When a boxer becomes the world champion, he becomes an instant celebrity.  From a name covered by obscurity, the new champ’s name and image grace the covers of popularity.  Television cameras and microphones take the place of the training mirror and the gloves.  That is the blinding limelight of boxing.

Celebrity status is a cruel animal.  It takes pleasure in having the owner bask at his exploits while at the same time exploiting the celebrity for revenue’s sake.  It shows you how big the man has become but it does not show you how small that man can become especially when his time to “hang up the gloves” nears.

That was what happened to Rolando Navarette.  On many occasions, we have seen some sorry reports about his present condition over the limelight that was once his medium of popularity.  I remember he had a movie about his boxing prowess, but now even the frequent reviews about his dire condition are nothing more than fruitless.

Gabriel “Flash” Elorde played his cards of popularity calculatedly.  His was wisdom not blinded by the glitters and flashes of celebrity status and he left a legacy that caters to the very people close to his heart–the poor boxers.

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is on center stage right now.  Lights from all angles are directed to him and his feats.  Flashes from every point  provide the twinkle in the bright foreground.  His every move on TV means money now but it is that money that has the brightest and most blinding flash of all.

I hope Manny will not be blinded in the limelight.  Lately, he has been into “too much limelight” that he ended in the hospital.  He needs to invoke the wisdom of a great former champ so that boxing will always find its glory in him.

See his latest glory here.