THE ?STEP-ON-THE-FOOT TRICK? IS NOTHING NEW
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 15 Nov 2011
Video and still photography shows that Juan Manuel Marquez stepped on the foot of Manny Pacquiao not once, not twice but at least five times during the 12 round fight.
Accidental? I should hope so!
Cheating? I would not be surprised.
Unfortunately, this is the second time that I have seen this trick from Mexican boxers. I am not saying that all Mexicans boxers use it to gain an advantage.
But when one sees it in title matches, sometimes one can?t help it but think that it possibly could be an old dirty trick used by our neighbors down south.
Pathetic, to say the least!
I personally saw that trick used up close and personal at a title fight held at the Coliseo Olympico at Guadalajara, Mexico between Rodel Mayol and Omar Nino Romero. I was there as Mayol?s cutman.
In that fight Nino hit Mayol with a vicious low blow making Mayol react to the pain by lowering his hands and reaching for his crotch in an effort to bear the pain. At that very instant Mayol dropped his hands, Nino came forward ignoring the referee?s order to halt. He stepped on Mayol?s foot to prevent him from turning away and delivered a tremendous blow on the chin of Mayol who had his hands down and was defenseless.
The foul knocked out Mayol. Fortunately, the WBC supervisor ruled that the punch was not legal and the fight was declared a technical draw allowing Mayol to keep his title.
Then last night as I reviewed the photos I took at the Pacman-JMM fight, I again saw the dirty trick pulled by Marquez.
The attached picture shows it all. And, pictures don?t lie.
What amazes me though is the fact that Tony Weeks, one of the best Nevada referees there is, failed to notice the trick. Was he perhaps so focused on other aspect of the fight that he failed to notice what was going on with the boxer?s feet?
Once or twice is rather excusable as it may happen when a southpaw is facing a fighter who is not. Feet are bound to tangle.
When feet tangle it?s an accident. But when one steps on the opponent?s foot not once but several times, it is cheating.
Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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