How the boxing world howled in fury

By Pio Garcia, June

“It’s not how you start a fight, it’s how you finish it.”

Those were Timothy Bradley’s words. He’s the new WBO welterweight champ after scoring one of the the biggest upsets in sporting history. An eighth seed reaching the Finals and thumping the top seed who cruised leading up to the matches kind of history. Scratch that, this is THE biggest upset in history. And Bradley’s words, no matter how each and every Filipino hates to swallow it, rings true.

Timothy Bradley bags the biggest victory of his career against Manny Pacquiao. (AP photo)

Before we start lighting up the vitriol, let’s review. Bradley answered the ring of the bell right at the onset. In Filipino terms, bumuhos agad. Manny was caught a bit flat-footed for real, and there he was reeling from that furious Bradley onslaught right up to the third round. Yes, he did decide to hug up as Manny started getting down to work in the last minute and a half of each round but that’s where the problem started. Manny started working EVERY last minute and a half of each round before pulling a LeBron James in rounds 10 to 12. It’s kind of ironic that Pacquiao, being a big Celtics fan, lost the same day his team got crushed by LeBron’s magic in the fourth quarter. Maybe coming out late had an effect? But that’s just conspiracy theorists talking.

Boo Timothy Bradley all you want. It still won’t give back the three rounds Ninong Manny took time off, which was crunchtime. The reason Bradley won was he kept at it even if he was out of gas. He got that second wind in the last three rounds and threw body shots, jabs and hooks to put Manny off and make him look tentative. Well, the fighting congressman did look tentative. He only decided to be aggressive when the bell is almost up to signal the end of a round. If that’s their plan, then that backfired. And badly at that.

While Bradley’s corner was dropping F-bombs every end of the round, Tim was throwing jabs and body blows to look busy. And mind you, he was landing some of it right on the money. He is not a patsy. He was gamely, even if he did a lot of hugging in the middle rounds to stymie the Pastor Pacquiao onslaught. It doesn’t matter at all that he went PBB Teens on Pastor Manny. He fought when it was time to fight, and I may sound like a broken record, those last three rounds were the time to fight. And Pastor Manny decided to pull a LeBron James. Las Vegas favors aggressors. Those judges saw Bradley gamely jabbing, crossing, hooking and even hugging himself to the win. I do not like the decision, but I have to admit, that was on Pastor Manny. He didn’t answer the bell in the first round. It was a feel out round for him and Bradley just took advantage of that and amped up the energy never mind if he will run on fumes up to the 10th round. End of story? I have to say I had it 115-113 for Bradley because he landed clean shots, was active and buckled down to work all throughout the fight. That jab was always there even if he was gassed out.

I’m pretty sure I have riled up each and every Filipino up to this point and I may have added more fuel to the fire. But guys, Pastor Manny really lost. I can’t reiterate it that much. There were a number of times he could’ve gone for the knock out, especially in the fifth and sixth rounds, but decided to hold back. Why? Because Boston lost? Nah. Because he is a God-fearing Christian now? Still nope. I do not know the reason but he just freakingly held back. It was frustrating to watch as an overall sports fan whose job is to write about it. Why the hell would you hold back when Bradley has jelly legs and all and groping the ropes? WHY? It’s like my every reaction when LeBron james decides to pass up a good driving lane for an open teammate’s jumpshot in the waning seconds of a close game. WHY?

And so somewhere in California, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is rolling in his cell, handing out drinks to his mates and high-five-ing anyone close by. There are two ways to look at this. One is, will this be the curtain call for Manny? Or two, will this be motivation for him next time and serve as a reminder that he should regain that fiery old self of his and not the Bible-quoting Pastor wannabe? I would like it very much if it’s the second option. May this serve as a wake up call to our dear Pastor Manny.

I won’t stand up for him if he just lets Mayweather laugh at him after the improbable conquest of Timothy Bradley.

“It’s not how you start the fight, it’s how you finish it.”

Paste those words in your mind. Paste it on your wall.

And lastly, as a champion, here’s what should’ve been done. And paste it alongside the aforementioned words.
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