A death in the ring

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The saddening news came out in the national media yesterday about the death of a young Filipino boxer after he was knocked out in the fourth round of his bout against an older, more experienced opponent in Thailand.

Joselito Sisnorio, 24, had gotten up after his fall and was reportedly about to have dinner when he collapsed. Emergency surgency on his brain, where a blood clot had formed, was unsuccessful. He died shortly after.

The tragic death of Sisnorio comes at a time when the country is still glowing with the spectacular successes of the people's favorite pugilist, Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, affectionately called the Pacman, over some of Mexico's most fearsome fighters. It has rudely awakened local boxing fans to the reality that the sport could be a deadly one where one unfortunate blow could spell disability or death to the participant.

The case of Lito Sisnorio also calls attention to the fact that some of our boxers, whether because of lack of education or because of need, rush into bouts where they hope to earn some money without going through the proper training or orientation on how to scientifically defend themselves, or how to choose their adversaries.

Sisnorio was later discovered to have no license for entering into a fight outside the country and whoever had recruited him must have done some sleight-of-hand trick to bring him out. Also, the matching was obviously not proper, with the Filipino only 24 years old, being pitted against the Thai, who was already 37, with a record of fights and lots of experience in the ring.

We have always maintained that boxing, exciting though it may be, is a barbaric sport which, however, continues to be highly popular among Asians, more so in our country. But if we have to excel in it, we must also put in place laws and regulations that will ensure that our boxers do not go into the ring with inadequate preparation to literally be slain by their opponents.*