Saturday, June 25, 2011

Boxingnews: Mayweather Vs Ortiz, A bit of Southpark but not as Vicious


Mayweather vs Ortiz: Not Vicious Enough, More like Southpark

Return of the King…

Many are called but only a few are chosen. In the end, the victim must fit the profile. And so, Mayweather finally broke his long hiatus to face another willing sacrifice, the welterweight title holder Victor Ortiz. In a sleight of hand, the self-proclaimed King is relevant again.

As expected, he recited his mantra once more - the same one which had kept his face from being mangled and reduced to a bloody pulp. It worked so far, why should it not worked now.

“I’m only fighting 100% natural fighters,” Floyd couldn’t help himself from saying.

Yeah, right. In Mayweather’s world, it means fighting only those he’s sure to beat.

What a waste of talent this Mayweather is. He may be an Einstein inside the ring, but he’s truly more of an Eric Cartman outside of it. It’s really difficult to root for the guy.

And don’t think for awhile that Vicious Victor would really give Floyd a run for his money. He may have beaten Berto but Berto hit’s hard only through twitter and is really just one of those boxing paper champs anyway (and they are many). Before that Ortiz failed the test of will against Maidana and Peterson. He’s just not vicious enough.

And boxing is all about will, something Cartman, I mean Mayweather, can be counted on. The guy’s plain arrogant and his self-belief rival those of any other boxing gods. Ortiz’ feel -good story will go down the drain, another light to be consumed by Floyd’s black hole.

Which brings us to Floyd Mayweather’s antithesis, the yin to his yang.

Lord of the Rings…

Pacquiao, the Sun to Mayweather’s universe, will take on his old nemesis Marquez in a pointless welterweight exercise. Marquez may have given Manny fits in their last two fights but those were lifetimes ago, back when Pacquiao was what the Mayweathers’ called a one-handed fighter. Pacquiao’s a different beast now and Marquez is the same old man and older. I hope the trilogy doesn’t turn out a requiem for Marquez. Well, so much for closure.

As the prophets before me have spoken, Mayweather-Pacquiao is the only fight that matters (at least to each other). For crying out loud, they’re the lord of the rings. Never let your hopes up but it really should happen. How else can we find out which is really better: Pacquiao’s all destructive whirlwind offense or Mayweather’s omnipresent defense.

Freddie Roach thinks Mayweather is preparing for that as Floyd takes the Ortiz fight. But I still say don’t count Eric Cartman out.

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2011/06/mayweather-vs-ortiz-not-vicious-enough-more-like-southpark/

Monday, March 21, 2011

The wait is over...

Unleash the power within.

Messiah 666: In the beginning

Andrew have seen now what he would know later to be a latent ability of the Gods. The aggressor who called himself Azrael doubled before their very eyes. Just as quickly, the two Azrael resumed the attack.

The power of the Neck Tie Man had not diminished. In fact, the appearance of the second Azrael spelled for the priest twice the trouble. He won’t be able to keep up for long. And just as he feared, the other broke away from their fight and targeted Andrew.

“Your own your own but with my blessing.” The reverend spoke with his usual sarcasm. Deep inside though, he fears for him. But Gods early on must measure up or die...

APOTHEOSIS - the beginning

“Many are called, but only a few are chosen. It’s because priesthood is not just a matter of faith. It is a matter of choice. And while many better men could have donned the cassock, not all of them would have the stomach to perform such utterly complex and immaculate deception. Therefore, there remains but a resolute few to perform the harvest. It’s a cloak and dagger thing, if you know what I mean.”

Perhaps I should tell you then just to be clear.

“Holy men tell us life is a mystery. They embrace that concept happily. But some mysteries bite and bark and come to get you in the dark.”

Have you ever wondered why god spoke through prophets in parables? If all were to be saved from the damning pits of hell, and assuming everyone is equal in the eyes of god, why must his words be understood by only a selected few? Surely, the God of Israel would not have us confused.

“The Son of Man died for us. Anyone who accepts Christ gets to heaven with a free ride!” I could hear you saying now. Well, I’ve got to tell you this: You don’t get off the hook that easily.

Keep moving forward.

The Pope, with a clear mandate from heaven (passed on from Christ to Paul), is infallible. It would be a heretical opinion for anybody, Catholics or not, to say otherwise. What profanity and blasphemy it would be – and, pity on you – if you are to hold a different view. That being said, Pope Leo X spoke thus: “It has served us well, this myth of Christ.”

Oh don’t you give me that damned philistine look when I’m showing you the way. How about End-Times which fail to end on time? Or the Hell that daily fails to swallow you and me?

Let it sink and simmer. I’d like to give as much time as you need but that is something we don’t have much of. Let me spell it out to you. Let me tell you now what Paul really passed on to his successor in layman’s words that you may easily understand.

“You have been fucked… and, fucked badly!”

Seriously now, do you still think Jesus would buy you your salvation?

Now, why am I telling you all this? It’s because I believe humanity has a destiny greater than itself. And to seize that destiny, mankind must come to terms with the truth that shall set it free. Deprived for so long of a birth right etched in his genes, humankind could still live up to its full potential.

No longer should you tolerate religion or any other institution to keep you in the dark. Faith without reason is perfidy.

Humble not yourself and genuflect not in every shrine. You are better off building your own altar. Have you not been made in the image and likeness of God? If so, what does that make you? Certainly not some docile sheep as they would like you to think so.

Return the favor you owe Prometheus by getting loose from your chains. And by that, may the collective intensity of man’s inner fire bestow strength to the giant god to eventually free him from his own shackle. And should you ever meet him face to face when the deed is done, honor him by giving due courtesy to an equal.

Verily, verily, I say unto thee: For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but looses his soul? The answer should have been obvious by now. You profit a lot. You become God.

Let this be your Genesis!”

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

World Without Mayweather

Perhaps this man will do the job...


World Without Mayweather

By Rasheed Catapang

He who hesitates is lost.

In the heat of the moment, we sometimes call genius mad because the rest of us are incapable of understanding the reason behind. Denied of such a spark, we are often blinded by the light when its brilliance is shining upon us. But we always know special when we see it though we may not acknowledge it at times. And with hindsight, we knew when we had witnessed greatness because greatness is compelling and always makes its presence felt.

Sometimes though, there is only madness. Like when genius fails to live to its full potential. And a downward spiral follows when light fails proclaiming the coming darkness. Such an appalling state is upon us now.

Considered by many as the most talented boxer of his generation, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is teethering on the brink of irrelevance with each passing day. Or perhaps, he’s already there.

“I’ll fight Pacquiao, like whenever…” Those were more like the words of a Paris Hilton than a supposedly feared fighter who kept proclaiming that “the fight will happen when it happens.”

Yeah right. I’m scared. And so must be the little “Yellow man” on hearing such vicious words. The man-child lost touch with the real world that he doesn’t have a solid ground, much more a square ring, to stand on.

Welcome to a world without Mayweather.

Pacquiao, the zeitgeist, rules the world of boxing. And the vacuum and void left by Mayweather has to be filled by the likes of Clottey, Margarito and now Mosley – yes, the same old Mosley Mayweather last had for dinner is still better than no one or nothing (which as established earlier is what Floyd is or is fast becoming).

With no yin to test, hold or balance the yang, Pacquiao is the blinding light at the center of boxing’s universe. And as Mosley, just another replacement expected to inefficiently test the Pacmonster’s blietzkrieg of lightning, marches on away from HBO’s glaring spotlight but towards a harsher light where 115 million homes would hopefully watch his inevitable demise – life’s contest goes on and Mayweather keeps losing by default.

Floyd’s words proved to be prophetic as he fades in the shadow of the one who took from him his coveted spot. And sadly he gave in without a fight.

“I’m not interested in rushing to do anything right now. I’m not really thinking about boxing right now…” Those lines might as well be his epitaph.

As Mayweather turns away from Boxing to face the real world, Pacquiao remains unchallenged, unfazed atop his pedestal.

No one ducks better than Floyd. Of course, in a world without Mayweather there is now David Haye.

But that’s another story.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Pacquiao Vs Margarito: A Warning to Mosley

Antonio Margarito's face is a warning to Pacquiao's future foes.

Below is an excerpt from my book Rex Mundi Chronicles. Seems an apt description of how Margarito must have felt inside the ring with Pacquiao.

You look the beast square in the eye and you twitched.
A moment of hesitation and you found yourself writhing in agony - the only good part is your conscious of it. It means you're still alive. But before you could figure out for how long, you found yourself being hurled from pillar to post*. "A couple of minutes perhaps", you are sure now.
You were told it was all routine. A mere sweeping of the dust with a pay of a king's ransom should have tipped you off. You should have known better. It was too good to be true.

"You're totally screwed man!" is an obvious truth that reverberates mockingly...

The whole thing spelled disaster and you were unable to read it. Well' you did but it was all too late.



*wall to wall in the book.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Pacquiao and The Lemmings



Published @boxingnews24

Pacquiao and the Lemmings Off a Cliff

By Rasheed Catapang: Andre Berto, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley are the names thrown in by Bob Arum as Pacquiao’s next possible dance partner. Truth be told, they are actually Lemmings jumping off a cliff. And Pacquiao, always with a lending hand, would certainly take any one of them to a far darker place than a dance hall or a grimmer deep spot they could possibly imagine.

Mayweather – his personal reasons aside – doesn’t belong in that suicide list. Not anymore. He had long realized it’s Pacquiao’s world he’s living in and would not be coaxed to mix in. Knowing too well that it’s the Pacmonster’s way or the highway, Floyd wisely did a road runner and won’t ever be a road-kill. Good for him.

Among the three then, we probe on Berto’s chances first just as cancer initially strikes the weakest cell. Andre Berto had long feasted on mediocre fighters and fringe contenders. If “we are what we eat” holds true, then Berto is certainly a no hoper. The one time he had a step up in competition, he had lost the fight and got the gift decision. We’re talking of a Collazo here who pales in comparison to a ferocious beast that is Manny Pacquiao. What’s the appeal of a green Berto going against boxing’s finest and deadliest practioner? The answer is nil and so is Berto’s chances of winning. Similarly, Berto attracts nil fans to his fights.

Juan Manuel Marquez, however, is a different boxer altogether. A true warrior and an incredible technician, he went to war with Pacquiao twice and obtained in the process a draw, a competitive loss and a shirt to show for them which he later wore in the Katsidis fight.

JMM is a proud fighter and is of the belief that he indeed twice defeated Pacquiao though the record shows otherwise. He craved the third time more than the urine he drinks to prepare for his fights. But though there is unfinished business between them JMM doesn’t need a third fight with Pacquiao and he should leave it at that. JMM’s stocks soars with Pacquiao’s continuous rise, a direct encounter now would prove his undoing. Some things are better left untouched, like Marquez never having to ask Chris John for a rematch.

They may have been on even terms in the lower weights of the past but Pacquiao is a true welterweight now and a real beast at that. Marquez would be slaughtered if he ever shared a ring again with the current Pacmonster. He never won a round going up in weight against the defensive-minded Mayweather, how can he expect to last against the finest offensive arsenal boxing has to offer. A third time would be a slaughter.

This brings us to Mosley and the Lemmings throwing themselves off a cliff. Mosley almost certainly will get the Pacquiao fight inspite of his recent poor performances and steady decline (or precisely because of that). He had pleased Arum by disassociating with Golden Boy promotions and would later please Pacquiao who would disassociate him to his senses with a barrage of punches the old man would never see coming.

It’s still a mystery to date why Lemmings do that, hurling themselves to a world of hurt and inevitable end. In the near future, Mosley would provide the answer.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Paul "The Punished" Williams

Article published @boxingnews24

Paul “The Punished” Williams: Ready for Pacquiao or Mayweather

By Rasheed Catapang:

Be careful what you wish for…

Paul Williams dreamt of mixing it up with Pacquiao or Mayweather for a career high payday and had a plan of how to carry it through. He’d asserted himself to the pound for pound throne and made his case, leaving it in the end to the people to call upon such a fight being made. Boxing’s top two would not have heed the call anyway on their own accord even with their talents due to William’s freakish built, a welterweight with the height and reach of a heavyweight.

In his mind it will happen. He just had to wait, bide his time and in the interim get rid of Sergio Martinez.

Sergio Martinez, of course, as we know by now had other plans. He’d gone before where angels fear to tread. And he doesn’t mind if it’s long tall Paul standing at the road’s end – he won’t be standing there long enough.

Paul Williams may have had the wingspan of a pterodactyl, but just like Icarus much earlier before him painfully learned, they’re not that good when they’re made of wax. The Middleweight Champion of the World never let up – pressuring Williams, and putting enough heat to make sure those wax melted. And melt they did as Paul Williams wilted in just about 4 minutes.

It was deluge the first time they fought and fire this time around. Paul Williams was utterly destroyed by a superior force.

In so doing, Sergio Martinez may have inherited the cursed of the leper from his fallen foe. Pacquiao and Mayweather, no slight to them, would not touch him. Who in their right mind would when you’re the Middleweight Champion of the World?

The opposite, however, is true for Paul “The Punished” Williams. The Punisher had been thoroughly punished and the Most Feared introduced to Fear itself. The utmost irony, though, is that Paul Williams’ dreams may just happen yet.

Pacquiao, with his successive grueling fights and recent battle with Margarito, might as well be deserving of a soft touch in his next fight. After Sergio’s thudding left, Paul Williams must now be soft enough. Soft and still he’ll be the biggest opponent Pacquiao would have faced. It’s a win-win situation and nobody can deny it’s a compelling match.

Mayweather, on the other hand, more of a carrion bird of late than a predator, had been known to feed on carcasses of fallen or faded champions. It’s actually a strict diet with a dodging regimen equal to or superior to those of heavyweight ducker David Haye. Paul Williams now may just be the right type of willing victim he was looking for – tall, still looks fearsome but totally vulnerable. The vulture would be thankful for a feast.

Paul Williams accomplished in losing what he could not do while winning. He might have his dream granted after all.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Pacquiao is Boxing's Superman

Published @ boxingnews24


Pacquiao is Boxing’s Superman

By Rasheed Catapang: Once the mild mannered Clark Kent takes off his coat, we know the kid gloves are off. Saturday night in Dallas, we learned what feats of destruction such fists are capable of. No, Pacquiao is not Superman. But on the night he handed Margarito his comeuppance, he was closed enough. Was he faster than a speeding bullet? Maybe not. But against Margarito’s movement, he surely was bullet-like. The lumbering giant was being peppered with 6 to 7 hits combo before he could even contemplate mounting an attack – couple that with the fact that he could not hit what he could not see, Pacquiao being in perpetual motion and all. And when Margarito found the luck to actually launch one, he was met with a barrage of missiles whichever way he turns.

Margarito found out how it was to be an all time great. And it wasn’t great at all for him to be at the opposite end with such a man. There is not a shadow of doubt now that Pacquiao stands tall along the All-Time- Greats, the only question is whether he is now “The Greatest”.

Overcoming an opponent’s advantages amounting to 17 pounds of weight, 5 inches of reach and 5 inches in height are the stuff of legend. And Pacquiao is just that – a living legend – because he didn’t merely overcome the odds, didn’t merely win, but did it in such a comprehensive way like no other boxer can.

This is Pacquiao’s time. And he rules boxing with an iron fist masked with a boyish grin. He is the real face of boxing, and at the moment its one and only.

Mayweather could dispute that though, perceived to be at or near the same level as Pacquiao. And he’s more than welcome to try. Though after his witnessing of the thorough beatings handed over to Margarito and the past challengers to the throne, I wouldn’t really blame Mayweather if he foregoes such plans. Twice he’d thrown a wrench to that fight being made, and he’s got the most valid reason now not to – Margarito’s bludgeoned face for the entire world to see.

But let’s hope Mayweather is really up to the task this time, and that he clears all his personal problems to make way for a spring fight. After all, a Lex Luthor is needed to test boxing’s Superman

Friday, November 05, 2010

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Antonio Margarito: To Hell and Pac

Because in Floyd Mayweather's mind, the Pacmonster had his number.
In his place, Margarito is a willing victim.

Pacquiao vs. Margarito: To Hell and “Pac”

If you can’t be good, be careful. Antonio Margarito was neither on the night Old Shane Mosley handed him a beating. In that fight, he got caught and fought like he never knew how. He was never the feared fighter advertised or thought of before that fight. But then maybe he was just missing those awesome loaded gloves. Without which it begs to be asked, was he really ever good? There was hell to pay and then Time will tell.

With the Pacquiao – Margarito fight looming, that time is almost upon us. Margarito was already through hell, or so we have been made to believe. Come November 13, Redemption awaits him like the persistent bride at the gate.

Judging from recent history, Margarito was still nowhere near good against the journeyman Roberto Garcia. The fact, however, doesn’t make him less of a monster. Bear in mind he lobbied for a Pacquiao fight. Considering that he’s towering over Pacquiao and is having as much as a 7-inch advantage in reach, a pathetic showing might have been his way of getting the Pacquiao lottery ticket. (Or so we wish, if the fight is to be competitive.)

In a different way, that is the very reason why Floyd Mayweather is not fighting Pacquiao for Boxing’s Superbowl. The Filipino sensation shines like a halogen lamp in his previous bouts which is a bad omen for Floyd who thinks he’ll be in a bout he could not win. But I digress.

In the absence of Floyd Mayweather, Pacquiao was offered a viable alternative – a beatable Goliath in Margarito with the promise of a record 8th belt, with many even viewing him a sacrifice to the little devil’s altar. Now, after getting the fight it doesn’t mean Margarito needs to follow the script. Scripts are for lesser mortals like Clottey who in the end always finds a way to lose. Margarito needs to be the Tijuana Tornado once more, the superior force that brought Cotto down to his knees (loaded gloves or not).

Still, the Pacman can’t be stopped by either man or beast these days. In order to win, Margarito has to be something else.

Come fight night, boxing won’t ask Margarito whether he had lost his moral compass. He’d only be demanded to stop a freak of nature at all cause or go down trying.

No, Margarito doesn’t have to be good this time. To beat Pacquiao, it’s time for him to step up and unleash whatever demons he has within and become a real Monster.

It’s all in his hands now.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Legacy of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) - Looking for Gloria

Where is Gloria Macapagal Arroyo now?

Some says she's in Congress. Giving justice to the old adage:
"Feathered Bipeds of the same plumage live gregariously."
(For those whose brains are the size of those of the subjects,
It means "Birds of the same feathers...")
In the matter of Justice, that is a grand idea which their puny minds could not comprehend.
Congress is the last resort of the scoundrel - at least it seems that way,
Or only in the Philippines.
One can only hope.

Which brings us back to the question at hand:
Where is Gloria Macapagal Arroyo now?

In the grand scheme of things, where is GMA?

Yes, this is a good place as any to start. Don't you think?
Seek and you shall find.
And, look no further.
The search is over.
The stench of corruption reaches deaf heaven.

It leaves a bad taste in the mouth...

Be wary and never forget.
Cancer find its way back, and comes nastier, if not fully cured.
The flames of evil need to be fully extinguished, leave no burning ember.

Look out for Gloria. Wipe every trace of her.
When Anarchy is the enemy, crush it totally.
Otherwise, the gangrene finds its way through the skin,
bursting at the seams.

I put Kylie's picture below to merely mask GMA's foul odor. We are entitled to a bit of heaven.

And so, a man's reach should exceed his grasp. Otherwise, what is heaven for?

Or more accurately, what is heaven?
For the Filipinos, it is the absence of GMA.


Saturday, October 30, 2010

The Declaration - Rex Mundi Chronicles


I came to the world in the usual way. At least that was what I was told. I never quite could recall how it was when I first opened my eyes so I had to rely on the testimony of first hand witnesses. No lightning, no thunder, and the heavens did not open. The odds and the gods not being in my favour, I was bound to suffer the fate of the common man.

That I could not permit. I knew then as I know now that destiny is something I could shape. Hence, I insisted and I persisted. And I lay claim to where most resisted.

Notwithstanding what one deserves, one only owns if one would take.

While the road to hell or heaven is paved with good intentions, I have recognized the signs for what they really were - a lame excuse to let life idly pass me by and a pathetic attempt to justify a bleak existence. I had to make my own way…

Youth is but a symphony of colours against a backdrop of a truth I have painted. And when perception is reality, the past simply becomes how I remembered it to be.

Now, lifetimes pass one after the other. I was Jesus, Caesar and Alexander! I have no mother and no father. And what I say are the only things that matter.

Standing at the nexus of time and space, the question of Hermes echoed through the ages and is directed at me:

Know ye not that ye are gods?”