It is tempting to go the way of experts, whose sound judgment over things palpable and easily understood are very difficult to argue against. In boxing, as in any other human endeavor, all protagonists only have themselves and their skills to rely on. God does not take sides.
Or doesn’t He? If God does not take sides, then why does everyone invoke His name for help each time a challenge surfaces or a crisis looms? If God does not take sides, what is the point even of believing.
The truth is, faith is everything, and God does take sides. He is on the side of all His creation. It is therefore wrong to attribute the loss of Manny Pacquiao to all the lapses he should not have committed inside the ring.
It is difficult to put a finger on whether it was his change of religion and assumption of new religious practices that caused the downfall of Pacquiao. But somewhere in there, where human understanding cannot fully appreciate, something says faith did Pacquiao in.
Of course the arguments of boxing experts always sound more convincing. Preparation, conditioning, focus — everything that has got to do with boxing will always naturally fit into any topic involving boxing. Besides, it is not always hip to talk religion.
But then, try to consider this: A man falls in love and who does he ask for help to win over the girl? God. The man and woman get married. Who do they ask to get them started? God. The woman is about to give birth to a son. Who does the terrified man call out? God.
The son develops a fever. Please God. The son goes to school and the tuition is high. Please God. The son fights for honors. Please God. The son graduates on top of his class and takes the board exam. Please God.
The son tops the board and waits to be interviewed for his first job. Please God. The son is hired and gets assigned a very difficult task. Please God. The son finds a girl of his own and tries to court her. It is please God all over again, as it was in the beginning until the end.
So how can we try to deny God just because there is no pay-per-view in heaven? If boxing experts saw the punch that Pacquiao himself did not, who are we to say the Creator of all things did not do a little willing in the ring? God does take sides, even if you forget to say please.