Now or Never
Bleacher Talk
Feb. 3, 2008
Now or Never
It couldn’t have been more appropriate. “Now or never” indeed is the situation in which so many boxers find themselves these days, and we’re not talking about only Z Gorres who is hours away from facing Vic Darchinyan as I write this piece.
When you say now or never in boxing, we’re talking about all our favorite boxers who find themselves neither here nor there. They’ve reached so far yet they always fall short of that elusive dream of a world championship. And thus, their real chances of winning a world championship skews towards the “never” side of life.
At Friday’s weigh-in for ‘Now or Never,” I bumped into former world flyweight champ Malcolm Tuñacao, a classic case of the now or never syndrome who refuses to say “never.” When I asked about his plans for the future, he said he will still go on fighting and would go back to the gym starting tomorrow. If he shows up at the ALA Gym like he said, then I hope that’s a good sign of better things to come. We all followed his career, highlighted by his quick rise to the top and his equally quick slide downwards to obscurity. He has had an up and down career that includes a world flyweight championship, an OPBF bantamweight belt and years of being ranked among the top contenders of the boxing bodies. But where is he now? Where has all this talent led?
This brings to my mind Yuka Gejon and Rodel Mayol. Long touted to be among the country’s best miniflyweights, where are they now? They’ve been overtaken by the likes of IBF champion Florante Condes and WBO champion Donnie Nietes, and don’t seem to know where they’re headed in their careers. The latest update is that both are now back in the gym and are attempting to make another comeback but this time under the yes of different managers and gyms. Among the other boxers who belong to this list include Randy Suico, Rev Santillan, Bert Batawang, and in a certain way the likes of Rocky Fuentes and Rollen del Castillo. They’re good boxers but may have what it takes to become world champions. And this is a reality that we all have to face. In Santillan’s case, he’s most likely resigned to the fact that his talent will take him only as far as the Asia-Pacific region, and so he’ll earn as much as he can with every defense of his OPBF welterweight championship.
The toughest part about this is that one will have to accept that their realistic chances of winning a world championship are no longer as high as what was expected of them before. Reality and common sense will hit them straight in the eyes and lead them to finally accept that they’ll have to settle for being known as a top 10 boxer who never won a championship.
It’s like being a Karl Malone or a John Stockton. So many all star seasons and superstar treatment, but never an NBA ring. Add to this list the likes of Patrick Ewing, Yao Ming, T-Mac and the list goes on and on. They’ll always be recognized to be among the best in their sport who’ll end their careers without an NBA championship. Somehow, you can already see the smiles on the likes of John Paxon, Steve Kerr, Scott Williams, John Salley, and James Edwards. I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t know them. But they’ve got a common thing that the likes of Malone et. al. don’t have: a championship ring.
I really hate to say this but his also proves that talent and skill may not be the only pre-requisites to winning a world championship. For the likes of Paxon, Kerr and company, call it a case of luck, timing and for simply being at the right place at the right time. For others, call it the “breaks” of the game. Harsh but so true!
As you read this, you’ll already know if Gorres will be another “victim” of this now or never phenomenon. If he’s in the “now’ category, that means he did a great job of being the technical boxer that he is. He used his jab-jab-straight combinations to keep Darchinyan at bay and ran away from trouble each time the Raging Bull came close. Moreover, he would’ve spotted those many opportunities to land the left straight or cross every time Darchinyan keeps his right hand low. With Gorres slipping to his left, he’ll see that wide open chin that Nonito Donaire also pulverized. Gorres would’ve given his fans a demo on the definition of term “footwork” while also landing punches as he skirts away from trouble.
On the other hand, it might be a “never” for Gorres if he made the same simple mental lapse that he committed in the Montiel fight. I just hope that he didn’t suddenly forget that he had excellent speed and the quicker legs to run around the raging bull. Darchinyan’s only shot at winning was through a knock-out since he doesn’t have the skills of Gorres. But then again, I could be wrong.
Now or never indeed.
**
Time-out: Belated happy birthday to Sir Dodong Gullas! >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com or 0923-342-8193 (for SunCell subscribers).
Feb. 3, 2008
Now or Never
It couldn’t have been more appropriate. “Now or never” indeed is the situation in which so many boxers find themselves these days, and we’re not talking about only Z Gorres who is hours away from facing Vic Darchinyan as I write this piece.
When you say now or never in boxing, we’re talking about all our favorite boxers who find themselves neither here nor there. They’ve reached so far yet they always fall short of that elusive dream of a world championship. And thus, their real chances of winning a world championship skews towards the “never” side of life.
At Friday’s weigh-in for ‘Now or Never,” I bumped into former world flyweight champ Malcolm Tuñacao, a classic case of the now or never syndrome who refuses to say “never.” When I asked about his plans for the future, he said he will still go on fighting and would go back to the gym starting tomorrow. If he shows up at the ALA Gym like he said, then I hope that’s a good sign of better things to come. We all followed his career, highlighted by his quick rise to the top and his equally quick slide downwards to obscurity. He has had an up and down career that includes a world flyweight championship, an OPBF bantamweight belt and years of being ranked among the top contenders of the boxing bodies. But where is he now? Where has all this talent led?
This brings to my mind Yuka Gejon and Rodel Mayol. Long touted to be among the country’s best miniflyweights, where are they now? They’ve been overtaken by the likes of IBF champion Florante Condes and WBO champion Donnie Nietes, and don’t seem to know where they’re headed in their careers. The latest update is that both are now back in the gym and are attempting to make another comeback but this time under the yes of different managers and gyms. Among the other boxers who belong to this list include Randy Suico, Rev Santillan, Bert Batawang, and in a certain way the likes of Rocky Fuentes and Rollen del Castillo. They’re good boxers but may have what it takes to become world champions. And this is a reality that we all have to face. In Santillan’s case, he’s most likely resigned to the fact that his talent will take him only as far as the Asia-Pacific region, and so he’ll earn as much as he can with every defense of his OPBF welterweight championship.
The toughest part about this is that one will have to accept that their realistic chances of winning a world championship are no longer as high as what was expected of them before. Reality and common sense will hit them straight in the eyes and lead them to finally accept that they’ll have to settle for being known as a top 10 boxer who never won a championship.
It’s like being a Karl Malone or a John Stockton. So many all star seasons and superstar treatment, but never an NBA ring. Add to this list the likes of Patrick Ewing, Yao Ming, T-Mac and the list goes on and on. They’ll always be recognized to be among the best in their sport who’ll end their careers without an NBA championship. Somehow, you can already see the smiles on the likes of John Paxon, Steve Kerr, Scott Williams, John Salley, and James Edwards. I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t know them. But they’ve got a common thing that the likes of Malone et. al. don’t have: a championship ring.
I really hate to say this but his also proves that talent and skill may not be the only pre-requisites to winning a world championship. For the likes of Paxon, Kerr and company, call it a case of luck, timing and for simply being at the right place at the right time. For others, call it the “breaks” of the game. Harsh but so true!
As you read this, you’ll already know if Gorres will be another “victim” of this now or never phenomenon. If he’s in the “now’ category, that means he did a great job of being the technical boxer that he is. He used his jab-jab-straight combinations to keep Darchinyan at bay and ran away from trouble each time the Raging Bull came close. Moreover, he would’ve spotted those many opportunities to land the left straight or cross every time Darchinyan keeps his right hand low. With Gorres slipping to his left, he’ll see that wide open chin that Nonito Donaire also pulverized. Gorres would’ve given his fans a demo on the definition of term “footwork” while also landing punches as he skirts away from trouble.
On the other hand, it might be a “never” for Gorres if he made the same simple mental lapse that he committed in the Montiel fight. I just hope that he didn’t suddenly forget that he had excellent speed and the quicker legs to run around the raging bull. Darchinyan’s only shot at winning was through a knock-out since he doesn’t have the skills of Gorres. But then again, I could be wrong.
Now or never indeed.
**
Time-out: Belated happy birthday to Sir Dodong Gullas! >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com or 0923-342-8193 (for SunCell subscribers).
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