Honest victories must be kept simple and pure. On the other hand, ugly defeats in whatever form need not be played back.
Like the shameful multiple fall suffered by the boastful Chris Algieri against Manny Pacquiao in Macau last month.
The least heard about it, the better, if they’re to pursue growing demands for a makeover of boxing.
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But listen again, here: “I did not look like myself. I want to get back in there and show who I am. I am super hungry.”
Yes, that was Algieri, again sounding like the bravest, sharpest ring warrior in the world as haughtily packaged by Top Rank Inc. top man Bob Arum.
Algieri continued: “I am smarter now. Pacquiao is a great fighter. It was a great new experience. I know better now. You can’t learn to handle it ‘till you’ve been there and done it.”
Algieri also said they’ll be needing a bigger venue when he returns in 2015.
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OK, but how sure are we that Algieri has properly moved up from the floor and is properly propped to erase the puppet image he presented of himself last time?
What’s making him claim he has acquired a noble warrior’s heart after having embarrassed his countrymen in Macau last November?
A bigger venue, but how sure is he that people would again bother to be fooled by greedy promoters and shameless drumbeaters?
Algieri must first show the world he’s able to fight inside a phone booth.
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Meanwhile, from out there in Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather Jr. continued his aimless, cowardly tirade against Manny Pacquiao.
The unbeaten American world champion sent the boxing world jumping on its feet last week by challenging Pacquiao to a fight on May 2.
But once challenged to start serious negotiations, Mayweather countered with cheap clown’s antics in a frantic bid to avoid a meeting with Pacquiao.
Somewhere not too far from Mayweather’s hideaway, World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman formally announced they would be introducing reforms in order to reshape the image of boxing.
Just fine, but truth is after gaining the label red-light district of sports, boxing has now also turned into a town teeming with clowns and puppets, no thanks to the likes of Algieri and Mayweather.
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(CELEBRATING: Manny Pacquiao celebrated his 36th birthday on Wednesday by teaming up with two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano to enter the Round of 16 in the rich MP Cup 10-Ball doubles championship in General Santos City… Out in Mangaldan, Pangasinan cycling hero Jesus Garcia Jr., a two-time national tour winner, marks his 69th birthday with a simple beer-and-bangus inihaw party in his tree-lined frontyard today. Mabuhay!)