Boxing and Binay’s bravado

The political fisticuffs have ceased temporarily—pushed to the sidelines by confusing news that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has sent word he would finally fight Manny Pacquiao on May 2.

Depending on Floyd’s fancy, his much-anticipated face-off with the Filipino ring icon could be a go or a no-go.

But the matchup of Vice President Jejomar Binay vs Senators Antonio Trillanes and Alan Peter Cayetano has gone on forever and is sure to resume after an undeclared Yuletide truce.

So far, Binay’s battle with his fierce critics in the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee—has been a complete, absolute mismatch, like Pacquiao’s last laughable assignment against the star-crossed Chris Algieri

The recent fight in Macau was about how Pacquiao cut down Algieri and his boast to retire a legend. But the real story was about Tim Lane, the American fighter’s trainer who kept ducking the truth.

Lane’s word after each round to his fighter, who refused to engage Pacquiao, was bizarre.

He kept telling Algieri they were exactly where they need to be, although everyone watching the fight was witnessing how his boxer was being mauled big time.

After six knockdowns at the hands of Pacquiao, Algieri absorbed an ignominious defeat, and may have forfeited all chances of performing in boxing’s world stage again.

The contest at home is also a bad fit for the Veep against his Senate adversaries. A boxing spin comes easy because there are bungling seconds in Binay’s corner.

Like Algieri in Macau, Binay has failed to engage and is being pummeled by blows about alleged corruption during his term as mayor of Makati. His refusal to appear before the sub-committee to confront his accusers has turned his political world upside down.

Binay, known for his bravado, has been upfront about wearing the championship belt, about his desire to become president, a goal that could be slipping away slowly.

His voter performance ratings are diving and his performance and trust ratings are kissing the canvas.

And yet, all we see is swagger from his mouthpieces; all we hear is that they are exactly where they need to be.

Binay’s ratings will continue to drop, warns Ed Malay, who was public relations adviser to a President of the republic. Edgar says it is obvious there are Tim Lanes roaming Binay’s camp.

“I’ve been commenting … that he needs to replace his public relations group,” said Edgar. “Ayaw makinig. (He won’t listen).

“2015 will bring new possibilities,” said Edgar, who dabbled in sports writing after his broadcast career.

Did he mean more ratings slips in the New Year once Binay’s alleged corrupt ways reach the masses?