New Pacquiao-Bradley judge
known to score a big margin
"If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?"
Vince Lombardi
By Alex P. Vidal
The name Craig Metcalfe does not ring a bell among Filipino boxing fans familiar with personalities involved in officiating big time Las Vegas fights probably because he is based in Canada.
Metcalfe, a Canadian, is a last-minute replacement for the "ill" John Keane of Great Britain. A real estate broker in Alberta, Metcalfe will judge the Pacquiao-Bradley rematch on April 12 along with Glenn Trowbridge of Nevada and Michael Pernick of Florida. Kenny Bayless will be the third man in the ring.
Because of the controversy over the first fight, the Nevada State Athletic Commission agreed to assign two judges from outside Nevada. The WBO could only assign a supervisor.
When he was assigned to judge famous duels mostly involving WBC championships in the past, records showed Metcalfe gave margins by a mile to celebrity boxers.
FIRST TIME
The Pacquiao-Bradley rematch will be the first time in Metcalfe's 15-year career as judge that he will officiate for two successive times in the gambling capital of the world. He is busy officiating bouts mostly in Canada. Last March 8, Metcalfe was back in Las Vegas when Saul Alvarez TKO'd Alfredo Angulo in 10th. When the fight was terminated, Alvarez was ahead by seven rounds in Metcalfe's scorecard, 89-82. If the fight set for 12 rounds went the distance, there was no way for Angulo to chase Alvarez's lead in Metcalfe's ledger.
Alvarez is the more popular between the two courtesy of his 12-round majority decision defeat to celebrity Floyd Mayweather for WBC light middleweight and WBA super light middleweight crowns on Sept. 14, 2013. Incidentally, Metcalfe was a judge in the Mayweather-Alvarez setto held at the MGM Grand.
Of the three judges, it was Metcalfe's score that caught the attention of fans with malicious minds. He scored a lopsided 117-111, while Dave Moretti had it 116-112 for Mayweather. Third judge C.J. Ross disagreed with them and submitted a draw, 114-114. Ross, a veteran of more than 30 world title bouts, was the same judge who scored an atrocious 115-113 in favor of Bradley in the first Pacquiao bout on June 9, 2012.
PERFORMANCE
Going back to Metcalfe's performance in the Mayweather-Alvarez setto. The scorecard showed he had "no mercy" for Canelo, who was never in danger of falling down during the rumble. Many fans wondered if Ross saw the bout even, how in the hell could a fellow judge see a one-sided action when they were both watching and officiating the same pair of protagonists in the ring?
Also, when Vitali Klitschko halted Tomasz Adamek in 10th for WBC heavyweight title at the Stadion Miejski in Wroclaw, Poland on Sept. 10, 2011, Metcalfe's scorecard was also a head-turning 90-80 at the time of the stoppage. He gave Klitschko almost a shutout score that would have rendered impossible Adamek's efforts to chase with two rounds left.
Was it a mere coincidence that in all these championship clashes, Metcalfe showed apparent generosity for celebrity fighters like Alvarez, Mayweather and Klitschko by giving them kilometric leads? Pacquiao and Bradley are both also considered as celebrities. Will Metcalfe give weight to their rank in the galaxy of boxing stars? Or he will judge the fight according to their performance?
TEN FEET
There was one championship fight, however, that Metcalfe stood ten feet tall. This was when he scored 115-113 for Andre Ward, who retained his WBC/WBA super middleweight belts by unanimous decision against Carl Froch at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Dec. 17, 2011. His tally agreed with fellow judge John Stewart, who also scored 115-113. Third judge John Keane, the man originally assigned in the Pacquiao-Bradley rematch, had a terrible 118-110 also for Ward.
"Metcalfe is a good judge. We have no issue whatsoever," Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti recently told ESPN.com.
If no knockout will happen, the fight will be decided anew on the scorecards. We will keep an eye on Metcalfe and his two colleagues.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Pacquiao needs a samurai to bring down Bradley
Pacquiao needs a samurai
to bring down Bradley
"It is always wise to look ahead, but difficult to look further than you can see."
Winston Churchill
By Alex P. Vidal
Manny Pacquiao's fiery eleventh hour assault against Timothy "The Desert Storm" Bradley in their first meeting on June 9, 2012, failed to convince judges Duane Ford and C.J. Ross, who scandalously awarded the WBO 147-lb title to the unbeaten black fighter from Palm Springs, California via 12-round split decision.
Both judges scored an identical 115-113 for Bradley to obscure Jerry Roth's 115-113 in favor of the eight-time world champion, who plans to run for senator in the Philippines in 2016. In the eyes of both the experts and fans, Pacquiao was the clear winner.
Pacquiao (55-5, 38 KOs) got tired of chasing the elusive Bradley (31-0, 12 KOs) and "lost" in the last three rounds. Both ended the 12th and final round throwing wild punches.
I was at ringside at the MGM Grand from start until the 10th round. I hurriedly left my assigned seat (Floor "G" Row "F" #18) before the 11th round. By 11th and 12th stanzas, I was watching the fight inside the media center and saw a lopsided duel with Pacquiao landing most of the haymakers. I wanted to be the first to get the official scorecards transmitted immediately to the media center.
WINNER
To my horror, Bradley, 30, was declared the winner by split decision. I pulled the first piece of paper that came out from the copier machine and downloaded it on my Facebook account. Thousands of "friends" shared it as the world exploded in outrage over the "highway robbery."
Fans had expected a come-from-behind KO win for Pacquiao in the first Bradley duel but were ready to accept a decision when Pacquiao could not nail the lucky punch. But not a bum decision. They crucified the two judges, not Bradley.
Although Pacquiao, 35, has not scored a stoppage win since Nov. 14, 2009 when he snatched Miguel Angel Cotto's WBO welterweight belt via 12th round TKO, he is no stranger to late round knockout victories. Pacquiao retired Oscar De La Hoya in 8th; halted David Diaz in 9th; demolished Jorge Solis in 8th; TKO'd Erik Morales in 10th in their rematch; stopped Marco Antonio Barrera in 11th; put away Nedal Hussein in 10th. They were some of his fiercest battles en route to become a ring legend.
BACK-TO-BACK
In their rematch on April 12, Bradley seeks to become the first fighter to score a back-to-back victory over the famed Pacquiao. His confidence boosted after rolling past Ruslan Provonikov (23-2, 16 KOs) and Juan Manuel Marquez (55-7, 40 KOs), Bradley increased muscles and posed for photographers in apparent copycat of Marquez, who did the same trick prior to knocking out Pacquiao in 6th last December 8, 2012.
The message Team Bradley wanted to impart was: "I'm willing to engage Pacquiao in a brawl and I won't run away." This could be meant to confuse Team Pacquiao which expects Bradley to again dance and avoid a head-on collision.
Nobody survived with Pacquiao in a phone-booth brawl except Marquez, whose one-punch demolition of Pacquiao was considered as a "lucky punch". In order to beat Pacquiao, Morales, in their first meeting on March 19, 2005 also in MGM Grand, sprayed the Filipino superstar with blinding and dizzying jabs and confused him with consistent lateral movements from start to finish.
EXPOSED
No boxer has been very much exposed in Las Vegas than Pacquiao in as far as styles and weaknesses are concerned. Even those who have been vanquished have studied Pacquiao, but only a few of them have been given the privilege to face him again in a rematch and a trilogy.
Like in his previous bouts, Pacquiao is again under pressure to satisfy bloodthirsty fans with a knockout win. But given Bradley's mental and physical preparations, it looks like the Filipino congressman will need to bring a samurai or revolver to fulfill this difficult mission assigned to him by fans baying for Bradley's flesh and blood.
Bradley's camp is aware of the danger their ward faces once the reigning WBO welterweight champion makes a mistake of forcing a KO win against the durable Pacquiao only because Bradley now looks like Incredible Hulk. Team Bradley is also aware that finishing the full route against Pacquiao is already half winning the bout -- with or without "cooperation" of the judges.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
How we report, predict fights of Manny Pacquiao
How we report, predict
fights of Manny Pacquiao
"Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future."
Niels Bohr
By Alex P. Vidal
Boxing journalists make their respective pre-fight analysis and predictions while inside the media center of a host hotel and casino in Las Vegas.
Only those accredited by Top Rank and Magna Media International are strictly allowed inside the media center where celebrities and VIPs proceed to be interviewed from time to time a week before, during and after the event.
Whether you are an American, a Latino, a Russian, a Japanese or a Filipino writer or newscaster, your opinion matters. If the opinion is impressive, it lands in the blogs and newspaper pages the following morning with proper attribution. Boxing writers also compliment each other by sharing and swapping data and sources. Sometimes they interview each other.
Not all predictions are accurate though. Nobody had expected Pacquiao to lose against Timothy Bradley when they first collided on June 9, 2009. Although most experts believed Pacquiao was robbed, the controversial 12-round split verdict was never reversed. The WBO 147-lb belt stayed in the waist of the black fighter otherwise known as the Desert Storm.
WEIGH-IN
Hours before the official weigh-in or a day before the first Pacquiao-Bradley fisticuffs, Filipino writers having lunch in a Filipino restaurant on Las Vegas strip predicted a knockout win for Pacquiao. Nick Giongco of Manila Bulletin said he saw Bradley going to dreamland before the 10th round. Roy Luarca of Philippine Daily Inquirer and Abac Cordero of Philippine Star agreed with him. Vancouver publisher Rey Fortaleza and publicist Robbie Pangilinan did not disagree. I reiterated what I earlier told Rey and Robbie that "2012 is not the year of Pacquiao" and that I saw Bradley winning by a split decision.
My analysis was consistent with the statement I made in a long distance noontime interview with Bombo Radyo anchorman Don Dolido that Pacquiao would suffer his fourth loss since yielding via 12-round unanimous decision to Erik Morales for WBC international super featherweight title on March 19, 2005. The same statement I made to RMN-DYRI Iloilo anchorman Novie Guazo, GMA-6 Ratsada, and many other colleagues in Iloilo media.
When the American TV analyst posted the interview he gave me on youtube where I pushed for Pacquiao's mandatory retirement after the Bradley fiasco, I was sledge-hammered by angry Pacquiao fans and called names.
ANTICIPATE
Many of us also failed to anticipate Pacquiao's 6th round KO defeat to Marquez nine months later. Prior to the December 12, 2012 debacle, Filipino, American and a few Latino writers and analysts had predicted a stoppage win for Pacquiao in his fourth meeting against the "slow" and "aging" Marquez.
We sensed something wrong when instead of egging Pacquiao to retire after the loss to Bradley, Top Rank boss Bob Arum still signed Pacquiao up for a record fourth clash against the grizzled Mexican bomber. Ergo, I picked Marquez to win on points.
On the eve of Pacquiao's bout against Brandon Rios in Macau last November 24, 2013, tenminutes.com posted my pre-fight prediction of a Pacquiao victory by unanimous decision even as Manila experts made a cocksure prediction of a KO ending for Rios.
MENTION
While I am proud to mention that I was able to correctly predict Pacquiao's last three fights as well as some of his past fights, I also goofed when I claimed that Pacquiao stood no chance against the legendary former Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya, who capitulated in the 8th round on December 6, 2008.
As sportswriters, we are not in business to compete with Madame Auring or Nostradamus.
We only report the facts and events based on what we see and the interviews we make. Attendance in press conference is also important. Direct quotes from news sources are essential for the story we write. We are given accreditation because of our credentials and experience, not because we are good in our forecasts and because we belong to giant news networks and publications. We don't claim to be experts, but we have the edge when it comes to calling spade a spade and chronicling the events on a blow by blow account.
fights of Manny Pacquiao
"Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future."
Niels Bohr
By Alex P. Vidal
Boxing journalists make their respective pre-fight analysis and predictions while inside the media center of a host hotel and casino in Las Vegas.
Only those accredited by Top Rank and Magna Media International are strictly allowed inside the media center where celebrities and VIPs proceed to be interviewed from time to time a week before, during and after the event.
Whether you are an American, a Latino, a Russian, a Japanese or a Filipino writer or newscaster, your opinion matters. If the opinion is impressive, it lands in the blogs and newspaper pages the following morning with proper attribution. Boxing writers also compliment each other by sharing and swapping data and sources. Sometimes they interview each other.
Not all predictions are accurate though. Nobody had expected Pacquiao to lose against Timothy Bradley when they first collided on June 9, 2009. Although most experts believed Pacquiao was robbed, the controversial 12-round split verdict was never reversed. The WBO 147-lb belt stayed in the waist of the black fighter otherwise known as the Desert Storm.
WEIGH-IN
Hours before the official weigh-in or a day before the first Pacquiao-Bradley fisticuffs, Filipino writers having lunch in a Filipino restaurant on Las Vegas strip predicted a knockout win for Pacquiao. Nick Giongco of Manila Bulletin said he saw Bradley going to dreamland before the 10th round. Roy Luarca of Philippine Daily Inquirer and Abac Cordero of Philippine Star agreed with him. Vancouver publisher Rey Fortaleza and publicist Robbie Pangilinan did not disagree. I reiterated what I earlier told Rey and Robbie that "2012 is not the year of Pacquiao" and that I saw Bradley winning by a split decision.
My analysis was consistent with the statement I made in a long distance noontime interview with Bombo Radyo anchorman Don Dolido that Pacquiao would suffer his fourth loss since yielding via 12-round unanimous decision to Erik Morales for WBC international super featherweight title on March 19, 2005. The same statement I made to RMN-DYRI Iloilo anchorman Novie Guazo, GMA-6 Ratsada, and many other colleagues in Iloilo media.
When the American TV analyst posted the interview he gave me on youtube where I pushed for Pacquiao's mandatory retirement after the Bradley fiasco, I was sledge-hammered by angry Pacquiao fans and called names.
ANTICIPATE
Many of us also failed to anticipate Pacquiao's 6th round KO defeat to Marquez nine months later. Prior to the December 12, 2012 debacle, Filipino, American and a few Latino writers and analysts had predicted a stoppage win for Pacquiao in his fourth meeting against the "slow" and "aging" Marquez.
We sensed something wrong when instead of egging Pacquiao to retire after the loss to Bradley, Top Rank boss Bob Arum still signed Pacquiao up for a record fourth clash against the grizzled Mexican bomber. Ergo, I picked Marquez to win on points.
On the eve of Pacquiao's bout against Brandon Rios in Macau last November 24, 2013, tenminutes.com posted my pre-fight prediction of a Pacquiao victory by unanimous decision even as Manila experts made a cocksure prediction of a KO ending for Rios.
MENTION
While I am proud to mention that I was able to correctly predict Pacquiao's last three fights as well as some of his past fights, I also goofed when I claimed that Pacquiao stood no chance against the legendary former Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya, who capitulated in the 8th round on December 6, 2008.
As sportswriters, we are not in business to compete with Madame Auring or Nostradamus.
We only report the facts and events based on what we see and the interviews we make. Attendance in press conference is also important. Direct quotes from news sources are essential for the story we write. We are given accreditation because of our credentials and experience, not because we are good in our forecasts and because we belong to giant news networks and publications. We don't claim to be experts, but we have the edge when it comes to calling spade a spade and chronicling the events on a blow by blow account.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
'Friends' quarrel for Pacquiao's belt like their meals are at stake
"It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon the supposition he may abuse it." -- George Washington
By Alex P. Vidal
Fans must be wondering why in Manny Pacquiao's last four fights, no one was carrying his championship belts in the ring during the introduction ceremony. Aside from the regular WBO strap, he is a life-time "title holder" of Ring Magazine's championship belt.
Cris Aquino was no longer around to carry the Philippine flag. In almost all of Pacquiao's previous fights in the United States, we saw Evelio "Bing" Leonardia raising Pacquiao's belt while grinning from ear to ear like he hit a casino jackpot.
Everytime Pacquiao fought in the United States, Leonardia had to take a leave as mayor of Bacolod City to mount the American ring with the rest of Team Pacquiao. In Pacquao's last four fights, Leonardia, now a Bacolod city congressman, was still there, but he no longer was carrying Pacquiao's belt (this can be verified in the video of Pacquiao's previous fights).
AWARE
Leonardia was aware that he had been the subject of envy, intrigues and ugly gossips from some Pacquiao minions jealous of his exposure to the global media. "Dati ako ang humahawak ng belt ni Manny," sobbed Lito Mondejar, Pacquiao's former promoter in "Mano Mano", a weekly boxing promotion in Manila where Pacquiao was discovered in the 90's. While we were having lunch at Denny's in Las Vegas, Mondejar chortled: "Sila mismo ang nag o offer sa sarili nila. Yan namang si Manny hindi naman maka hindi mabait kasi." (I was the one previously assigned to carry the belt. They were the ones who offered themselves and Manny Pacquiao could not say no.)
Leonardia was unfazed. He insisted it was Pacquiao, now his colleague in congress and kumpare (the Bacolod solon acted as godfather of Pacquiao's child), who invited him to carry the boxer's belt. He had been carrying the belt uninterrupted since June 28, 2008 when Pacquiao wrecked via 9th round TKO David Diaz for WBC lightweight title at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
To be seen with Pacquiao inside the ring during introduction ceremony, watched by millions of TV audience worldwide, is a dream come true for most characters in Team Pacquiao. The gargantuan publicity mileage is a slam dunk for any Filipino politician like Lito Atienza and Chavit Singson who tagged along Pacquiao like leeches. Not everyone though has the privilege to enter the ring. Top Rank provides special color-coded identification cards for those allowed inside the square battlefield.
THREAT
The biggest threat to Leonardia's franchise of Pacquiao's belt, however, did not come from within the boxer's inner circle. Mondejar, who carried the belt when Pacquiao pulverized in the 8th round Jorge Solis for WBC international super featherweight title in San Antonio, Texas on April 14, 2007, did not anymore press for his birthright to the belt.
When Pacquiao squared off versus Ricky Hatton for IBO light welterweight on May 2, 2009 in Las Vegas, song writer Lito Camo and Texas-based pediatrician Allan Recto got interested in Leonardia's role. A near ugly scuffle ensued in the dressing room when Recto tried to grab the WBC belt from Leonardia, who tightly embraced the belt and refused with extreme resistance to hand it over to the determined Recto. "Bing, ako naman ma uyat sang paha. Nag OK na si Manny (Bing, it's my turn to carry the belt and I have the go signal of Manny)," Recto jabbed at Leonardia. "Wala ka hambal si Manny sina. Sa akon ini ya na assign. Ano ini imo ya man?" Leonardia angrily retorted, his hands keeping a tight grip on the belt. (Manny hasn't told me that. I am still in charge of this belt. What's this are you doing?)
SYMPATHY
In an apparent attempt to get his sympathy, Recto then looked at assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez and asked: "Boy, paano ni?" (Boy, what's your stand on this?) Fernandez didn't say any word.
Camo, on the hard hand, cried like a baby denied of his biscuit when told that his request to carry the Ring Magazine belt could not be granted because it was already assigned to the father of Jinky Pacquiao.
The composer of Willie Revillame's "Wowowee" show thought he had the job on the bag and was preparing for his date with fame when told of the bad news. Camo believed Pacquiao had fallen in love with his talent after composing some of Pacquiao's Tagalog songs that became a hit in the Philippines.
INTEREST
"Why the hell would this Lito Camo be interested on carrying the belt inside the ring? Aside from composing some of Manny's songs, what has he done to deserve this kind of attention?" bewailed a Canadian lawyer irked by what he saw.
"Ang problema sa iba diyan, naka say hi and hello lang kay Manny lumalaki na ang ulo akala nila importante na sila sa buhay ni Manny. Mabait lang talaga si Manny kaya hindi siya umaayaw sa mga lumalapit sa kanya pero hindi ibig sabihin na abusuhin nila ang kabaitan nia (There are people not really closed to Manny who think they are important to the boxer's life, thus they abuse his kindness. Because he is a good man, Manny does not say no to those who approach him," commented a broadcast journalist and former boxing manager, who now resides in San Francisco, California.
By Alex P. Vidal
Fans must be wondering why in Manny Pacquiao's last four fights, no one was carrying his championship belts in the ring during the introduction ceremony. Aside from the regular WBO strap, he is a life-time "title holder" of Ring Magazine's championship belt.
Cris Aquino was no longer around to carry the Philippine flag. In almost all of Pacquiao's previous fights in the United States, we saw Evelio "Bing" Leonardia raising Pacquiao's belt while grinning from ear to ear like he hit a casino jackpot.
Everytime Pacquiao fought in the United States, Leonardia had to take a leave as mayor of Bacolod City to mount the American ring with the rest of Team Pacquiao. In Pacquao's last four fights, Leonardia, now a Bacolod city congressman, was still there, but he no longer was carrying Pacquiao's belt (this can be verified in the video of Pacquiao's previous fights).
AWARE
Leonardia was aware that he had been the subject of envy, intrigues and ugly gossips from some Pacquiao minions jealous of his exposure to the global media. "Dati ako ang humahawak ng belt ni Manny," sobbed Lito Mondejar, Pacquiao's former promoter in "Mano Mano", a weekly boxing promotion in Manila where Pacquiao was discovered in the 90's. While we were having lunch at Denny's in Las Vegas, Mondejar chortled: "Sila mismo ang nag o offer sa sarili nila. Yan namang si Manny hindi naman maka hindi mabait kasi." (I was the one previously assigned to carry the belt. They were the ones who offered themselves and Manny Pacquiao could not say no.)
Leonardia was unfazed. He insisted it was Pacquiao, now his colleague in congress and kumpare (the Bacolod solon acted as godfather of Pacquiao's child), who invited him to carry the boxer's belt. He had been carrying the belt uninterrupted since June 28, 2008 when Pacquiao wrecked via 9th round TKO David Diaz for WBC lightweight title at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
To be seen with Pacquiao inside the ring during introduction ceremony, watched by millions of TV audience worldwide, is a dream come true for most characters in Team Pacquiao. The gargantuan publicity mileage is a slam dunk for any Filipino politician like Lito Atienza and Chavit Singson who tagged along Pacquiao like leeches. Not everyone though has the privilege to enter the ring. Top Rank provides special color-coded identification cards for those allowed inside the square battlefield.
THREAT
The biggest threat to Leonardia's franchise of Pacquiao's belt, however, did not come from within the boxer's inner circle. Mondejar, who carried the belt when Pacquiao pulverized in the 8th round Jorge Solis for WBC international super featherweight title in San Antonio, Texas on April 14, 2007, did not anymore press for his birthright to the belt.
When Pacquiao squared off versus Ricky Hatton for IBO light welterweight on May 2, 2009 in Las Vegas, song writer Lito Camo and Texas-based pediatrician Allan Recto got interested in Leonardia's role. A near ugly scuffle ensued in the dressing room when Recto tried to grab the WBC belt from Leonardia, who tightly embraced the belt and refused with extreme resistance to hand it over to the determined Recto. "Bing, ako naman ma uyat sang paha. Nag OK na si Manny (Bing, it's my turn to carry the belt and I have the go signal of Manny)," Recto jabbed at Leonardia. "Wala ka hambal si Manny sina. Sa akon ini ya na assign. Ano ini imo ya man?" Leonardia angrily retorted, his hands keeping a tight grip on the belt. (Manny hasn't told me that. I am still in charge of this belt. What's this are you doing?)
SYMPATHY
In an apparent attempt to get his sympathy, Recto then looked at assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez and asked: "Boy, paano ni?" (Boy, what's your stand on this?) Fernandez didn't say any word.
Camo, on the hard hand, cried like a baby denied of his biscuit when told that his request to carry the Ring Magazine belt could not be granted because it was already assigned to the father of Jinky Pacquiao.
The composer of Willie Revillame's "Wowowee" show thought he had the job on the bag and was preparing for his date with fame when told of the bad news. Camo believed Pacquiao had fallen in love with his talent after composing some of Pacquiao's Tagalog songs that became a hit in the Philippines.
INTEREST
"Why the hell would this Lito Camo be interested on carrying the belt inside the ring? Aside from composing some of Manny's songs, what has he done to deserve this kind of attention?" bewailed a Canadian lawyer irked by what he saw.
"Ang problema sa iba diyan, naka say hi and hello lang kay Manny lumalaki na ang ulo akala nila importante na sila sa buhay ni Manny. Mabait lang talaga si Manny kaya hindi siya umaayaw sa mga lumalapit sa kanya pero hindi ibig sabihin na abusuhin nila ang kabaitan nia (There are people not really closed to Manny who think they are important to the boxer's life, thus they abuse his kindness. Because he is a good man, Manny does not say no to those who approach him," commented a broadcast journalist and former boxing manager, who now resides in San Francisco, California.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Pacquiao's flag bearer now 'persona non grata'
"In heaven, all the interesting people are missing."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
 |
| CRIS AQUINO (right) AND ALEX P. VIDAL IN LAS VEGAS |
By Alex P. Vidal
In Manny Pacquiao's last six fights in the United States, I missed the presence of our good friend, Crisostomo "Cris" Aquino (sometimes Manila writers misspelled it as "Kris Aquino").
Cris was a very imposing figure inside the ring. He carried and waved the giant Philippine flag during Michael Buffer's "Let's-get-ready-to-rumble" introduction. He added entertainment to the crowd with his unorthodox dancing style while toting the RP flag.
The last time I saw Cris was when he entered our room at MGM Grand in Las Vegas hours after Pacquiao put to sleep Miguel Angel Cotto via 12th round TKO for WBO welterweight bauble on November 14, 2009.
Known for his composure and frankness, Cris instantly caught my attention because he was seething with anger, his face a jigsaw puzzle. He was murmuring expletives and cocked his fists.
EXPLODE
"'Traidor itong si (name of one of Manny Pacquiao's staff)," Cris exploded. He stayed for several minutes and continued to unload his heartaches. He left when he noticed everyone (there were three other Manila writers accredited to cover the event inside the room) was busy beating news deadline in their laptop.
I learned later that Cris was at loggerheads with some characters in Pacquiao's inner circle. I had no inkling about the nature of their rift. Months or years later, news broke out that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) dismantled a big chunk of Boracay West Cove, a resort in Brgy. Balabag, Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.
Joselito Atienza was then the DENR secretary and was always seen laughing loudly in the company of Pacquiao, Cris and other bigwigs in Las Vegas hotels.
The demolition at Boracay West Cove started on July 19, 2012 upon orders of the DENR and Interior and Local Government.
VIOLATE
The resort reportedly violated the Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism Purposes (FLAgT) issued by the DENR to the resort in 2009 during Atienza's term when it built illegal structures.
Before the demolition at Boracay West Cove, rumors circulated that "Pacquiao owns a big resort in Boracay." This was later denied by the boxing champion and pointed to Cris as the real owner of the 3,159 square-meter beach property.
Cris grieved for the loss of millions of investments he called "blood money" and threatened to sue his tormentors, including TV host Ted Failon, who made a special report on the resort's violations.
Even before the controversy erupted, Cris was not anymore present during Pacquiao's succeeding fights. Based on my own personal observations, Cris belonged to one of at least five factions identified in the circle of Pacquiao. Two of his closed buddies are Cebu promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud and Adriano "Rey" Golingan, Pacquiao's wedding godfather.
DEADLY
The other four factions are equally deadly when it comes to intrigues and arm-twisting tactics. I personally know many of them and I can pinpoint them one by one, face to face. I know their styles and gimmicks. Many of them used dirty tactics to elbow each other for personal and business motives.
When members of these five factions were in front of Pacquiao, they also swapped jokes as pakitang tao (nagpaplastikan)--dirty sometimes--as if they belong to one fraternity. Without the presence of Pacquiao, they can't see each other eyeball to eyeball and will even tear each other with a hatchet if given the chance.
Going back to Cris Aquino. I personally liked him without prejudice to his business and friendship with Pacquiao--and stormy relationship with characters jealous of his closeness to the best boxer pound-for-pound. Cris is approachable and amiable. He has no air and behaves like an ordinary person despite his fame and wealth.
Only last month, Cris was back in the headlines when the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay, Aklan declared him "persona non grata" (Latin words for an unwelcome person).
RESOLUTION
According to Aklan Forum, Malay councilor Rowen Aguirre filed the municipal council resolution declaring Aquino as ‘persona non grata’ and was unanimously adopted on March 11, 2014.
"Pinagtutulungan nila ako na mapaalis sa islang ito at ipahinto ang aking operation (ng Boracay West Cove). Wala akong kakampi dito sa Boracay. Ako ang pinag-iinitan dito," he stressed.
Aquino further said, “hindi naman ako estapador sa island or drug pusher. Ipagtanong ninyo sa aking kabaranggay, kung meron akong niloko at inagrabyadong tao."
“Ako ay isang investor lang, ever since ay ginigipit nila ako dito. Kaya ito na naman, nagfile sila ng ‘persona non grata’."
ARGUMENT
Aklan Forum further reported: "Last month, Nenette Aguirre-Graf, barangay captain of Motag, Malay, Aklan and sister of SB member Rowen Aguirre, had an argument with Aquino near Station 1.
"Graf was hurt by what Cris Aquino uttered against her.
"'Bakit ganito ang trato nila sa mga investors. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit galit sila sa akin. Nagkasalubong kami ni (Nenette) Graf sa baybay at sinabi ko sa kanya na anong karapatan niya na husgahan or i-brand niya kami (Boracay West Cove) na mother of all violators,' he said.
"The luxury resort became controversial for constructing some structures right on top of the natural rock formations and allegedly operating without business, occupancy and building permits.
"'Ito ay alitan namin ng kanyang kapatid na si Nenette Graf na palaging nagkokomento sa programa ni Ted Failon, na ako na lamang daw ang hindi nagpapagiba, samantalang tatlong beses na akong nagpagiba sa West Cove,' Aquino said."
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Ariza a big loss to Team Pacquiao
Ariza a big loss to Team Pacquiao
"Hope of ill gain is the beginning of loss."
Democritus
By Alex P. Vidal
When Team Pacquiao lost conditioning coach Alex Ariza two fights ago, Manny Pacquiao (55-5, 38 KOs) was never the same again.
Ariza joined Pacquiao's training team when the hard-hitting Filipino champion pulled a controversial 12-round split decision win in his rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez for WBC super featherweight diadem on March 15, 2008.
At that time, Ariza was still unknown. Nobody from members of Pacquiao's family and the press really knew him except Freddie Roach, who hired the Colombian conditioning coach to assist Roach for Pacquiao's training at the Wild Card Gym.
Ariza joined Pacquiao, members of his team and several journalists invited to attend a birthday party of a Fil-Am girl in a house in Las Vegas a day after the Marquez rematch.
ENTOURAGE
Because he hardly knew anybody in the entourage, Ariza was left in the house when the six-vehicle entourage left and was heading back to Los Angeles.
I was in the vehicle together with three fellow accredited journalists from Manila when the driver was told to stop and go back to the house 15 minutes after leaving "because Alex was left."
"But Alex is here!" boomed international referee Silvestre Abainza referring to me.
"No, he is Alex Ariza. Kasama daw ni Freddie (Roach)," one of the passengers retorted.
"Sino ba yang si Alex Ariza na yan? Ang layo na natin na sa highway na tayo. Bugbugin nalang kaya natin ang gago'ng yan para mabigyan ng leksyon (Who is that Alex Ariza? We are already in the highway. Why don't we teach him a lesson?)," one passenger, a bully, angrily protested.
"No, don't do that. Don't think about that. He is a trusted ally of Freddie (Roach)," somebody remarked.
PASSENGER
We went back to fetch the last passenger. He was Alex Ariza, innocent-looking and demure. He apologized. He was in the toilet room when we all left.
Ariza would later help pilot Pacquiao's amazing eight-fight winning streak alongside Roach and the rest of the coaching staff.
He also became Pacquiao's closest friend and became instant celebrity especially among Filipino fight fans. In some of Pacquiao's spectacular KO wins, Ariza was seen kissing and hugging the Filipino champion like a true brother.
Unlike his former recruiter Roach, Ariza is not arrogant. We once had lunch at Jollibee Las Vegas branch together with Texas-based Dr. Allan Recto and he never spoke venomous diatribes against anybody in the team even if his relationship with some of them was already on the rocks.
RESTAURANT
One time while I was inside a small Thai restaurant near the Wild Card gym, Ariza and Pacquiao entered and sat beside me after a training session. When I was about to leave, Pacquiao asked me to stay and join him as he ate the foods Ariza had ordered. Pacquiao transferred some of the foods on my plate and pretended he was busy talking to me. I immediately was able to read between the lines. Pacquiao did not want other characters to disrupt him. I stayed in the table and helped empty the plates. Ariza never complained while I ate some of his ward's foods.
Ariza was a friend of almost all journalists and kibitzers. He signed autographs and posed with fans like a celebrity, and his popularity did not go to his head. He is much-admired because of his patience and discipline in and outside the gym. He was a big asset in Team Pacquiao; and a big loss, too.
SHOCKING
When Marquez bombed out Pacquiao in a shocking 6th round KO in Las Vegas on December 12, 2012, I saw mist in Ariza's eyes. Almost all Filipino fans cried with Team Pacquiao. It was one of the saddest moments that I witnessed inside MGM Grand.
Last November 2013, I was stunned when I heard in the news that Ariza and his former recruiter Roach nearly engaged in a brawl inside a gym in Macau. Ariza was not anymore working for Team Pacquiao. He was on the enemy's side as member of Brandon Rios' coaching team.
Pacquiao will miss his former conditioning coach and friend when he squares off in a rematch against Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas on April 13. I don't want to see Ariza in the corner of Bradley.
"Hope of ill gain is the beginning of loss."
Democritus
By Alex P. Vidal
When Team Pacquiao lost conditioning coach Alex Ariza two fights ago, Manny Pacquiao (55-5, 38 KOs) was never the same again.
Ariza joined Pacquiao's training team when the hard-hitting Filipino champion pulled a controversial 12-round split decision win in his rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez for WBC super featherweight diadem on March 15, 2008.
At that time, Ariza was still unknown. Nobody from members of Pacquiao's family and the press really knew him except Freddie Roach, who hired the Colombian conditioning coach to assist Roach for Pacquiao's training at the Wild Card Gym.
Ariza joined Pacquiao, members of his team and several journalists invited to attend a birthday party of a Fil-Am girl in a house in Las Vegas a day after the Marquez rematch.
ENTOURAGE
Because he hardly knew anybody in the entourage, Ariza was left in the house when the six-vehicle entourage left and was heading back to Los Angeles.
I was in the vehicle together with three fellow accredited journalists from Manila when the driver was told to stop and go back to the house 15 minutes after leaving "because Alex was left."
"But Alex is here!" boomed international referee Silvestre Abainza referring to me.
"No, he is Alex Ariza. Kasama daw ni Freddie (Roach)," one of the passengers retorted.
"Sino ba yang si Alex Ariza na yan? Ang layo na natin na sa highway na tayo. Bugbugin nalang kaya natin ang gago'ng yan para mabigyan ng leksyon (Who is that Alex Ariza? We are already in the highway. Why don't we teach him a lesson?)," one passenger, a bully, angrily protested.
"No, don't do that. Don't think about that. He is a trusted ally of Freddie (Roach)," somebody remarked.
PASSENGER
We went back to fetch the last passenger. He was Alex Ariza, innocent-looking and demure. He apologized. He was in the toilet room when we all left.
Ariza would later help pilot Pacquiao's amazing eight-fight winning streak alongside Roach and the rest of the coaching staff.
He also became Pacquiao's closest friend and became instant celebrity especially among Filipino fight fans. In some of Pacquiao's spectacular KO wins, Ariza was seen kissing and hugging the Filipino champion like a true brother.
Unlike his former recruiter Roach, Ariza is not arrogant. We once had lunch at Jollibee Las Vegas branch together with Texas-based Dr. Allan Recto and he never spoke venomous diatribes against anybody in the team even if his relationship with some of them was already on the rocks.
RESTAURANT
One time while I was inside a small Thai restaurant near the Wild Card gym, Ariza and Pacquiao entered and sat beside me after a training session. When I was about to leave, Pacquiao asked me to stay and join him as he ate the foods Ariza had ordered. Pacquiao transferred some of the foods on my plate and pretended he was busy talking to me. I immediately was able to read between the lines. Pacquiao did not want other characters to disrupt him. I stayed in the table and helped empty the plates. Ariza never complained while I ate some of his ward's foods.
Ariza was a friend of almost all journalists and kibitzers. He signed autographs and posed with fans like a celebrity, and his popularity did not go to his head. He is much-admired because of his patience and discipline in and outside the gym. He was a big asset in Team Pacquiao; and a big loss, too.
SHOCKING
When Marquez bombed out Pacquiao in a shocking 6th round KO in Las Vegas on December 12, 2012, I saw mist in Ariza's eyes. Almost all Filipino fans cried with Team Pacquiao. It was one of the saddest moments that I witnessed inside MGM Grand.
Last November 2013, I was stunned when I heard in the news that Ariza and his former recruiter Roach nearly engaged in a brawl inside a gym in Macau. Ariza was not anymore working for Team Pacquiao. He was on the enemy's side as member of Brandon Rios' coaching team.
Pacquiao will miss his former conditioning coach and friend when he squares off in a rematch against Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas on April 13. I don't want to see Ariza in the corner of Bradley.
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