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The conflict, however, did not take place inside the ring. And it’s not yet between Pacquiao and de la Hoya.

 

Rather, it sparked over the internet where sports analysts and commentators squabble over a “scathing” remark about Pacquiao’s chances against the bigger de la Hoya. 

 

The “war” started when Boxing Confidential.com writer Michael Marley quoted his executive editor Ricardo Lois as saying that “after Oscar hurts Manny with a left hook to the brain,” Pacquiao will be “doing the ‘crackhead’ dance.”

 

The same article which was titled, “Lois: Oscar's Left Hook To Brain Will Make Pacquiao Do Crackhead Dance” also quoted the executive editor saying that the Filipino boxer “might do the Zab Judah crackhead dance mixed with some Thomas Hearns wobbly, wobbly. It will be great to see that.”

 

Lois was also quoted as saying that such an incident “will make up for what we’ve had to put up with Pacmaniacs over the years.”

 

The article was posted on Boxing Confidential.com on September 17.

 

Two days later, Filipino boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz criticized Lois for the remark.

 

In his article titled, “Hate has no place in boxing, most of all from journalists” posted on Philboxing.com, Nathanielsz said that what distressed local analysts was Lois’ “seeming hatred for Pacquiao”.

 

“To put it bluntly that’s a cheap shot,” he said in the article. “How in the name of sanity if not fair comment can a boxing writer in the position of Lois draw satisfaction for the irrational and sometimes vicious and vulgar comments by Pacquiao fans by enjoying the demolition of Manny – if it happens at all?”

 

Nathanielsz stressed that Lois’ seem to want the spectacle of seeing Pacquiao suffer to savor the joy of getting back at some of the Filipino’s rabid fans.

 

“We expected more class from an American boxing writer but then again, that may be too much to ask just as it is in expecting some foul-mouthed Pacquiao supporters to change their ways and bury their seeming hatred,” said the veteran boxing commentator.   

 

On September 20, Lois posted on Boxing Confidential.com a “denial” that his remark was an expression of hate. 

 

Lois said it was merely a joke.

 

“It was a joke. Yes, I think de La Hoya will win and by knockout, but once again, that particular comment was supposed to be funny, a joke,” he said in an open letter addressed to Nathanielsz.

 

Through the letter, Lois also clarified that he has no hatred against Pacquiao and his fans.

 

“I have no hatred for Manny Pacquiao and Pacmaniacs.  Just because I believe that Manny Pacquiao will lose and by knockout, does not mean I hate the man,” said the Boxing Confidential executive editor.

 

Lois also claimed that Nathanielsz “failed” to get his facts straight by relying on the story written by Marley.

 

“For your information, here is the exact quote: ‘When he hits him with a left hook to the brain...In a sick kind of way, we have had to deal with the Pacmaniacs over the last several years...May be he will do a crack head shuffle a la Zab Judah with a small mix of the Thomas Hearns wobbly, wobbly Thomas Hearns and it might be worth putting up with what we have put from the Pacmaniacs for the last several years.’”

 

Lois went on to claim that Nathanielsz failed to quote him by relying on Marley’s story.

 

“You did not even quote me correctly.  You have put too much faith in Mr. Michael Marley's note taking skills,” he said.

 

He, however, did not clarify why he, as the executive editor of Boxing Confidential.com, allowed his own writer to post, what he insinuated was a poorly quoted article.

 

Lois also did not say if he reprimanded his writer for the weakness.

 

He urged Nathanielsz to calm down as his “inflammatory article” fuelled anger among Pacquiao fans.

 

“So, slow down, your article has fueled dozens and dozens of Manny fans to e-mail me threats, and insults to my family - wishing them harm, and worse, because you took the time to write an inflammatory article without listening to my exact comments,” he said.

 

He then invited Nathanielsz to talk to him through his radio program Boxing Confidential Radio where they could argue their points.

 

Inquirer sports columnist joins the fray 

Recah Trinidad, a veteran sports columnist for Philippine Daily Inquirer, called on Pacquiao fans not to allow “bums” to bully the “Filipino national treasure”.

 

In his column Bare Eye published on September 20, Trinidad said the “attack” against Pacquiao makes it “incumbent upon self-respecting Filipinos to come to the side of the national sports treasure.”

 

He added that Lois’ “diatribe” is definitely below the belt.

 

“Why Lois, who should’ve first shed his title as executive editor before going wild, had to go foul in order to hit back at so-called Pacmaniacs, exposes the prevailing frustration of self-styled experts whose favorite fighters Pacquiao has either humbled or crushed en route to the ‘biggest fight of my life’ against De La Hoya,” he said.

 

“We should not allow these filthy assaults go unanswered. The call of the moment is to insulate (Pacquiao) and fire back.”

as of 09/27/2008 4:38 PM

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