How do you say ouch in Spanish?

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I think I want to be Mexican! I really do. Ok, not forever, but just for a little while. Why? Because I want to know what it feels like to have true patriotic pride. I want to experience the feeling of knowing that everyone of my countrymen feels the exact same way that I do at the exact same time. And, I would love to be able cheer on one of my own with unbreakable pride and shameless passion knowing full well that my love is going to be returned in the form of an unwavering spirit.

Mexico loves Mexicans! They love their Mexican warriors. Blood and guts to the end. No retreat and absolutely no surrender.

There was a boxing match on HBO this weekend pitting one the best pound for pound boxers in the world versus one of the sports brightest young stars. Juan Manuel Marquez rated the second best boxer in the world regardless of weight took on a stiff challenge from former lightweight champion Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz. Marquez is a two time loser (actually 1 draw and a loss) to boxing biggest star Manny Pacquiao but only in terms of win/ loss record. Marquez, in the eyes of many boxing fans beat Manny twice in terms of rounds won in both fights. But, Manny was declared the winner (draw) in the first fight and rematch due to the fact that Manny had knocked Marquez off his feet a total of four times combined in both fights. You can say Manny won both times yes, but you can also make a very strong case for Marquez being the better fighter of the two. He is extremely proud to be Mexican and Mexico is proud of him too. He said before this fight with Diaz that he would leave every ounce of his Mexican blood in the ring before he would ever quit. He is fighting for his people and they love him for it.  He also stated that Diaz could not beat him because Diaz is only “50% Mexican”, due to the fact that Diaz was born and raised in Texas. That fired me up and I can hardly speak Spanish. He dropped the gauntlet with an entire country at his back. You have to be fearless and tough to be considered Mexico’s best. They will not support you if you do not fight fiercely as if your life depended on the outcome of the fight. There is no such thing as clinching or being cute in the ring. Mexicans seem to take stylistic fights that avoid action and conflict as a sign of disrespect. Winning isn’t the only thing a Mexican fight fan desires. Winning the Mexican way is all that matters. Marquez actually became Mexico’s favorite son AFTER he lost to Pacquiao in the second fight because of how courageously he fought throughout.

  Juan Diaz on the other hand is a handful whenever he jumps into the ring. He is the former 135 pound king that was dethroned by a very tough Nate Campbell last March and lost all three of his championship belts in the process. He had held the WBO, WBA, and IBF belts before losing a unanimous decision to Campbell. It was just Diaz’s first loss as a professional. He is somewhat of a boxing oddball because he also is on track to graduate from college with a Political Science degree. Who knew! He’s well spoken out of the ring and well versed inside. He throws punches in bunches and is a tireless worker. He’s never really had a bad showing. The only thing that stops Diaz from being a true Mexican hero is the fact that he was born here in the states. He is stuck in boxing fan limbo. The same place occupied by Oscar De la Hoya, loved only to a certain extent south of the border.  The only way he can get the love that all Mexican fighters crave is to take on other Mexicans and fight a war in the ring. Prove you’re worth the Mexican blood that flows through your veins. This was his first real test to prove it.

They both fought very hard. Diaz pressured Marquez early and probably won the early rounds. He cut Marquez over the eye and was doing real damage with his left hooks to the body. Marquez would find his range in the middle rounds and began to back the Baby Bull up with his jab and slicing upper cuts. Marquez also managed to open up a cut over Diaz’s eye.  Eventually Marquez caught Diaz flush on the chin with a great upper cut that sent Diaz on his back. The referee didn’t waste time counting. He was out. It was the second knockdown of the 9^th round for Marquez. It was a spectacular ending to a great fight. I’m glad I got to watch it. I’m glad I got to feel the excitement of one of the best fights I’ve ever seen in my life.

Too bad I’m not Mexican. Maybe next fight!