IS A FIGHT WITH OSCAR TOO GOOD TO PASS UP?
By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Jul 2008
San Mateo, Ca?As the reigning pound-for-pound king of the boxing world, Manny Pacquiao is held to higher standard than he was in the past. Back track 16 months ago, no one complained when Manny Pacquiao decided to take on the unknown and unheralded Jorge Solis. It would have been easy to protest Solis as Pacquiao?s opponent because Solis stood very little chance in beating the Pac-Man. However, Pacquiao had just come off a huge fight with Erik Morales and people did not expect another mega bout from the Pinoy Icon.
Fast-forward to the now, not many fans are keen on Pacquiao taking on either Edwin Valero or Humberto Soto, especially on PPV. Maybe if Manny struggled late in his bout against David Diaz, winning a clear but hard fought decision, would fans not be so critical of Pacquiao?s proposed November 15 opponent. However, that was not the case as Pacquiao dominated a top five lightweight over nine rounds last June.
Therefore, hypothetical conversations have turn into serious negotiations as representatives for Pacquiao and De La Hoya have both begun preliminary discussions for a potential mega-bout on December 6, 2008.
There is a reason why De La Hoya is the Golden Boy?he is not only ?golden?, but he also makes his opponents? bank accounts turn into gold. Just ask Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Therefore, when faced with an opportunity to fight Oscar De La Hoya; the decision is a ?no brainer?, you take the fight!
In a perfect world, Pacquiao would wait till 2009 to take on a natural welterweight like De La Hoya. Preferably, Pacquiao should fight Ricky Hatton at 140lbs before fighting De La Hoya. I?m sure if Pacquiao knocks out Hatton, his price tag in a De La Hoya would rise. However, in boxing, the streets runs both ways and De La Hoya is hell bent on making this December 6 date his final fight. So for Pacquiao, this could be his one and only chance to achieve boxing immortality?a former Flyweight champion beating a former Middleweight champion.
For many, Pacquiao jumping two weight classes is just too much and too soon even for such a gifted athlete as Manny. However, taking risk and facing difficult challenges is nothing new to Pacquiao. In 1998, the 19-year-old flyweight ventured to Thailand to take on Thailand?s version of ?Manny Pacquiao? in Chatchai Sasakul. Pacquiao knocked out the Thai hero to win his first championship. Taking the title away from the champion in his hometown (especially in Thailand) is a feat that neither De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, nor Floyd Mayweather Jr. has accomplished or would even attempt.
In 2001, with only two weeks notice, Pacquiao faced the slickest Super Bantamweight titlist, Lehlo Ledwaba, who stylistically posed many problems for Pacquiao. Vegas sports books did not even bother posting odds for that bout, thinking the unknown Filipino fighter had little chance in beating Ledwaba on only two weeks notice. I doubt De La Hoya, Mayweather, or Hatton won a world title with only two weeks notice.
In 2003, Pacquiao?s first two featherweight fights were against Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez?both at the time were ranked in the top 10 pound for pound. Pacquiao took on Marquez when no other marquee named fighters at featherweight would fight him. His first fight at 130lbs was against Erik Morales, where he wore Morales? choice gloves, ?Winning?. And last June, in his first fight at 135lbs, he blitzed titlist David Diaz. Even outside of boxing, Pacquiao unsuccessfully attempted to be elected into the Phiippine Congress in 2006.
Although taking on Oscar De La Hoya will undoubtedly be Manny?s biggest (literally) and most dangerous challenge, it?s still something Pacquiao is used to taking.
De La Hoya himself is no stranger to difficult challenges. De La Hoya won a world title in only his 12th fight. In 1997, De La Hoya won a close decision to one of the best technical boxers of all time in Pernell Whitaker. In 1999, De La Hoya fought the two toughest fighters at his weight class in Ike Quartey and Felix Trinidad.
De La Hoya fought Shane Mosley twice when it seemed that Mosley simply had Oscar?s number, previously beating him in the amateur ranks as well in their two fights. De La Hoya had his own ?Manny Pacquiao? moment, when he jumped to Middleweight to take on the much bigger man in Bernard Hopkins, who is the only man to stop De La Hoya inside 12 rounds. And finally, he took on the best pound for pound boxer in Floyd Mayweather Jr., taking him the distance, losing a split decision.
So if there were ever two fighters who were looking for a big fight to end the year and who were willing to take on seemly impossible challenges, it?s Pacquiao and De La Hoya.
However, De La Hoya still has the ace in the hole, which is welterweight titlist, Miguel Cotto. Cotto is taking Antonio Margarito in a welterweight unification bout this Saturday at the MGM Grand Arena. Should Cotto break out and become one of the sports? biggest stars, stopping Margarito in impressive fashion, then Cotto maybe Oscar?s last opponent. On paper, the two match up really well and it gives Oscar a chance to win a title in his last fight.
Still, the buzz from the potential De La Hoya-Pacquiao bout has been incredible. During a ?Sports Chat? radio interview with Dennis Principe, Freddie Roach teased many potential storylines that would surface should the bout be made. A few storylines Roach mentioned during the interview: Pacquiao signing a contract to fight under Golden Boy then leaving to fight under Top Rank, = Roach formally training De La Hoya, and his rivalry with Oscar current trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr.
Add that to the historic aspect of Pacquiao?s fight at welterweight, the huge size differential, and Oscar once again fighting the pound for pound best fighter, makes this a must see event. Did I forget to mention that Pacquiao would be fighting another fighter with Mexican heritage in De La Hoya?
At this point, it there any turning back for Pacquiao? Is it De La Hoya or bust for Manny when it comes to a fight in 2008?
While finishing up this column, I just read that Joe Calzaghe?s September 20th fight with Roy Jones will postponed. According to Rick Reeno of Maxboxing/BoxingScene.com, Calzaghe suffered a head injury and his fight will pushed back to November. The bout was set to be a PPV show and the only date HBO wants a PPV in November is the 15th, the same date originally reserved for Pacquiao?s next bout. If the story is valid, then Pacquiao?s options may decease even more because clearly, a proposed Calzaghe-Jones PPV match in November trumps a proposed Pacquiao-Soto PPV match in same month.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jason Aniel.
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