Manny needs help to focus

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 (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

After the joyful celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ yesterday, Filipinos will have another cause for rejoicing today when the new World Super-featherweight Champion, Manny Pacquiao, is expected to arrive in Manila. Pacquiao, as everyone knows, had wrested the championship belt from Juan Manuel Marquez, the Mexican boxing great, who had vowed to redeem his country’s honor at the boxing ring by beating the Filipino contender whom his countrymen had named “The Mexican Assassin”.

This was after Manny Pacquiao and several other Filipino boxers had trounced their Mexican opponents, proving their superiority in the divisions of the sport that was once dominated by Mexicans. The bout on March 15 supposed to settle the question of which country had the best boxers, and, with his victory, our Manny Pacquiao proved which.

But let us not be lulled into complacency by Manny’s victory, as declared by the judges in that last fight. As anyone could see, it was no walk in the park for either boxer. Both took blows and suffered injuries during it that will take some time to heal. Both challenger and defending champion received ugly cuts in the course of the fight and, even if our loyalty goes to Pacquiao, we must admit that Marquez is a no mean fighter and that Pacquiao had beaten him by a very slim margin. As his own trainer, Freddie Roach, candidly admitted, “It could have gone either way”.

That is why the friends of Manny Pacquiao, especially those who have something to do with his maintenance and training, should give him the best advice, especially with regards to his training and concentration. If we are to go on holding that championship honor for long, we should help see to it that our champion gets the right advice in the manner in which he handles, both this career and his money. The months before his last fight were full of distractions and delays which could have affected our fighter’s chances. While his “cramming” sessions enabled him to make it this time, will it do for the next one, too?

With the pride and honor he has brought our country, Manny Pacquiao and his trophies are our treasures. Let us do what we can to help see to it that they continue to be so, we see so few of them so rarely these days.*