Mexico’s Margarito must save himself

SWIFT AND savage, it will be fast and furious, like a cockfight.
This was the reply to the main birthday guest, writer Edgardo Reyes (Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag), when the celebrated author asked about the chances of Antonio Margarito against super slasher Manny Pacquiao.
“Parang sabong ’yan, salpukan agad (Like a derby main event, they will promptly clash)” the aspirant analyst explained.
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The truth, added the straying boxing eye, is that Margarito happens to be a notoriously open target (“Tatamaan maski hindi asintahin”). He easily forgets defense and often leaves this in his dugout.
Reyes retorted: “This must be the reason behind the awful odds against Margarito, he practically stands no chance.
He can try, of course.
How in the world can he do that?
He can snap out of his old predictable self.
That’s not very easy.
Yes, indeed, it could be next to impossible.
So what’s the best thing to try?
He must avoid being sucked into Pacquiao’s tidal-wave attack.
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This dialogue took place on Tuesday, during the birthday bash of multi-awarded poet-novelist Ave Perez Jacob at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila, where the pride of Bulacan teaches life and literature.
With poet Rogelio Ordoñez, revolutionary nationalist from Cavite, also in attendance, the session, over San Miguel Light, exquisite Torres Brandy, fruits and assorted goodies from the sea, predictably simmered into a stinging commentary on national politics, the confused Aquino presidency mainly, while the Pacquiao-Margarito bout continued to serve as intermittent appetizer.
Let it be honestly reported that there was a hefty serving of rebuffs on Noynoy Aquino and what Ordoñez called his capitalist (cacique) ways.
Toward the evening windup, the Free PUP Band, headed by Prof. Sixer Sitjar, rendered a moving protest song.
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You see, it took Ferdinand Marcos several evil years before he drew a raging national ire that soon exploded into marches and protest songs.
It may indeed be too early, but we print here lines rendered by the Free PUP Band, in a sharp dig at the young Aquino regime:
“Kailan ba tatapusin ang panlalamang?/ Sa daigdig ng mga tao’ng may inaasam?/At kung lagi bang ganyan ang kanilang patakaran/Tapusin at putulin… Simulan ang laban!”
Loosely translated, it’s a call on the masses that continued to be cheated and exploited to rise and put an end to capitalist oppression.
“Tama na at sobra na/ Ganid na kapitalista/ Putulin at sirain/ Ang bulok na sistema.”
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Meanwhile, it was reported that, on Monday, President Aquino used Facebook to answer a supporter-turned-critic who posted a fiery article entitled “Mr. President, something in you has to die.”
The letter, from Reyn Barnido, which hit Aquino for bungling the hostage-taking crisis and the inefficiency of his Cabinet, was also a clear call to save Aquino from himself.
So, going back to boxing, is there a way Margarito can save himself from Pacquiao’s  overpowering fury when the bell rings?
“He (Margarito) must refuse to be stunned and swept by Pacquiao’s explosiveness,” Edgardo Reyes was told.
Is that possible?
“Well, Margarito must use his longer reach (six inches) and counterpunch; he also has a fabulous uppercut.”
But can you teach an old dog new tricks, Reyes asked?
“He must try. After all, Pacquiao doesn’t happen to be the greatest defender in the world.”
All told, it’s a reminder for Margarito that, as there’s no choice but cross a savage street, he must lean on patience and humility to avoid an instant slugout.
Otherwise he’d end up running across the busy killer road blind.