WE WILL MISS MOY LAINEZ
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 14 Jul 2013
Our normal routine after a ?Pinoy Pride? telecast over ABS-CBN Channel 2 was to call our longtime friend and in many respects a boxing guru, Moy Lainez, for his impressions of the fights and fighters which proved insightful and frank.
Just as we finished watching the replay this afternoon we almost instinctively reached for the telephone only to realize I couldn?t make the call because Moy had passed away last night and left a painful void that would be hard to fill.
Moy Lainez loved the sport of boxing, understood its nuances and had a special place in his heart for Filipino fighters who sacrificed so much to improve the quality of their lives, to help their families many of whom were mired in poverty and to bring honor and glory to our country.
There is no doubt that Moy?s special favorite was eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao.
Together with the late Rod Nazario, another wonderful human being and sometime trainer Lito Mondejar they plotted Manny?s career from the time he was a skinny teenaged kid who hammered his way to fame and glory, in the process redeeming the image of our country and earning the respect the Philippines richly deserved, internationally.
We recall that when it was announced that Pacquiao was to fight Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas in November 2003, I could hardly find any noted boxing authority who would pick Pacquiao to win.
Even the noted maker of champions Hermie Rivera who led Luisito Espinosa to two world titles and southpaw Morris East to one, felt Manny didn?t have much of a chance against the more experienced and hard-hitting Mexican.
Nazario who was Pacquiao?s business manager, father figure and mentor, naturally picked Pacquiao to win and so did his promoter at that time Murad Muhammad.
Then we caught Moy Lainez on camera. He and I shared the very same sentiments that Manny would win because of his tremendous hand-speed, his movement and his punching power coupled with indomitable courage.
When Pacquiao demolished Barrera he and I were obviously elated not so much that we were luckily proven to be astute judges of the sport but as Moy confided a day or two later, because Pacquiao symbolized hope for a new generation of Filipinos who would be inspired by his achievements.
He was right all along.
We recall vividly that when Manny fought Erik ?El Terrible? Morales for the first time we traveled to Los Angeles and stayed at the Vagabond Inn ? an $80 a night facility that offered very little by way of comfort and attractions but was the same spartan-like environment that matched Manny?s original training venue ? the rundown sweatshop they called the L&M Gym which were the initials of two men steeped in boxing from the respected old school of the glory days of the sport ? Lito Mondejar and Moy Lainez.
At that time leeches were not in season, neither were they in favor, Aside from Nazario, Lainez, Mondejar, Gerry Garcia and myself there was boxing writer Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin who chronicled the exploits of Manny and developed a very close friendship based on mutual respect. That?s all. Just six people who not just cared for boxing but more than that cared deeply for Manny.
Since then things slowly changed if not unraveled and while Manny would insist that Moy attend all his fights, he soon got tired of the goings-on in what was quickly turning into a circus and eased his way out, missing Pacquiao?s last two fights, both of which he lost.
Moy was getting progressively tired even as he recalled in a conversation some time ago what it was like, when Manny stayed in a small Inn and didn?t have the luxury of Las Vegas suites, an entourage of scores of people some of whom appeared to come out of the woodwork in LA, fancy cars and the trappings of a big-time crossover star.
But despite his inner disappointments Moy told us of how much he admired Pacquiao and cared for him because Manny was intrinsically a good and decent human being..
Moy Lainez was one such individual. A fine TV commentator, an astute judge of boxing and the men who effectively put their lives on the line every time they entered the ring.
First it was Mang Rod Nazario, then it was our beloved friend Rudy Salud and now its Moy Lainez. They were men who belonged to a generation steeped in the noble tradition of the sport, removed from its mercenary trappings but anchored on the purity of boxing, the respect for skill and talent, homage to courage and where integrity was non-negotiable.
Every time Moy visited his hometown of Balayan, Batangas he would bring us a pot of ?kalderetang kambing? specially spicy because he knew we loved spicy food. He would proudly tell us ?ito para sa?yo partner. It?s hot and spicy.?
When I devoured the stuff and called him to say how terrific it was, he?d be proud just like any true blue Batangueno because the product was synonymous with his home province. This was the kind of simple and caring friend he was.
For the first time after a night of knockouts which would have lifted his spirits and warmed his heart Moy Lainez couldn?t be reached. His big boxing heart had given way.
But all of us who knew him well, can take solace in the reality that we knew a good and decent human being who surely has a ringside seat in the embrace of a loving God.
Farewell dear friend. It was a distinct privilege knowing you as we did. God bless your soul. Rest in Peace.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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