PACQUIAO'S MOM TO HER SON: DON'T BET YOUR LIFE FOR MONEY
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 01 Aug 2008
Dionisia Pacquiao.
Cebu City -- Manny Pacquiao's mother, Dionisia, strongly objects to her son fighting against Oscar de la Hoya saying that the Golden Boy is too big for him and advises her son to "not bet his life for money."
"Matapang na kung matapang. Alam ko nasa dugo namin yong katapangan pero dapat ilagay mo sa tamang lugar yong katapangan mo. Masyadong malaki si Oscar para sa anak ko (Yes, he [Manny] is fearless. I know fearlessness is in our blood but you have to put it in its proper place. Oscar is too big for my son)," thus says Aling Dionisia who is a Waray by descent, said to be one of the most courageous inhabitants of the Philippine islands.
"Huwag mong itaya ang buhay mo dahil lang sa pera (Don't bet your life just because of money)", adds the frank and very likeable mother of the Filipino boxing superstar who is here to support her other son Bobby who will be fighting tomorrow night against Decho Bankluaygym of Thailand for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific lightweight crown at the Waterfront Hotel.
Aling Dionisia admitted though that she has yet to personally talk to Manny about the proposed De La Hoya fight.
The proposed De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight on Dec. 6, with both protaginists already issuing statements of their desire to consumate the deal, has widely divided the opinion of the boxing world. The 5'-10 1/2" De La Hoya has been fighting as junior middleweight and middleweight (154-160 lbs) in the last 7 seven years while the 5'-6" Pacquiao has been fighting in the featherweights the last seven years and fought at lightweight (135 lbs) only last June 28.
The glaring height and weight disparity between the two is the reason why many are saying that the proposed fight is a sham, a mistmatch and an exhibition.
Several experts however have given Pacquiao, the current pound-for-pound king on the planet and at the peak of his career, a genuine chance of beating the aging De La Hoya who has declared that Dec. 6 will be the last fight of his illustrious career.
Pacquiao's trainer, two-time trainer of the year and highly revered coach Freddie Roach who had also trained De La Hoya has said that he will not allow his fighter (Pacquiao) to fight only to get hurt. Roach said that with Pacquiao's speed and power, there is a good chance Pacquiao will knock out De La Hoya.
Another highly-respected and well-experienced trainer, Hector Roca of the Gleason's Gym fame and a recent Cebu visitor, echoed Roach's sentiment, saying that Pacquiao has more than even chance of beating De La Hoya.
Whichever side of the fence you are in this in this very intriguing matchup, the opposing opinions will surely flood the boxing world in the days to come, especially if the contracts would have finally been signed, sealed and delivered.
Is anyone really sure of the outcome of this fight? Don't bet your life on it.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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