SOLIS-OLIVA AFTERMATH: WAS JETHER RUSHED TOO SOON?
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 28 Aug 2011
Team Jether Oliva got four weeks notice for a title fight at and the lion?s den in Guadalajara, Mexico and they took it.
Of course by now we know the result of the fight. Oliva performed so badly that he barely got a round from two judges. The third one completely shut him off. Ulisis ?Archie? Solis won by a wide unanimous decision and kept his IBF light flyweight belt.
Predictably, internet bloggers and netizens will now start the blame game. Others will go further. They will label Oliva a ?bum?.
So what else is new?
Was Oliva ready for the title fight?
Many say that he is too young and inexperienced. Besides he has not fought much abroad to develop the right frame of mind when fighting away from home.
Some, including his handlers say he was. But that of course was not demonstrated today. In fact the fight vividly showed that Oliva was far from ready particularly for a title fight being held at the champion?s home turf. In fact, he looked tentative.
Why then did Team Oliva accept the fight?
Ever since Manny Pacquiao took that fight against Ledwaba at Las Vegas and won a title, most Filipino boxing handlers are hoping that lightning will strike again.
It is perhaps in this line of thought that Team Oliva took the fight. They were hoping that Oliva can do what Brian Viloria did to Archie Solis and their boy will come home a world champion.
Besides, it was a good pay day. The fight was Oliva?s chance to make the most money he ever did as a boxer. No one should blame them for that. It?s prize fighting, isn?t it?
Now we all know that Team Oliva was just wishful thinking. They were hoping to strike it good. Archie Solis put a damper in all of that.
It hard to say what they did was wrong. Any team on the same position would have done the same. After all, not too many guys get a shot at the title.
Then again, perhaps it is time to shift the thinking.
Filipino managers must learn how to gradually build up their fighters. They should not rush their wards to the top.
Perhaps by doing so, they will eventually hit paydirt.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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