Watched with interest the VERSUS channel twin bill from Vegas country, with younger Pacquiao brother in the main event facing veteran Hector Velazquez,  for some cheap strap bearing the symbols of WBC Americas Continental Super featherweight champion - and isn’t that one heck of a trophy.

Problem is, day prior, Bobby "Sniper"  went and blew the big opportunity by coming in three pounds over - but then bribed Velazquez to show for the fisticuffs without the bauble on the line - all Hector had to do was win the fight - the $10 thou bonus from Pacquiao, win, lose, draw clinched the deal.

Then the opening bell with incompetent albeit popular Vegas hack, referee Kenny Bayless in role of third man in charge of the action - and let the games begin.

It’s all Pacquiao with the southpaw advantage and out of the gate the quicker of the two - claims round one, and nips Velazquez in stanza two before an interesting candle three arrives.

It’s Pacquiao early with a big right hook that drops Velazquez - later in stanza Bobby Pacman goes low with right hook that fires up the Mexican brawler - point deduction to Pacquiao sees the round 9-8 for the Filipino.

The momentum changes hands come stanza five when Bayless again debits Bobby sniper for another low blow - and Velazquez is now back in the game - but strange things would eventually enter into the picture as things became a scoring judges, and referee’s nightmare.

Come stanza eleven, with Pacquiao ahead on two scorecards and battling on the inside, he’s seen landing a right hand below the DMZ - a likely "schooled" Velazquez quickly drops to the canvas as if catching a .30 caliber between the eyes - remains there long after referee hack in charge Bayless signals a "DQ" in favor of the stricken Velazquez.

Time of "DQ" is 2:56 of stanza eleven - Velazquez goes to a now 46-11-2-1 DQ, 32 KO’s and Bobby Pacquiao drops to 27-12-3, 12 KO’s - referee Bayless now qualifies to drop from "third hack in charge" to judge at ringside.

Closing Comments: The WBC Americas Continental championship belt is like other minor league straps - political in nature and carries placement in lower notches of its rankings. Is fine for kids looking for a needed boost, with eyes on share holder baubles. Pacquiao and Velazquez are beyond that point, with Bobby "Sniper" at age 25, but having had a now 42 kept appointments and, Velazquez treading water (belt or not) at a now age 31 with no less than 59 past kept appointments,  both are now club fight entities - but admittedly a fun watch at club fight level.

Third man theme: The today referee is draped in "performer" recognition. The "working in his 500 title fight and 2,000 ring assignment" or whatever, means zilch - just %$# work it the old fashioned way, and judge the action from a common sense perspective.

Did Pacquiao land a few punches below the waistband? Yes. Did the early low blow in stanzas three and five earn deductions? I think not. The time proven protective "Foul-Proof" Taylor metal cup and harness aside, says here the dramatics and assorted window dressing from the "performers" in charge as to low blows, are taking the easy way out. Worse yet, the early threats of "DQ" is nothing more than backing the referee into a corner. 

Head butts are labeled as "inadvertent" -  however, well protected from low blows or not, punches touching down below the 38th parallel carry a stigma of bad intentions.

PS: Bright side for Bobby Pacquiao is he now moves up a notch to  lightweight  with weight posing no problem - bad news is he doesn’t punch big enough to dance with the elite at that weight.. With Hector Velazquez the smart route is remain at Super feather but be ever careful of who you choose.

GEL - 

11-16-06