The World Boxing Organization (WBO) should be thanked and commended for conducting a review and re-scoring of the Battle of Brisbane of July 2, which led to the dethronement of the legendary Manny Pacquiao as world welterweight champion.
There were hazy points which had to be clarified, and the re-scoring should help put the issue to rest.
Said Dr. Jose Raul Canlas, prominent international sports medicine expert and a top awardee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“Just a thought: You can throw and hit a hundred punches in one round, but that is still one round won.”
You’re right, Sir. That’s the essence of the 10-point must system of scoring applied in professional boxing.
Using that system, the independent panel of WBO saw Horn a winner, 7 rounds against 5.
Of course, it’s quite discomforting that the Games and Amusements Board, which asked the WBO to conduct the re-scoring, still expressed displeasure because the review did not deal with the issue of the controversial officiating by the referee.
Local experts, saying it was impossible to include the referee’s role in the re-scoring, were one in saying the undue demand of the GAB painted a picture of the Filipino fan as a shallow sore loser.
Jeff Horn had himself claimed the re-scoring should put the issue to rest.
At the same time, Horn said he would not hesitate to fight Pacquiao again.
Stated the WBO world welterweight champion: “People are always going to have their opinions and you’re not going to be able to change those. So I guess the only way you’re going to be able to do it is to have a rematch and I think I would do even better a second time.”
Explained Pacquiao: “I love this sport and, until the passion is gone, I will fight for God, my family, my fans and my country.”
Thank you and good luck, Mr. Senator.
(IT’S DONDON FRANCISCO: Sorry for the slip in the last column. The fellow who received a glowing commendation from Mayor Menchie Abalos of Mandaluyong City was Dondon Francisco, over-achieving head of the Mandaluyong City Anti-Smoke Belching Unit (ASBU). He was wrongly identified as Dondon Castillo. Sorry for the mix-up, caused by a fast-dissolving e-mail account. No harm meant. Anyway, to repeat: Dondon Francisco, who’s being groomed to head Barangay Namayan, has been singled out for upgrade of service beyond the expected; other than the apprehension of violators, he has been proactively disseminating educational information on the harmful effects of pollution to different barangays. Good luck, Sir.)