Boxers Who Made a Difference Outside the Square Ring
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 08 Apr 2020
Like Flash Elorde before him, Manny Pacquiao from the time he made it big in professional boxing has always been known as a man of compassion who will do the utmost, to the best of his ability, generosity and extent of his resources to help especially his poor kababayan in times of need and emergency.
And now by virtue of his being a Senator, Pacquiao is even in a more pivotal if strategic position to be of greater assistance to his countrymen particularly in this current global health/medical emergency caused by the covid-19 pandemic.
Aside from pitching from his own resources, Pacquiao has availed of his friendship and connection with Chinese billionaire Jack Ma resulting to the latter's generous donation of massive bulks of face masks and personal protective equipment for local health workers battling the dreaded disease.
Recently, his assistance for social amelioration has also been sought by a large group of boxers, trainers, managers and matchmakers who have been severely affected economically by the lockdowns, travel bans and indefinite suspension of boxing events here and abroad.
There is no doubt that Pacquiao will do all he can to appeal the case of his brothers and sisters in arms in the sport, majority of whom only earn when there are fights. As there is no doubt that he will do whatever he can to help the Filipino people in this extremely trying times.
The admirable though difficult position Pacquiao finds himself in vis a vis the current covid-19 emergency brings to mind instances where some boxers who, guided by their beliefs and principles, employed their popularity and influence to make a big difference in their societies and countries and the world as a whole in the face of bigger crises, conflicts and threats.
A most recent example was Vitali Klitschko who relinquished his world heavyweight title and turned his back on a still flourishing and lucrative boxing career to run for public office as Mayor of Kiev believing that his country, Ukraine, needed somebody of his stature, influence and resolve to stand up to the threat of invasion from Russia. His election as Mayor of Kiev, the nation's capital seemed to send a strong message that the Ukrainian people will fight to preserve their sovereignty and independence.
Another was Andre Berto who at the height of his reign as world welterweight titlist, temporarily shelved his career to come to the rescue of his native Haiti which was devastated by a very powerful earthquake. His action was instrumental in calling attention to the plight and generating international assistance for the massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of the small Carribean island nation.
In boxing's early days, we have had Jack Johnson who sacrificed his own personal safety and risked his very successful pro boxing career as reigning world heavyweight champion to fight for the civil rights of his fellow Afro Americans and other coloreds at a time of white supremacist America bent on using violence and intimidation to suppress minority dissent. It was Johnson who planted the seed of future and successful Afro American struggles for equality in boxing and sports and the American society in general.
During the early days of the growing and escalating Americanization of the Vietnam War, we have had Muhammad Ali saying no to forcible military draft contending that he has "no quarrel with them Congs" and that going to war was contrary to his conscience and beliefs as a practicing Muslim. Though he was not the first nor alone in that conviction against an unjust and immoral faraway war that would snuff out the lives and vitality of hundreds of thousands of Americans, his stand would fire up a movement which would pull the US from that war it could never win. To these days, through a Foundation carrying his name, Ali, though now deceased has continued with the advocacy for fostering peace and understanding among peoples around the globe.
In the mid 60s, we have had Dick Tiger who risked antagonizing and incurring the ire of Nigerian predominantly military authorities and the displeasure of the world boxing bodies which recognized him as the duly reigning light heavyweight champion to side with his fellow Ibo tribesmen in their struggle for the establishment of an independent state of Biafra. Though their struggle failed with the Biafran rebels crushed by the Nigerian military, Tiger remained true to his political conviction and never returned to Nigeria even after his retirement from boxing, electing to die and be buried in an adopted foreign land.
In the 80s, during the Nicaraguan Civil War, Alexis Arguello rose above his status as a highly successful professional boxer and world champion to personally and actively throw his support to the side which he believed represented the genuine aspirations of majority of his fellow countrymen. At the peak of his career, political issues came to a head and in 1979, a civil war erupted, culminating in the overthrow of the Somoza family with the leftist Sandinista regime taking over. Arguello's property and bank account were seized and one of his brother was killed fighting the Sandinistas. Arguello who was then living in the Ujited States went back to Nicaragua and fought on the side of the Contras.
Manny is in a great company.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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