COMMENTARY: Savagery, civilization and decay; obesa cantavi

Evander Holyfield, whose ear was once chewed by Mike Tyson in that Bite Fight of June 28, 1997, said Manny Pacquiao had beaten Floyd Mayweather, contrary to the unanimous ruling of the officials who counted.

I guess pag nilaplap ang tenga mo ni Mike Tyson, as happened to Evander, ganyan ang epekto.

But, Holyfield is Kano, and therefore more credible than Ronnie Nathanielzs, Quinito Henson, Mike Ochoa, et al. Pinoys would sound like mothers umpiring their sons in Little League baseball. But, not all. 

Shane Mosley had also Manny winning. He lost to Manny in 2011. I could not judge a fight I had studiously avoided but prayed that neither boxer would get killed or maimed in the unChristian Manly Art of Modified Murder.

I long ago refrained from watching the deadly activity. Some weeks ago, a Pinoy pug, John Vincent Ceralde, killed a boxing foe in Australia, law senior Braydon Smith. There are kinder ways of dispatching men of the law to the Promised Land.

Now Manny says he had a hurt shoulder. Huh? Kawawa naman si Floyd kung natalo ng isang may diperensya na sa balikat , multi-tasker pa, Cong, PBA playing coach, preacher, commercial endorser, TV host, concert singer, Mary Jane Veloso supporter - her plight would affect one's focus - who Manny said he would visit this week. Sana naman.

Focused Floyd said he also had injuries.
Sabog Manny says: "I'm a smart fighter, I outboxed  him."
Floyd said: "I'm just the smarter fighter," who outfoxed Manny.
Smart, of another Manny P, might have been smartest.

If there would a rematch, Manny should be asked to try to have it held here, for another Ali-Frazier classic, and finally Manny would work for the BIR and benefit our people, not the IRS which does not need the dough as badly. I am not aware of any law exempting title fights here from taxes.

With grace, Manny said Floyd "won." PDI, May 4, 2015, p. A29, col. 1, p. A30, col. 4.  Way to go. But, he now sings conspiracy to dump him. Huh? He has to face the music.

Again, it is only Bulletin columnist Mon Abrea who reminds us that Manny "will now have to face his P3.9 billion alleged tax liability . . .", Manila Bulletin, May 4, 2015, p. c4, col. 3, making him our champion  tax evader, if true.

Yup, if Manny must continue to fight, let him invite Floyd to Manila, so BIR chief Kim Henares can earn for our people. Why should the IRS have all the fun and fund?

Claire Danes, in Las Vegas, should come and see the INC Philippine Arena or MOA. In the past, she was harshly critical of Manila as full of roaches, etc. She probably rooted for Floyd against the Pinoy cucaracha, a song linked to the Mexican revolution. La Cucaracha, la cucaracha, ya no puede caminar.

Pero Manny puede caminar.

To Jakarta for Mary Jane and then the House at the Batasan.

Yup, embarrassingly, Manny reportedly now asserts that there was a conspiracy to defeat him. Huh? Then, he must be a principal plotter. Fighting despite a shoulder injury so as not to delay pay day?

Knowing when to leave the stage is as important as knowing when to arrive. The time has come to heed his mother, quit boxing. Aling Dionesia hit Floyd's running, hugging but winning style. But she's the mother. She can say anything.  

As for Ronnie Nathanielzs, all I can say is thanks Ronnie, for interviewing Ninoy Aquino on March 10, 1978, in Face the Nation, when the whole nation stood still to watch. Panelists were Pocholo Romualdez, Manny Salak and Teddy Owen. I did watch intently. Which I never do now as part of a hooting throng in the Roman Colosseum, watching gladiators chanting, "Ave Imperatur, morituri te salutem! We who are about to die, salute you!"

Any "sport" whose intent is to hurt a fellow human being is not legit to this Failed Trying-Hard Christian. So during the fight I studiously avoided, my wish and prayer was for neither to get killed or seriously hurt.

Boxing was outlawed when the Kanos first came under Act No. 557. It is now allowed.

The cycle is supposed to be savagery, civilization and decay.

Manny, grow up. Obesa cantavi. The Fat Lady has sung.

Atty. Rene Saguisag served as senator from 1987 to 1992. He authored the Code of Ethics for Government Officials and Employees. He also loves sports.