In This Corner: Barry Gusi decisions Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao’s luck has finally come to an end and his amazing winning streak is over.



After scintillating victories against bigger opponents in Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao now suffered his first loss since a close decision to Mexican legend Erik Morales in 2005 and his worst since little- known compatriot Rustico Torrecampo’s wicked left hook knocked him out earlier in his career.

The decisive punch was delivered by the blabbering and fuming Ambassador Barry Gusi who proclaimed the one- sided fight over with less than two minutes left due to a technicality in his speech at the Meralco Theater during the awarding ceremonies of this year’s Gusi Peace Prize.



Barry Gusi whose ambassador title was bestowed by the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Pacific Islands and the reigning, undisputed chairman of the Peace Prize named after his family wherein he claimed it to be as Asia's equivalent of the very prestigious Nobel Peace Prize declared his fight with boxing’s reigning P4P king as a no- contest in his speech in front of this year’s multi-national awardees many of whom flew into the country at their own expense for the grandiose ceremony.

Gusi was so angered by Pacquiao’s no- show in the awarding ceremony and utter show of disrespect to him even though the boxer sent his Canadian lawyer Michael Koncz to be his representative but the ambassador refused to hand the award to him and reiterated his position that the Filipino boxing icon will no longer be honored by his foundation for the rest of his life.


“They assured me several times that they would attend but they did not show up. No showing up, no award. No respect , no award. No award for the rest of his life because he did not respect the people of the country and the people of the world.”

Such fighting and ironic words coming from a man who name and distribute a Peace award named after his family, if you ask me.

My curiosity was obviously piqued when I read in the papers that a certain Ambassador Gusi was fuming over Manny Pacquiao’s deliberate snub of the affair that I instantly put my fingers to good use and use the power of the internet to find out about the man.

I run into some old articles about him and the Gusi Peace Prize that gave me nothing but just general views. Even the official website’s entries were vague and lacking in details. Heck, it seems that his people even forgot to put him and his works in Wikipedia’s database. Thus being said, I say not really impressive for a man and an award- giving body of this magnitude.

The credentials of this self- proclaimed ‘Internationalist’ are also quite suspect as well as the obscure manner of which he acquired his title as ambassador - at- large of those small groups of islands in the Pacific whose so- called leaders are notorious of giving the said title at the drop of a hat.

But I was impressed with the names of the past and present recipients of the said award that could even compete with the older and well- known Ramon Magsaysay Award. The Filipino past and present recipients alone make a veritable list of the Philippines’ Who’s Who.

Unfortunately at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for these so- called ‘Peace Laureates’ because in my mind they were just taken for a ride by this eccentric man.

Yes, we cannot deny the fact that they excelled in their respective fields but they were also gullible enough to accept this so- called award that claims to be Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel from this man without even checking his background because they succumbed to that feeling inherent in every one of us which is the need and hunger for recognition.

Although Barry Gusi does not have the credentials nor the pedigree to hand out such awards more so the authority to rank it in the same level as the Nobel Peace Prize but who can blame him when it is obviously an act of self- promotion and a private endeavor for an award that many people bought without question that includes the Office of the Philippine President.

And I salute him for having the audacity, courage and fortitude in putting up this kind of endeavor for not too many people can do this kind of things. Iba talaga ang Pinoy!

But when I found the video below while trolling YouTube the other day, I am now more convinced that Pacquiao’s recent one- sided loss against Barry Gusi should be recorded with an asterisk.

Now you wonder who the real loser and who has the last laugh in this case.

Pacquiao- Mayweather in May 2010 a done deal?

Is ABS- CBN out to destroy Manny Pacquiao?

Instead of focusing on the latest accomplishment by the Filipino phenomenon against Miguel Cotto to become as the only man to be crowned champion in seven weight divisions which is no small feat by boxing standards, the alleged Manny Pacquiao- Krista Ranillo affair dominated the said station’s programming right after the historic feat.

ABS- CBN did not even give Pacquiao enough time to savor his victory before unleashing their own version of bad left hooks and wicked uppercuts on the Pambansang Kamao that brought him on the defensive and reeling from the controversy. The station also shook the family’s foundation in the process.

Even though some of their screaming headlines were eventually proven wrong like for example in the video below wherein ABS- CBN reported that Manny Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee took separate flights from the United States back to the Philippines which by now we all know what really happened and by all accounts the truth on the matter.



Still, ABS- CBN chose to ignore the said fact and continued to peddle more malicious articles and innuendos in their website. Worse, the station that prided itself as being a Kapamilya is actually the one who is trying to destroy Manny Pacquiao’s family by their wanton abuse of press freedom.

Even though some of the reports turned out to be false, it did not even bother to issue an apology to the People’s Champion whose family was greatly affected by the said intrigues and allegations that the station had thrown his way. To me, this smacks of irresponsible journalism.

Here are some of the photos that can be found on the ABS- CBN website-









If one will only examine the said photos, it is as clear as day that although the said woman really has quite a resemblance to Ms. Ranillo at first glance, upon closer examination, we can see and deduce that the said woman is far from the real Krista Ranillo.

I will not be surprised if it turns out that it was PGMA’s Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Undersecretary Lorelei Fajardo who was in the series of photos above and not Krista Ranillo. Ha-ha-ha.




Anyway, Even if the Manny- Krista affair is true, I still believe that their personal lives are not our business even if some of us will raise the issue that Manny Pacquiao is a public figure and thus, fair game.

I also believe that the said issue should be resolved privately by the parties concerned and away from the prying eyes of the media. Also, let us give the parties involved the necessary space to think things over so as to come up with the necessary answers to our queries.

For its part ABS CBN and the media (rather than further inflaming the subject with gossips and unverifiable ‘facts’) should instead focus more on the positive aspects of Manny Pacquiao’s accomplishments and their significance to us as a nation and as a people.

NASCAR: 4 for #48!

Jimmie Johnson clinched the 2009 Sprint Cup Championship at NASCAR's season finale in runaway fashion as he finished 5th at Homestead- Miami Speedway to become only the fourth man to win more than 3 series championships behind legends Richard Petty (7) and Dale Earnhardt (7) as well as teammate Jeff Gordon (4).

Superman Jimmie's 4th consecutive championships since 2006 put him on the record books as the only NASCAR driver to accomplish the feat.

And when he was asked about his accomplishment, the normally reserved Johnson blurted out-

“The cool thing is, we’re not done yet.”


Well said, Indeed.

Cheap Talk: Floyd Mayweather Jr. belittles Manny Pacquiao

Right after Manny Pacquiao’s annihilation of Miguel Cotto came in Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and his big mouth belittling the Pacman’s ability in the ring as well as implying that the Filipino is evading him. Money May’s pronouncements only confirm what many people think of him as nothing but a fool. He doesn’t have any idea of what he is talking about.

Manny Pacquiao is not of the habit of calling any fighter out there but would rather let Freddie Roach do the talking and Bob Arum do the dirty work for him for a fight to happen. Manny Pacquiao has proven time and time again that he is not afraid of anybody and has not ducked anybody in his long storied career. The quality of fighters that Mayweather had faced pales in comparison to what the Pacman has fought and beaten in the ring. The quality of opposition that they had speaks for itself.

Unlike Mayweather who is a loud- mouth, Manny Pacquiao remains humble and would rather make his fists do the talking when the right time comes. Unlike Mayweather who picks his opponent wisely, Manny Pacquiao fights the best fighters out there. Unlike Mayweather who feasted on patsies to pad his ‘undefeated’ record along the way, Manny Pacquiao has annihilated a veritable Who’s Who in the boxing world to become a seven division champion. Unlike Mayweather who toot his own horn, Manny Pacquiao would rather make the people be the judge of his abilities and achievements.


And now Floyd, you’re saying you want to earn $65-75M for one night. Isn’t it just like you’re asking for the moon and ridiculously pricing yourself out to avoid the mega fight that most people want to see?

I say, enough of the cheap talk Floyd. If you really want the fight with Pacquiao to happen--

Man up and tell your people to start the ball rolling and be reasonable. I’m sure once you sign on the dotted line for the Pacquiao fight, you’ll have more than enough money to pay the IRS and support your lavish lifestyle.

Man up and prove yourself that you are the best by fighting the best one out there. Yeah, Floyd, even just for once, back up your talk like a real man and do what a real man should do. That is, fight the Pacman.

Firepower Redux

Firepower from pacmania on Vimeo.

password: pacman

Mouth Piece: Freddie Roach & Emanuel Steward on the Pacman

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Off Target/ On Target

I predicted for Manny Pacquiao to knock out Miguel Cotto in the fourth round but unlike in the Ricky Hatton fight where I hit the bull's eye, I was several rounds off this time.

But I can still say that I was not really way off the mark since the Boricua Bomber was just really saved by the bell in that fateful fourth round.

And truth is, after that second knockdown, it marked the beginning of the end for him since the Pacman broke his will and silenced his vaunted bombs en route to a one-sided fight until referee Kenny Bayless stopped the carnage in 55 seconds of the 12th round to hand Manny Pacquiao his seventh title in seven weight division and a place in the sacred pantheon of great boxers and lore.

So in a way, I still hit the mark so to speak.


Here's a video of a relax and funny Pacman at the the post fight press conference--

If a picture paints a thousand words...

Oscar de la Hoya on picking Miguel Cotto over Manny Pacquiao-


"Cotto has a good chin and a big heart. He's a natural welterweight who hits hard and is also smart and fast. Pacquiao doesn't hit hard enough to knock anyone out in the welterweight division. I'm basing that on my fight against Pacquiao. I could've stood there and put my face in front of him and he couldn't hurt me."


Obviously, Oscar de la Hoya is still smarting from the boxing lessons that Manny Pacquiao taught him almost a year ago. This is expected from the Golden Boy whose legacy was tarnished by the smaller Filipino bomber when he quit on his stool in the 8th round rather then be knocked out in the latter rounds of the lopsided fight.

If in his mind Manny Pacquiao can't hurt him then why did he quit in the fight?

Anyway, notice what happened to Oscar's pretty face after he tasted Pacman's trademark pepper- flavored punches?




Fearless forecast: The Pacman will destroy the Boricua Bomber in 4.

Punch- Drunks

Not so many moons ago, Floyd Mayweather, Sr. accused P4P King Manny Pacquiao of using steroids. Now it’s Kermit Cintron’s turn to do the same. Now, two plus two doesn’t make it true especially if the accusations are coming from two people who are obviously not in their proper frame of mind.

We all know that Floyd Sr. is prone to moments of insanity because of his past dalliances in and outside the boxing ring. This includes his time in a federal penitentiary in connection with a drug smuggling conviction as well as his use of cocaine and other illegal drugs which damaged his brain. Add the poundings that he took in his unsuccessful career as a professional boxer and you will understand why it’s hard to decipher his gibberish and overt incoherence on any topic under the sun.

Kermit Cintron on the other hand is an average fighter who was pounded by Antonio Margarito in two one-sided fights. Whether those losses to the Tijuana Tornado were aided by Plaster of Paris is irrelevant. What is relevant is that Cintron was knocked out in the first fight and quit in the second. Any fighter who quits inside the ring should have his heart and head examined. There could be many underlying causes and reasons behind his surrender but it is safe to say that at this point in time, he is nothing but a shot fighter that is on the downside of his career.



“I just think that… I honestly think that he is taking something, because a lot of fighters coming up in weight like that, 40 something pounds… he just looks ripped like Bruce Lee. A lot of people who come up in weight like that don’t look as ripped as he is, they hold a lot of water weight. I just believe he is taking something. I think he is taking something that’s for sure. I don’t know what it is, whatever he is taking its not coming up in the drug test. I honestly believe he is taking something, no 112 pounder comes up to 147, to look the way he does, he is taking something. Definitely, people who come up in weight like that they look soft, they don’t look as ripped like when they fought at the weight they started. Its definitely questionable.”


Besides, any fighter who was named after a frog and a vodka flavor should not be taken seriously if you ask me.



Seriously, lame accusations coming from these kind of people (who suffer not only from lack of credibility but authority) especially about topics like steroids are nothing but idle talk. They don’t have the smarts to know what they’re talking about nor do they have the educational background to back up their claims.

Besides, sanctioning bodies like the Nevada Athletic Commission have already issued an statement way back attesting to the fact that Manny Pacquiao had passed all the tests that they administered to him before and after each fight.

So there.

Pacman the Funnyman

The P4P king engages Matt Iseman, host of Sports Soup in a no holds barred verbal tussle during a lull in his training at the Wild Card Gym for Saturday's Firepower fight against Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas.

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