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You still remember Oscar Larios, right?
Two years ago, the Mexican lasted the full
12-round distance with then “people’s” featherweight champ
Manny Pacquiao at the Araneta Coliseum. Larios rocked Pacquiao in
the third stanza but ended up locking lips with the canvas in the
7th and 12th rounds in a lopsided decision loss.
Larios earned the respect of Filipino boxing
fans with his spirited showing and just about everybody wished
“Chololo” well after the fight.
On May 31, Larios returned to the win column by
collaring the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim featherweight title
with a fifth round technical knockout of Feider Viloria in Quintana
Roo, Mexico. Larios took the fight on short notice, or after the
incumbent WBC champ Jorge Linares pulled out of the fight with a
shoulder injury. Larios is actually more of a “caretaker”
titlist these days, one tasked to keep the WBC belt warm until the
real champion returns.
Larios is back in the title picture, but truth
be told, the victory he recently posted does not deserve a champagne
pop. As interim champion, Larios is on course to meeting regular
champ Linares the moment the Venezuelan returns to full strength.
Here lies the problem: In July 2007, Linares demolished Larios in 10
rounds in Las Vegas to win the WBC feather crown. Larios was
battered so bad he was diagnosed with a minor subdural hematoma
(bleeding of the brain) after the bout and immediately placed under
indefinite suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Larios is actually banned from fighting
throughout the United States. Unfortunately, the medical suspension
can easily be circumvented. All Larios has to do is seek a license
elsewhere. He apparently did not encounter any difficulty securing
one in his native Mexico.
As can be discerned, Larios is treading a very
dangerous path these days. Whenever he steps into the ring, the guy
actually has one foot stuck in the grave. Can you even imagine the
thought of Larios fighting Linares again? I mean, hey, Linares
almost killed Larios the last time they squared off!
Only a boxing commission ultra greedy for a
share in the profits would dare sanction a rematch between Larios
and Linares. Heck, the WBC should not have even sanctioned Larios’
fight with Viloria. The WBC fancies itself as a protector of pro
boxers and yet it gives its blessings to a bout involving a fighter
who is already under medical suspension in the United States.
Larios’ tendency to go toe-to-toe in the ring
all the more makes him susceptible to permanent health damage. In a
14-year career, Larios has figured in his share of high-octane
rumbles. There are the three wars with Israel Vasquez, the last of
which (December 2005) saw a bloodied Larios losing by technical
knockout in three rounds.
Larios is relatively young (31 years old) but is
definitely battle-scarred. He has logged in a total of 68 fights as
a pro, winning 61 (38 by knockout), losing six and figuring in one
draw. Against Pacquiao, Larios bankrolled a career-high purse.
Apparently, the money he raked in against PacMan is not enough to
convince Larios to archive the gloves.
And so, “Chololo” punches on. Considering
how world title belts are prostituted these days, Larios might just
end up becoming a world champ again. But would all the money and
titles in the world make up for a busted head?
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For comments, the writer can be reached at atty_eduardo@yahoo.com.
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