The thrill at ringside in last Friday’s “Duel in Dubai 2” featuring the heralded Pagara brothers, Albert and Jason, was fluid and genuine among overexcited Filipino spectators.
Here at home, there was a totally different reaction, however, after the presentation by ALA International Promotions was replayed on ABS-CBN channel Sunday morning.
Many home viewers felt the IBF super bantamweight intercontinental championship between the unbeaten Albert Pagara and Mexican Jesus Rios was not a legit title fight.
Pagara disposed of the overweight, ill-prepared Mexican, who showed up bearing a total of seven losses, in only two minutes of the first round.
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“I saw it. We can’t build proper world champions with what they’re doing,” said one veteran Filipino sports editor.
Out in the morning wet market area, the verdict was raw and scathing.
Knowledgeable boxing fans found the hideous mismatch ridiculous, if not downright sickening.
“Basura, harang (It’s trash, a stick-up),” cried tiny and dusky meat cleaver Louie Sanyano, who cut short his morning duty to view the replay.
“I watched it, pinanood ko, a waste of time,” said national cycling legend Jesus Garcia Jr. from Mangaldan, Pangasinan.
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There were also suggestions the fight promoters should offer a public apology, all for the simple fact that the boxers only did their job.
However, as it was not the first time ALA Promotions had been caught in such a messy mismatch, it would help if they reviewed the integrity of their perennial matchmaker; if not look for more competent and honest ones.
They can’t go on winning like this.
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(PH BOYS 2ND IN WORLD TILT: Please share this report by national baseball backer Michael Asuncion in Florida: “A team called Philippines Pioneers ended its winning streak Sunday as it settled for second place behind the SF Knights of South Florida. A dozen 12-year-old baseball players from the Philippines traveled to play ball at the World Baseball Foundation Annual International Baseball Tournament held on Aug. 1 to 9, in Miami, Florida. Opening ceremonies were held last Aug. 2 at the renowned Marlins Stadium where players marched on the field proudly bearing their national flags. The PH team had a bad start with a 0-4 win-loss record, and was seeded 10th out of 11 teams.
Then suddenly, it stunned the crowd when it got its game together, winning three games in a row vs Puerto Rico Marlins (No. 11), vs Pasadena Panthers Elite (No. 1) for the quarterfinals; and vs Mexico Team Citius (No. 4) in the semifinals. The news quickly spread among the teams in Miami. And the Philippines, as an underdog, became the most interesting story in the tournament. The Philippine contingent is composed of coaches Roselito Bernardo and Lucas Natanauan, Luciano Asuncion (Parañaque), Angelo Bernardo (Muntinlupa), Charlie Calvadores (Laguna), JC Cruz (Tanuan City), Joshua Dejuras (Laguna), Angelo Gonzales (Lipa City), Guiseppe Gonzales (Lipa City), Julius Gregorio (Lipa City), Rafael Lucido (Tanauan City), Gabriel Librea (Lipa City), VJ Mangahas (Tanuan City), Sean Salvatierra (Canlubang.)