LAS VEGAS – The odyssey of foibles and fallibility starts from the time they were lightweights, who labored in the anonymity of boxing vineyard — from the greatest names in the pugilistic arena, to the backyard of fighters who once were light as a cucumber in their salad years, to old ages credential couriers.
Boxing is a brutal, abominable game, the human beast hitting itself. Yet as much as you reject or condemn it, boxing always excites in the end. When you’re there at the ringside, you get more and more excited, until you find yourself caught up in it, taking part, urging them on.
There’s a tremendous fascination in boxing. It lasts only some few minutes and afterwards, you’re ashamed that you let go!
We should have known that the champ north of 40 would trade in his gloves to focus on being a senator. But he stood across from a dismantled Thurman, in a way that defies logic. The world awaits, and saw his amazing longevity.
The weigh in was one of the sports most dramatic pre-fight events. Four hours before, the line to see it snaked down hallways, past stores, a quarter mile of humanity. The reward is to be able to watch Pacquiao, Thurman and some other men stand on a scale in their underwear. On my ringside seat, it left nothing to the imagination.
The Pacquiao victory
It is old news. But it was all there. The night sang. There were more reasons for Filipino pride when fans swarmed to get a look at the flexed, sculpted physique of this hero, defending his crown once more.
Pacquiao, who is capable of punching with both hands, stood on the left of a middleweight which proved ablest to inflict relentless punishment against skilled warriors. One by one, boxing greats dropped to their knees before Manny — Barerra, Marquez, Morales, Solis, Diaz. Didn’t he dismantle De la Hoya into humiliation? Reduced Diaz’s handsome face to a bloody pulp? Hatton, the pride of England, was left out cold in round 2 before his head hit the canvas. Cotto’s pretty face swelled up like a pumpkin.
Nothing prepared me for last Saturday, July 20. Everything collided for attention: the flashing lights — racing on and off, bizarre and beautiful, glittering and blinding. They were meant to confuse you, to make you think that there is no time in this city, no night or day in the future.
It gave one a distinctly heady feeling of being on stage, or a carnival, or being part of a pageant – it’s flamboyance and extraordinary vigor, a world apart so vibrantly decadent.
The interview
Mylah De Leon (MDL): Senator, what I’m going to ask you is no less serious. It concerns the possibility that one day you may govern the country. The possibility that you might become president of the Philippines. May I speak about it?
Sen. Manny Pacquiao (SMP): Yes.
MDL: Good. Until today you have never wanted to speak of it.
SMP: No
MDL: You have always avoided the question as if it implied shame, you ignored it. Why?
SMP: Because, I wanted to become senator not president. Because I wanted to concentrate my energies in the field that interested me at that time, just to work on that, the Senate. At the present time, I am not working in the field of the presidency. At present, becoming president is not the problem that concerns me. That field, that problem, is beyond my immediate programs. Far beyond, in the future. The present is the senate. The future is the future. The future will take care of itself.
MDL: Certainly…you are very, very, young senator.
SMP: Yes.
MDL: (You have) All the time to become president.
SMP: Thank you.
MDL: And when your term as senator comes to an end, what will you do then?
SMP: I shall run again for reelection as senator. There is no doubt of it.
MDL: The election for the presidency of the Philippines is in 2022. A senator can stand, can he not, for the presidency of the Philippines?
SMP: Yes, certainly. Certainly a senator can stand for the presidency of the Philippines. Naturally!
MDL: Well, senator, in our country too, there are those who think that one day you’ll be president of the Philippines.
SMP: Thank you. Yes, thank you.
MDL: You’ve been asked this before senator, did you expect this success?
SMP: I hoped for it. When you trust completely in God, and you’re sure you do well in your job and share that success. So what does it mean that now? I am successful, (but) there are so many degrees of success. (Ending the conversation) Well, I’ll see you at the Bible study tonight. Stay healthy and be blessed Mrs. De Leon.
MDL: Of course, senator, thank you.
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E-mail Mylah at [email protected].
