The Inseparable Other Side of Boxing

This piece regret that we lost one future world boxing champ in Z “The Dream”
Gorres in that he would never see himself fighting in the ring again brought by the brain operation he underwent in US and survived in his last bout.  He should not lost heart though as life still goes on hunting whatever dreams is there left for him this time outside his favorite boxing arena.  For all he knows, grass in Ala Stable or somewhere else might turn out   greener than his old  pasture in the ring. That he’s alive and fast recuperating  from damage inflicted from the brutal sport that is boxing never mind if it means not wearing again boxing gloves and fight, in itself is another feat,  a fitting tribute to his heart of a champion that doesn’t give up no matter what and where the  fight is – whether in boxing arena or in hospital.

Which reminds me of the sports that is boxing, a name actually we could consider a misnomer. Why not when its real purpose actually is to inflict damage  on the brain. Brain damage, that’s it and what else. Let’s admit that winning by knocking out your opponent is the end result of the sport.  But that is actually what ensued when your brain is damaged thus; resulting to a knockout whatever. Dr. William Henry Scott, an Episcopalian missionary and scholar and my mentor back then in St. Andrew’s Theological Seminary clarified that.  There’s no debate on this which brings us sad reality of the sports.

I submit that like “The Dream” Z Gorres we too have our own dreams of any kind. Be it in music, sports, career or even finding soulmate.  But not all of us ended as champion leaving somewhere our dreams. God definitely give us the talent when he created us each one according to his needs.  But with a prize, opening that package and polishing  them for good or they  would remained unruffled diamonds of no use. There lies the difference as we didn’t enhanced the trade let alone, returned them back to God repackaged. Successful people in the words of Og Mandino became rightly so because of the excellence and character they imprint on their product explaining why one became a good writer, musician or an athlete.

Those who lose their heart and failed achieving their dreams  identified  their dreams with the best in their trade.  Thus, the country’s implacable adulation for Manny Pacquiao, a tall order for the Pacman carrying out in his shoulder the collective dream of all Filipinos reason why he’s so religious in practice to give the best shot everytime he climbs the ring.  The rest were not that successful – Pretty Boy Lucas, past boxing champion, Rolando Navarette and nameless others nga nagdakupay na lang tawon langaw sa dalan, I was told. The long notwithstanding  excellent pugilistic exploits  of Flash Elorde is believed to have affected too his health that took its toll later in his body. Who could forget too how Ken Norton broke the jaw of Muhammad Ali that probably affected his reflexes then and now.

If death is the bride of each military in the field, then it’s not farfetched idea that brain damage too is the willing inseparable bride of boxing.  It is hoped therefore that Manny Paquiao should better reconsider now  his plan whether retiring from the brutal sport of boxing  or further extend his lofty pound for pound best billing by meeting Floyd Mayweather.  Coach Freddie Roach’s word that Joshua Clottey should be his last, I hope  would be prophetic as in the past so we could save  Manny’s mortality.  True, he is also a human being as Joshua affirms implying possible upset but win or loss I hope the Pacman would weigh the best choice and awakened now that he’s top of his career.  That the best time for his exploits in the ring has probably register its toll on that greatest boxer ever lived that is Manny, I hope is nil. That’s the least I could imagine. But I hope it’s not really that serious as Clottey tells  that Manny is also a human being..