OSCAR A PROPHET?
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 09 Dec 2008
Las Vegas, NV. Last night while hanging out at the Lounge Bar of the Mandalay Bay
Hotel just outside the Rum Jungle club where the Pacquiao supporters were celebrating the Filipino spitfire?s great win over Oscar de la Hoya, I run into Jeng Gacal, Pacquiao?s legal adviser.
Of course the first order of business was to try to squeeze a ?balato? from him as we in the know knows that he won quite a sum from the bookies with the Pacquiao victory.
To our disappointment however, all we got was lip service. No ?balato? of any kind, particularly the green kind. But, that?s okay by us. At least we tried.
But still we congratulated him for being a part of the Pacquiao Team for everyone, down to the lowly runners for whatever errands needed, deserve a pat on the back for a job well done.
Gacal and my group got to a small conversation leading to the events that transpired earlier that evening.
?You know,? Jeng told us, ?De La Hoya is a prophet.?
When asked to elaborate, he related some of the events that led to Pacquiao signing that now ?infamous contract? with the Oscar de la Hoya Promotions.
According to Gacal, de la Hoya told Pacquiao, as he handed the suitcase of cash to him to entice him to sign a contract with his company, the following: - ?Manny, I am going to make you a legend.?
De la Hoya was of course referring to what his company can do for the career of Pacquiao if they manage it for him. They were prepared to book him great fights that could lead to the ?legend? status. By now of course we all know what happened to that contract let alone, Pacquiao?s status as a boxer.
?Ironically, de la Hoya was right,? continued Gacal. ?That?s why I say De la Hoya is a prophet. Tonight he made Pacquiao a legend. Unfortunately, it was not through his promotions company but by quitting on the stool midway through the fight?, he said further.
Pacquiao?s stunning victory which many said will not happen indeed will make Pacquiao a legend in world boxing, or at least in the history of Philippine boxing. No Filipino has done what he had and given our present crop of boxers, it will be a very long time before it will happen again. I hope however, I am wrong.
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