A Pinoy tragedy for the Pope to read

TIM Bradley didn’t have to beg for it. He got rewarded with another controversial victory inside the boxing ring, which he also used as a bicycle track to escape punishment.

There were crying boos at ringside when Bradley was declared winner by unanimous decision.

Out in our city market the morning after, not a single voice agreed with the decision.

It was a very vague victory that begged for urgent clarification.

* * *

At least, it was not as insane as that shameless robbery scored by Bradley against Manny Pacquiao last June.

This time, Bradley flashed some sharp combinations.

He did engage in periods of colorful combat but, on the whole, his stand was dominated by classy evasiveness.

He barely survived.

* * *

His unheralded foe, Rualan Provodnikov, displayed enviable combativeness.

He waged war like a born champion.

He pushed the fight hard.

He wrestled the bull by the horn, so to say, winking off punches by the skin of his teeth.

He was a whole warrior that refused to take a step back.

He stared death in the eye, scored the bigger blows and shook Bradley several times before putting him down.

* * *

The judges, including the limp lead broadcaster (whoever he may be) would have nothing of Provodnikov’s hitherto-unannounced heroics.

They rewarded Bradley with a dubious decision for successfully skirting the issue.

Maybe they also penalized the challenger for failing to finish off his badly beaten foe?

At least, this time out, the robbery was not as dreadful as the one perpetrated by the judges against Pacquiao last June.

In fact, Bradley himself complimented his masterful mauler and called Provodnikov the real deal who hit a lot harder than Pacquiao.

* * *

“I scored 114-112 for Provodnikov,” says international boxing correspondent Anthony Andales.

The keen-eyed Cebu-born aeronautics engineer now based in South Carolina was also the first one to break the news on the new Pope to this reporter.

He also reported the UP school-tuition tragedy before it swept through Metro Manila on Friday.

Said his early text message: “UP student killed herself because she could not pay her tuition. Promisory notes turned down, her mom knelt before the UP Manila chancellor and begged to no avail. The girl, 16, drank silver cleaner and died. Sorry I am the one to tell you this one.”

* * *

Anyway, contacted next, the philanthropic physician Jim Sanchez gave the name of the sadistic chancellor. “What a waste of life. There are many talented ones who lack the heart. I still believe these poor people should be taught in order for them to be helped. (Kailangan marami ang ating maturuan, upang marami ang matulungan).”

Please contact Dr. Jim at +63918-9377415 for assistance.

It’s a good many unholy miles from Manila to the Vatican, but it’s a big wonder why the Catholic Church, with all its riches, has not bothered to provide a hotline for the truly needy among us.

This is the same case with our national government that has remained at a loss, not only on how to fight poverty, but on how to provide immediate assistance to desperate families, like that of the girl who took her life over a problem of unpaid tuition.

Maybe Pope Francis should ask them to act right now, before it’s too late again.