Bare Eye
Setting the record straight
By Recah Trinidad
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:49:00 03/27/2008
(Ed’s note: We are re-running this piece because an important portion of the column that came out yesterday was inadvertently omitted due to transmission problems)
MANILA, Philippines—Did I ask for a probe of the March 16 WBC super featherweight championship fight in Las Vegas?
I was wondering because there were calls and messages informing me that Manny Pacquiao expressed great displeasure upon his return Monday over a supposed demand for an investigation of the scoring in his rematch with Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez.
“So what kind of investigation, by Congress or by the Senate?” Pacquiao was supposed to have retorted.
Well, for the record, there was nothing of the sort in my post-fight column on the result of the bout which was won by Pacquiao via a split decision.
But there was a portion of that column that questioned the sharpness of the judges.
Please read it: “Either the judges blinked or were rendered cockeyed by the klieg lights at the Mandalay Bay Resort … Pacquiao … would later say he was quite lucky to have ended up the victor. Well, nothing really wrong with that. Pacquiao, a far cry from his fabulous self, worked very, very hard in order to last the bloody, brutal 12 rounds.
Sturdy and very brave, he did win it, based on the votes of two judges (2-1).
But, after a review and an honest-to-goodness accounting, it would also be next to impossible to find one truly objective fan who would claim Marquez lost the fight.”
* * *
My stand on the result of that rematch has remained unchanged.
Pacquiao won in the eyes of the (two of three) judges but, in the same breath, it could not be said that Marquez lost.
Anyway, unsure if I said something wrong to displease Pacquiao, I started asking around.
Monday before lunch, I called my eldest son, Chino, who worked as anchor in the Solar Sports coverage of the Pacquiao-Marquez bout.
Actually, I had some friends who immediately suggested there should be a probe of the judging in that fight.
I told Chino I had tried to voice out the sentiments of these friends in a subsequent interview with GMA-7.
No, it did not sound that way, Chino said.
What do you mean?
Frankly, you sounded as though you yourself wanted an investigation (of the judging).
* * *
Sorry about that.
I actually tried to skip that interview.
There was this column to write before the 5 p.m. deadline of March 16.
I was already checking in late for the writing chore from Marikina where I watched the live feed of the Pacquiao fight in a friend’s bakery shop.
There was a terrible rush.
But, looking back, that’s a lame excuse.
I have no reason to doubt what Chino told me.
I must’ve indeed sounded like I was the one demanding a probe.
In the process, it must’ve appeared I was trying to rob Pacquiao of his hard-earned victory.
* * *
There was no such intention.
In fairness to Pacquiao, he did not single out anybody behind the putdown.
But late as it is, allow me to take back what I had said: A probe of the judging in the Pacquiao-Marquez is unnecessary.
That bloody, bruising fight was quite entertaining.
Both fighters deserved great applause.
Hope this clears the air and sets the record straight.
You see, that stray remark suggesting a probe must’ve pricked Pacquiao’s pride.
The suggestion from Pacman diehards was that we should have been more careful because, suddenly sounding certain that he had beaten Marquez clean, Pacquiao must be feeling sublime, on top of the world.
* * *
To repeat what had been said here previously, there’s no use belaboring the issue.
A world crown is a world crown, and every Pinoy must be proud and happy about the gallant title-clinching feat.
Still, we continued to be concerned where Pacquiao’s career was headed based on his showing against Marquez on March 16.
Unfortunately, this concern had also been mistaken for a bid to discredit Pacquiao’s successful crown quest.
Well, Pacquiao may not know this, but there’s this fear among concerned fans that it was not the same great Pacquiao who fought Marquez last time.
With this, we pray for a full-fledged fireball return of the original Manny Pacquiao inside the ring in his next fight.
Here’s hoping Pacquiao scores a complete, overwhelming, resounding, totally convincing victory, one that will unite, instead of divide, the boxing world.
That’s as clearly as we can wish Pacquiao the best.
In case this intention is doubted, a probe would be readily welcome.
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