The mere word has connotations that go back as far as the birth of mankind. Our history has proven that men have gone to war for just about anything. Wars have been fought for reasons as banal as the thought of being disrespected and of course there is and always have been wars fought in the name of God.
But major conflict have arisen when countries battle each other over nationalistic pride and this Saturday November 14th we will see two gladiators enter the arena to fight for the pride of their respective countries.
Puerto Rico, the name conjures a mix of adjectives… beauty, music, beaches and boxing. The tiny island, a Commonwealth of the United Sates measures 100 x 35 miles (roughly the size of Connecticut) and has boxing coursing through its veins. Yes, other sports are popular on the island as well. Baseball, Basketball are played and followed with great passion, but nothing gets the blood of Boricuas going like a good fight.
The week before one of their best goes to battle is a frenzy, talk around the water cooler focuses on fight strategy, camp gossip and heated arguments as to who is the best fighter to ever come out of this small patch of land. Puerto Rican fighters carry the weight of their country on their shoulders when they go into the ring, all proudly wearing their Flag as a symbol of who they represent. The country stops the night of a fight, everything is focused around the battle.
The Island of Puerto Rico has produced many champions… Sixto Escobar, Carlos Ortiz, Jose Torres, Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfred Benitez, Tito Trinidad and the list goes on to name 62 fighters that have Puerto Rican roots and have won major or minor belts. They have all gone to battle in the name of Puerto Rico and this next Saturday Miguel Cotto will enter the ring to fight for his people.
Boxing is also interwoven into life in the Philippines and General Santos City on the island of Mindana, is home to the biggest star to ever come from the Island Nation. Manny Pacquiao is without a doubt the most famous person to ever come from Philippine soil though by no means the only champ produced there. Pancho Villa, Luisito Espinosa, Gabriel Elorde, Rolando Navarette and Gerry Penalosa have been a few of the many champions that have fought for Filipino pride. But no one has brought so much attention the Philippines as Manny.
To say Manny is loved by his people would be a huge understatement. Manny is seen as the embodiment of all that is good in the land of Pinoy’s. He has Godlike status and he also carries the weight of his land every time he enters then ring.
SOURCE: http://www.braggingrightscorner.com/bordetaspacmancotto110709.html
