LET’S GET IT ON – Death for Dabawenyo boxer’s prey

By Neil Bravo
There’s blood in John Vincent Moralde’s hand but he did no crime.
The 20-year old Dabawenyo boxer nicknamed “Mulawin” went to Brisbane, Australia to battle local hero Braydon Smith. The unbeaten Moralde battered Smith in a 10-round featherweight title fight for the WBC Asian Boxing Council continental diadem.
With the win, Moralde improved his record to a very impressive 12-0 with six knockouts to his name. In his young professional career, Moralde has boxed 55 rounds with a 50 percent KO clip according to BoxRec.
The bout against Smith was so one-sided that Moralde earned the nod of all judges with Phil Austin scoring it 99-91, Cyril Cairns 98-92 and Adrian Cairns 97-93.
The 23-year-old Australian boxer died two days after losing consciousness.
The death of Smith, who was in the final year of a law degree, is a very sorry loss for Australian boxing and his family. Boxing is not one of Australia’s popular sports and we have seen but a few Aussie champs in boxing like Jeff Fenech.
I asked around some guys in Oz if they knew Manny Pacquiao and most of them shot back, “Manny Pacquiao who?” in a manner so awkwardly pronounced.
Smith had been in an induced coma at a Brisbane hospital since collapsing 90 minutes that bout with Moralde.
Smith lost in a unanimous points decision, before praising his opponent and congratulating Moralde on the win and then returning to his dressing room. His spokesman said Smith was animated immediately following the bout before collapsing.
I’ve seen Moralde fight last April 20, 2013 at the USEP Gym in the undercard of the Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista-Jose “Negro” Ramirez fight where he demolished Jovil Gayhun in six rounds. He sent Gayhun once in the opening round and went on to earn a unanimous decision and improved to 5-0.
Moralde’s victims in the ring included Rolando Navarrete, Jr. whom he beat in a fourth round technical decision in Cebu in June 22, 2013. Navarrete Jr. is the son of former world junior lightweight champion known in the boxing world as the “Bad Boy from Dadiangas.”
The death of Smith saddens us even if Moralde’s market value should shoot up with his 12-0 record. At 20, Moralde is still not in his prime and I can only imagine when he becomes more mature and turn into a more scientific fighter.
Moralde needs to move on amidst Smith’s death, his psyche should not be affected the next time he climbs up the ring. It’s an accident and it happens.
Those fists could be the next most important fists in Philippine boxing.
Notes: Listen to “Let’s Get It On with Neil Bravo” at 105.9 Balita FM every Saturday 8 am to 10 am. You may write the author at bravoneil@rocketmail.com.