World Cup Of Boxing Might Usher New Era In Boxing
Written by Major Tom
Filed under: Sports
August 12, 2007
Festi-val \Fes”ti-val\, n. A time of feasting or celebration; an anniversary day of joy, civil or religious.
Slugfest\ S-lug-fest\, n. a lot of boxing—may mean bloodshed.
It is definitely a slugfest—this boxing event that would come to local television this morning care of ABS-CBN. The World Cup of Boxing featuring six Filipino boxers pitted against six Mexican boxers could prove to be as rambunctious as a karaoke bar melee and could possibly be as vicious. This boxing event is a first of some sort for we’ve never heard about any world cup competition in professional boxing, pitting a nation against one. This might be history in the making for certain and it is unprecedented to be sure. In yesterday’s weigh-in, Filipino and Mexican supporters came in droves with placards and banners. The atmosphere was so vibrant that you thought Brazil was going up against Germany in a soccer world cup competition.
Despite that in actuality this World Cup of Boxing is basically a title fight between nimble Filipino Upstart Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista against Mexican champ and stalwart Daniel Ponce De Leon, it is wholly novelty as a sports event.
On the one hand, the decision to make this a Philippine against Mexico boxing competition (instead of Bautista versus Ponce De Leon title match) may understate its title fight importance for certainly, we’ve never heard of any world cup in boxing; unlike in football or tennis. It feels half the time like a WWF wrestling special event where fights are phony and often ridiculous. This made me wish that the organizers have toned down the “world cup” angle and focused on Bautista’s most difficult challenge to date, in light of his stature as a possible mainman and national hero like Manny Pacquiao.
This should be a Bautista-Ponce De Leon title match basically and a sprinkling of undercards that happens to all involved Filipinos and Mexicans in either side.
Be it as it may seem—the organizers of this eponymous World Cup of Boxing are perhaps intrigued by the idea of creating another interesting idea about professional boxing, about finding our what country is the best in the sports of boxing today. This particular time, it is whether Philippines can be a better boxing nation than Mexico. Perhaps USA and Cuba would jump in and join the fray later on and decide to be called as the best boxing nation of all. Thailand would surely be thinking of this if Philippines or Mexico boasts of boxing supremacy when the dusts are cleared after this World Cup of Boxing event in Sacramento, California. The fact that this event is being held in Sacramento poses some credence to this one-of-a-kind competition plus the $500,000 grand prize that goes for the team winner—plus the “cup” of course. And the whole world might be watching with extreme eagerness.
Could this spur a new era and form of competition in boxing? It is too early to tell. Would the Philippines come up with more wins out of the six matches? I do hope so.
as it turned out, it was good that they did not tone down the world cup angle. the main event was over too soon.
Comment by the caterpillar — August 12, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
So, who won? Sorry, I have to ask. I didn’t watch.
Comment by ipanema — August 12, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
To caterpillar: That was really sad considering that it was the Bautista fight that mattered the most. Somehow, I felt the overall win as a little bit phony but hey, the Penalosa win was a good win since it was a title fight.
Comment by Major Tom — August 12, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
To ipanema: The Philippines won with 5 wins as againts 1 loss. However, Filipino boxing fans was so dismayed by the ugly loss of Bautista to De Leon in the main title fight, losing like he had no chance at all, even in the future.
Maybe at 22, Boom Boom is much too young to fight heavy contenders in main venues in America. When Manny Pacquiao was as young, he was plying the low routes, fighting Asian rivals before entering the main stage against very tough fighters in the world.
It was happy but sad—this boxing event for the Philippines.
Comment by Major Tom — August 12, 2007 @ 10:29 pm
congratulations to our team!
but bautista faile dto bring home the belt. i do hope he recovers from this. any great fighter, somehow has to lose to prove its worth.
Comment by intsik — August 13, 2007 @ 6:50 am
To intsik: Well said bro. Boom Boom is still so young. if one looks at his general body make-up, he is just a little boy brawling with so grown up men. Psychologically, he is still raw despite that he has that great boxing prowess.
Experience is a great boxing tutor.
Comment by Major Tom — August 13, 2007 @ 8:28 am
It was a 5-1 win for the Pinoys.
I watched the 2 title fights on cable Sat night. Penalosa was trailing on points when he unleased a wicked body shot to the kidney that felled Gonzales in the 7th. Gonzales had to lose a lot of weight to make the limit and the body proved to be his Achilles heel. It was a come from behind win but sweet nontheless. Penalosa once more holds the world bantamweight championship ( WBO). One wonders where Penalosa is headed at 35 years but he looks quite motivated and still packs a punch.
Rey Bautista was a little unlucky as he went down in the first round to deLeon. I hope this does not deter Bautista who is only 21 years to pick up the pieces and move on. It was his first and only loss in his young and but magnificent career.
Comment by bw — August 13, 2007 @ 10:12 am
To BWE: Oh yes, that right hook to the body by Penalosa was said by a commentator to be a punch that came “all the way from heaven” and landed on the opponent’s weakest point.
Comment by Major Tom — August 13, 2007 @ 11:37 am
in the boxing forums i visited, people put their bets on mexico for the boxing world cup, at least 4-2. so i’m thinking a 5-1 run in favor the philippines is already an upset.
i wanted penalosa to win. i did not expect him to win… especially after seeing him merely sparring with his opponent in the first 6 rounds. still, i wanted him to win… and he won with that one well-delivered punch.
boomboom has got a lot to learn. he kept his face too open for ponce de leon’s punches.
ponce de leon was way too hyped up… this + the 5 wins already in the bag must have effectively contributed to the pressure boomboom had to deal with and he buckled.
Comment by the caterpillar — August 13, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
To caterpillar: Like Ponce de leon let of steam with the seeming shut out and became more furious than ever. They say in a very tight situation, the individual does what he could not do under normal circumstances.
That’s what I see also, Boom Boom is just much too young. He needs more experience.
Comment by Major Tom — August 13, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Boom boom is still young. He still have plenty of fighting years ahead. But I don’t like the idea that the promise to pave the road leading to their baranggay in Candijay, Bohol, would be shelved because of his failure to win his fight. Crazy politicos!
Comment by lazarus — August 14, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
I would like to think Major Tom, that Penalosa’s punch came all the way from hell.. hehe
Now those Bohol politicans who behave like cry babies are the real losers
Comment by bw — August 14, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
I am so happy that almost all of our boxers won won. Bautista lost but we were still able to take home the trophy. This success will raise the recognition of Philippine boxing as one of the best in the world. I hope this success will continue.
Comment by Joem — August 15, 2007 @ 5:29 am
the slugfest is a real feast. i want to see thailand or u.s. challenging the title of the philippines in 2008. and cheers to our pinoy champs!
Comment by badoodles — August 15, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
What an honor these guys gave Pinas!
I hope that Bautista clinch his major victory in the very near future.
Comment by eric — August 15, 2007 @ 10:00 pm