It has been months since the Firepower fight between Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. Manny has since defeated Joshua Clottey and won a seat in the House of Representatives (I can imagine Michael Buffer, before his trademark “Let’s get ready to rumble”, introduce Pacquiao: In the blue corner, the reigning WBO welterweight champion, the fighting pride of the Philippines, CONGRESSMAN, Manny “Paaaaaaaaacccman” Pekyeow).
You know by now, of course, that Manny won the Cotto fight in dramatic fashion. While Cotto went straight to the hospital for a “precautionary” checkup after the fight, Manny belted a few songs in a mini-concert.
I watched the fight with my 4-year old son. I tried to explain things to him as the fight went on, just to lessen my guilt that this is something that should not be seen by kids. Our kids are exposed to too much violence, they say.
My son now knows Cotto (ask him to punch you like Pacquiao, and he’ll give you his best; ask him to punch you like Cotto, and he’ll tap your tummy). He’s good in remembering names. And with Cotto’s face bloodied, cut and mangled, it’s not difficult to put the name with the face. Pacquiao has beautifully and brutally annihilated his more recent opponents. Diaz was bloodied when he lost. De la Hoya’s pretty face was swollen when he gave up. Hatton didn’t have bruises or cuts, but that’s only because Manny’s left fist sent Hatton to deep slumber before he hit the canvass in the second round.
One night it’s basketball, playing one-on-one with my son. He’s still beginning to learn how to play this game (at least he’s interested in it). He tried to dribble the ball but without the necessary control that is learned through constant practice, he bounced the ball too hard. The ball went straight smack on his lower face.
He didn’t cry. He didn’t complaint. But he was very worried. With his lower lip beginning to puff, blood oozing from the cut in the middle part, he looked at me and said: “I don’t want to look like Cotto.”
I wonder if Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is having the same thought.
