Ruckus By Rufus
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 13 Jun 2011
Luisito Espinosa.
Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, the former commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) during the term of President Joseph Estrada, is a man with a smile more mystic and enigmatic than Mona Lisa's.
Rufus would be perfect for the Texas Holdem because his face will never betray what cards he holds close to his chest.
In fact, his chubby face will not even show whether he is happy or angry, serious or joking.
When Manny Pacquiao decided to make a foray into the coral of the bigger boys and signed up to fight Oscar dela Hoya, many expressed alarm that the former world flyweight champion would get seriously hurt by the punches of big punchers like Dela Hoya.
The fears were not without basis. Dela Hoya, after all, is an Olympic gold medallist who dominated the welterweight division for many years. He also had a reputation of being a big puncher in the 147-lb. grouping.
Manny Pacquiao, on the other hand, won his first world title as a 112-pounder. He lost that title because he could not make the weight and moved up to 122, 126, 130 and 135 pounds.
The 135-pound title was held by Chicago's David Diaz until he was pummeled into submission by Pacquiao in a bloody battle in Las Vegas.
With the 135-lb. title in his belt, Pacquiao accepted the dare to meet the bigger Dela Hoya at 145 lbs. which would be 10 pounds heavier than the division he last fought in and 33 pounds more than the flyweight limit where he started.
Rufus Rodriguez was one of those who was extremely alarmed, or so it seemed.
And so the Congressman from Misamis Oriental took to the floor and proposed the passage of a Congressional resolution urging authorities to stop Manny Pacquiao from fighting Dela Hoya because the big American champion, according to Rufus, could seriously hurt the Filipino boxing icon.
The move elicited varying reactions. Heads turned, eyebrows raised and questions on whether Rufus was serious or not, were raised.
The reactions were totally understandable. I mean, can you imagine the US Congress passing a resolution urging the New York Athletic Commission to stop Joe Frazier from fighting Muhammad Ali because they could seriously hurt each other?
The Rufus measure created an uproar in the Lower House, a ruckus even. And all along, the congressman with the mystic smile seemingly enjoyed all the media attention that his bizarre resolution earned.
Was he serious about expressing concern that Manny Pacquiao would be hurt? Maybe, Yes. Or maybe No.
But you know how it is with publicity. Any news, good or bad, is still publicity. And obviously, Rufus, the brilliant lawyer that he is, knew that any measure that would mention Manny Pacquiao's name would generate publicity.
Everybody loves a winner.
Now, here is the take: If Rufus is really serious in protecting the interests and well-being of our boxers, would he care to pass a House Resolution urging an investigation into the unpaid purse of Luisito Espinosa amounting to $120,000?
If his intentions are pure, this is a battle worth waging because in the case of Espinosa, the damage is not only forthcoming and imminent. It has already been done. It has been inflicted on the hapless and innocent former world champion who has been forgotten by almost everybody.
Can the Honorable Congressman Rufus Rodriguez show his true concern to a Filipino boxer's well-being by sponsoring a House Bill allocating funds to cover the unpaid purse, if only to show to the world that Rufus does not only relate to or care for Winners but also Losers?
Can Rufus stir the hornet's nest and create another ruckus?
Rufus?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
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