Excuses, Excuses
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 16 Jul 2013
Justin Fortune and his boxer Drian Francisco are blaming their dismal performance in the ring last Friday to Asthma.
In a recent article by Philboxing?s Ronnie Nathanielsz, the trainer said that ?he suspected that Francisco had an asthma attack after the early rounds and said a fighter doesn?t necessarily have to be asthmatic to have an attack during a fight."
He said what?
First, I did not know that Fortune has an MD degree at the end of his name. Is he capable of making a medical diagnosis now?
Second, if he indeed suspected that Francisco was suffering from what he says is an asthma attack, then why did he not stop the fight and allowed his boxer to finish the grueling 10 round battle? Did he put his fighter?s health at risk by letting him fight knowing that he is short of breath and yearning for air?
Francisco could have collapsed right there in the middle of the ring because of Fortune?s decision.
But, you and I know, that despite his statements to Nathanielsz, that Fortune is just making an excuse for his failure as a trainer and a coach. He will try to dissuade everyone from believing this author?s observation that Francisco was a poorly conditioned athlete when he stepped in that ring. Francisco was a product of over-training and improper physical conditioning ? all of which points out to Fortune as a trainer.
But the worse thing is that Francisco believes what is being fed to him by Fortune and a friend of his, Jhay Otamias, a pseudo-Press photographer and now acts as his entourage in Los Angeles. He now blames the allergic asthma attack to the smoke in the arena last Friday. He denied that his poor performance was due to poor conditioning and that ?he is burnout.?
Francisco should stop believing these lies and he should stop making excuses for his awful showing. He should, for once, stand up for himself which he never had the chance to, since he entered the Fortune Gym.
Why is Manny Pacquiao a cut above the rest of the current and past crop of Filipino boxers - because he does NOT make any excuses - even in his defeats.
Another fighter, Denver Cuello fought with one arm all night- all 12 rounds - you never heard any excuses from him. Even when he lost, he accepted it. He had the surgery to his shoulder yesterday and vowed to come back stronger. Is a pseudo allergic asthma attack worse than fighting with a broken arm and shoulder and 12 rounds at that?
And what about our female boxing champion, Ana Julaton? She never gave any excuses when she lost despite at one point fighting in an unfavorable environment.
Not only did Drian Francisco?s current team fail him before and during the fight, they are also making him a sore loser.
Because, only losers find excuses to their defeats, winners find solutions instead.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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