Switching On the Sun

As free-flowing as the number 8, Manny Pacquiao fatefully (make that f-8-fully) claimed his world record feat of being the only boxer to have won 8 world boxing titles in likewise 8 different divisions. And 8’s quite, err, it’s quite matching that he did it as the new elected Congressman of his hometown. 8 (as validated by their official car plate number) is a Congressman’s number. In the ring, defensively side-stepping as if motioning “8” through body language, Pacquiao quickly waltzed a defensive move while capitalizing on every opening his gloves could penetr-8. At the expense of a taller and heavier Mexican Antonio Margarito, Pacquiao domin-8-ed all throughout the fight. As if living up to his name “pakyaw” (a Filipino term) which means all-encompassing. His control was definitely large-scale given the David-and-Goliath aspect with his persona being the former. The Goliath in Margarito was rather down-scaled. However, he looked bigger with his face badly puffed-up; he could as w...

The Dream Match was how the De La Hoya – Pacquiao welterweight boxing match was regarded. Dream Mismatch would have been more apt. That said, it’s more of waking-up-to-reality for De La Hoya and his fans and supporters as well going into the fight as the favorite. With the deemed 'mismatch' going the other way around, it would have been regarded as an upset. In such a shake-up, the loser would have been upset… But no, seemingly preserving his 'golden' name, Dela Hoya conceded defeat early on. Yet, was it really like that to begin with? Pacquiao’s admittance of his admiration for the more celebrated De La Hoya could probably be more of the reason why it was a dream match for the Pacman in the first place. How about for De La Hoya? Was it because despite of his expected loss, being the bigger star assured him of a heftier purse? Like the “Mexicutioner” (a title even the Pacman doesn’t like) , I’ve always been a fan of the Golden Boy. I cannot see myself cheering for him ...

Wonder how or why men try to boost up their ego when in denial of a failure? May it be from a relationship, a certain match-up with that of the same ‘breed’ perhaps or any of those things that did not allow them to meet what they believe is expected of them, much more from that of their own presumption. Somehow, men find ways to justify such letdown. After a good boxing match-up for instance, assuming neither of the two pugilist kissed the canvass, the ‘defeated paw’ will claw back to glory by insisting that the decision should have been the other way around if it’s not because of too many objectionable reasons. While on the other hand, the victorious fighter, despite its swollen face would probably brag about not even having been bothered nor hurt by what he claims were ‘slight’ punches from, what the obvious thought, who roughly turned out to be such ‘a destructive force’ after all. Of course, there are more challenging ego-busting issues that knock men out of what for them are th...