SULAIMAN RIDICULES PACQUIAO-DE LA HOYA FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 30 Jul 2008
Sulaiman.
World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman has ridiculed the planned showdown between Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao and ?The Golden Boy? Oscar De La Hoya.
Well-known boxing writer and TV reporter James Blears told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Sulaiman had described the fight as ?ridiculous, absurd. It?s a fraud to the public and it cannot happen.?
Sulaiman asked ?what are they going to do? Stuff Manny with tamales plus beans and reduce Oscar in the steam bath to bring them together??
According to Blears, Don Jose also warned ?its about time that some people in boxing stopped thinking about names and money. Manny Pacquiao has only recently won the lightweight title. It's been 13 years since Oscar De La Hoya last made that weight and in that thirteen years he has gone up four weight divisions.?
De La Hoya won the WBO lightweight title with a second round knockout of Jorge Paez at the MGM Grand on July 29, 1994. However, if the fight against Pacquiao pushes through it will be at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds not the lightweight limit of 135.
The WBC president said De La Hoya has two principal options. 1. For his last fight to be against a decent fighter and then enjoy a well-deserved WBC gala dinner to celebrate his extraordinary boxing achievements and 2. ?If Oscar wants a real fight it's Antonio Margarito and no one else. If he wants to go out with a sincere risk of losing to a big puncher who is always throwing punches like a windmill.?
Sulaiman also confirmed that the WBC will order Humberto Soto to fight for the super featherweight title in the next few days with his opponent to be decided by a vote of the WBC board of governors.
Meantime, Pacquiao has yet to officially decide on whether he wants to vacate the super featherweight title he won via a split decision over Juan Manuel Marquez and retain the lightweight belt he won with a 9th round knockout over David Diaz.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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