same man, Kenny Bayless. It is too much for me to think that the way he wanted us to believe he was really innocent.