Even without any boxing title to be put at stake by either boxer in the “dream match” between American-Mexican Oscar De La Hoya and Filipino idol Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 6, speculations as to how the fight will go and end already runs high in the Philippines. Instead, what will be at stake are their respective titles or honors as pay-per-view or PPV king and as world’s best pound-for-pound fighter. But what is most surprising was the concern voiced out by a Philippine solon who asked the office of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), the country’s governing body that oversees professional sports to cancel Pacquiao’s boxing license to ensure that the multi-million dollar fight will be called off by citing Pacquiao’s safety. As reported, the head of GAB reminded Pacquiao in a letter “to think, rethink and rethink…” about the danger he faces in this fight by considering the big disparity in their physical build and weight and the possibility that he might be hurt in the process. But another high-ranking government official who looks at the fight from a different view supports Pacquiao reasoning out that it is not the difference in the size of the fighters that matters most, but in the size of Pacquiao’s heart. In short, having already sealed the fight and dead serious in his training, Pacquiao is hell-bent of going on with the fight no matter how people back home fear him of losing. That’s because he’s got a really big, big heart and this writer agrees.

Raising concerns in fights of this magnitude where fighters have big disparities in size, age or experience is not new to boxing anymore. In 1963, while Cassius Clay was still an upcoming young heavyweight contender, he kept insisting of challenging then world champion Sonny Liston for his title to the opposition of many fans citing his safety. At that time, Clay who later changed his name to “Muhammad Ali” was still a very young fighter at 22, cocky and with a very bright future. An Olympic champion gifted with fast hands and feet, he believed so that he can beat Liston who was an ex-convict having spent some time in prison before turning to boxing. With most of his fights having been won by knockouts, Liston was already old but still feared by many heavyweights. Not Clay. Such that when their fight was scheduled, many fans opposed it fearing Liston was just too much for him and were concerned of his future and safety. So much so that before their fight was to take place in February 1964, Clay was installed an 8 to 1 underdog with only a handful believing he can win. However, Clay was unfazed by the odds and even stood by his prophetic prediction he will knock out Liston in the eighth. And he was very right when Liston quit in the 7th round. A sport writer who undermined so much Clay’s superb boxing skills then even had the courage to suggest a cruel joke by writing that, “They better clear the route from the venue to the nearest hospital where they will bring Clay after the fight.” As it turned out, it was Liston who was brought to the hospital instead.

Again, while still aspiring to reclaim one more time the world title in 1974, Ali was given the chance to challenge then world champion George Foreman. Just like in 1964, this time many fans again were concerned of his safety. Despite having showed since his comeback that his superior boxing prowess and superb speed were still intact and that he was still a serious contender to the heavyweight crown, so-called boxing “experts” did not give him a chance, even a slim chance against Foreman. From all accounts of the boxers, however, they have every reason to be apprehensive. And why not?

Prior to fighting Ali, Foreman has amassed an unblemished record not seen before in boxing. Of 39 fights, he won all fights by KOs with only three opponents going the distance with him. In his last three fights, he won all in just a total of six rounds that included 2-round KO wins each against Joe Frazier from whom he wrested the world title, and two title defenses against Joe “King” Roman and Ken Norton. If just knowing his KO record won’t cause one to be awed, perhaps watching Foreman fight on tv will. Such that when paired against Ali who has slowed down and already suffered two losses in his career, one Ali fan went on to beg that the fight be called off.

Howard Cosell, a popular television sportscaster who used to host Ali in many television shows with both poking fun at each other every time, was the most vocal of the many fans concerned of the outcome of the match-up. Reasoning out that Ali was already too old at 32 to be fighting Foreman who at the time was just 25, was really worried of what Foreman will do to Ali in the ring. With powerful and devastating punches that sent many fighters to dreamland every time, Foreman was just too much and powerful for Ali to take, Cosell stressed further. He saw the same fate will happen to Ali just like to others if the fight is not stopped. And so, appealing to the organizers to call off the Rumble in the Jungle fight with both fighters getting $5M each and with the fight to be staged in Kinshasa, Zaire, Cosell did not get what he wanted. Unable to sway the organizers to heed him, he talked directly to Foreman. Begging Foreman not to hurt Ali so much in their fight and with Foreman thinking and believing too that he was really that good in Cosell’s eyes dumbly nodded to Cosell’s pleading to the amusement and ridicules of Ali. As history now tells us, Ali showed they were all wrong. So, just like in Pacquiao’s fight now, many are worried too of what may come out. Not to this writer.

To be continued...

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