History repeats

Cuban Yordenis Ugas was a last minute replacement to fight Manny Pacquiao when Errol Spence  begged off due to an eye injury. Well, Ugas, an underdog, turned the tables on Pacquiao when he won the bout via a unanimous decision.  Well, it some sort of the same story for Pacquiao when he made his debut in America against South Africa’s Lehlo Ledwaba, the IBF Super Bantamweight champion then, on the undercard of the Oscar DeLa  Hoya-Javier Castillejo fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.  Incidentally , Pacquiao was also a replacement for Enriquez Sanchez, Ledwaba’s original challenger who withdrew after getting injured in training.  The raw Pacquiao was then working out with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in L.A., when offered to fight Ledwaba for a purse of $40,000 and only after a two-week notice.  Even the international media had no idea as to who is Manny Pacquiao, a skinny 22-year-old  with bleached hair.  Rod Nazario, Pacquiao’s business manager, said he’s got nothing to lose and go for Ledwaba’s nose.  The heavy underdog Pacquiao, did just that, smashed Ledwaba’s nose in the first round.  With blood flowing like a raptured faucet, referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight in the sixth round with Pacquiao leading in all the three judges scorecards. The South African kissed the canvas  thrice in the one-sided bout.  Ledwaba was never the same after the debacle.  After five years, Ledwaba called it quits after losing to Maxwell Awuku.  A week later, Pacquiao became boxing’s newest star when he knocked out Eric Morales of Mexico.  Ledwaba died of Covid 19 in his native South Africa last July.  He was 49.

No Wastage

(WALAY USIK)

Oleksandr Usyk, a 2012 London Olympian, won the heavyweight crown recently when he fashioned a unanimous decision over Briton Anthony Joshua at the Totenham Hotspur  Stadium.  The three judges scored 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113, all in favor of Usyk.  The Ukrainian became the only third boxer after Evander Holyfield and Britain’s David Haye to win both the cruiserweight and heavyweight titles.  Usyk is now undefeated in 19 bouts.  “Wa jud usik”.

Hasta La Vista Langga

I was thinking it would be a while “Before The Next Teardrop Falls”. But it came too soon.  Another person close to my heart, bid her final Sayonara!  Tita Langga Javellana Uytiepo will always be remembered forever.  Hasta La Vista Tita. Rest In Peace.  Also condolence to the family of Pauline and Joey Casal for the loss of their mother.