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In this boxing-crazy country, it is all too easy to celebrate the successes of such heroes as global phenomenon Manny Pacquiao and rising star Nonito Donaire and forget that this is a brutal sport that claims more victims than its fans and organizers care to admit. Donaire, in particular, is beginning to capture the imagination of the people because of his recent victories, the latest being his ninth-round decision over Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in San Antonio, Texas, bagging him his fourth division title as WBO super bantamweight champion. Between him and Pacquiao, the Philippines has 12 world titles – and the distinction of being the number one country in boxing.
This pre-eminence in the sport, however, carries with it a heavy price tag. Flyweight Karlo Maquinto paid for it with his own life – days after slipping into a coma due to head injuries sustained in his bout with fellow Filipino Mark Joseph Costa in Caloocan City, Metro Manila. Ironically, the undefeated boxer did not even lose the fight, managing to coax a draw after eight gruelling rounds and thereby keeping his record intact. But after the bout he fell to the canvas unconscious and seven days later he died in hospital due to swelling in his brain.
This is the other side of boxing; a facet that never gets reported in the news, especially not in the Philippines. In truth, the sport is the most harmful on its athletes at so many levels. Physically, boxers subject themselves to more blows in one match than any other human has to endure in a lifetime. That they wear no protective gear – gloves, after all, are an offensive tool – means they receive the full impact of each blow. More than this, boxers are among the most exploited people in the world. Its history shows that agents, managers, promoters and various other intermediaries are the ones who make cash in the sport, leaving the poor boxers with little of their hard-earned money. Many boxers also, by necessity, start training very young, and they often end up not pursuing their studies. The result is that, even if they succeed, they are ill equipped to handle their earnings and often squander whatever fortunes they build. Think Rolando Navarette. Think Mike Tyson. And hundreds of others like them.
It is doubtful, of course, that this angle will ever get the attention of the people. For the vast majority of Filipinos, boxing is a wonderful sport that brings pride to the country in the persons of Pacquiao and Donaire. Never mind Maquinto and other victims like him.
Jon Joaquin is the managing editor of the largest circulation newspaper in Mindanao, the Mindanao Daily Mirror in Davao City.
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