A GOLDEN SPECTACLE?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 01 Sep 2008
Oscar dela Hoya versus Manny Pacquiao will be a huge sports event. Boxing has seen its share of circuses before. We have seen a woman fight a man inside the ring and win. In 1957 then world heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson fought 1956 Olympic gold medallist Pete Rademacher who had no pro experience and KO?d him in the sixth. Muhammad Ali fought Japanese pro wrestler Antonio Inoki. The later part of Mike Tyson?s career was a tragic freak show. So why not dela Hoya vs. Pacquiao?
Boxing also has its share of great legacy creating fights. Will this fight contribute to the legacy of both boxers?
Will Pacquiao really present a challenge for dela Hoya? The Pacman will certainly be the fastest man the Golden Boy will face in the ring. Oscar does have problems with speedy fighters. His narrow controversial win over Pernell Whitaker and his losses to Shane Mosley are a testament to that. Pacquiao is faster than both boxers.
Pacquiao?s power has carried him to victory even when he was still an unschooled fighter. But Oscar has a decent chin and his stoppage loss was due to a body blow from Bernard Hopkins. He can take Manny?s shots the way he took punches from the likes of Felix Trinidad, Ike Quartey and Fernando Vargas. Dela Hoya has also fought up to the middleweight division. But in his last bout against Steve Forbes ? a former 130 lb. titlist - he took more shots than he should have and finished the fight with a bruised mug. Every fighter mentioned in the sweepstakes for Oscar?s last bout definitely smelled opportunity watching that fight. Pacquiao definitely can outhustle this latter day version of dela Hoya.
The obvious size advantage will be there however. There are worn out basketball sayings about you cannot teach height and quick players get tired but tall players never shrink. This could very well apply here. Oscar could just very well wait it out until the later rounds before going in for the kill. He can hit as well and his left hook will be a potent weapon against the southpaw Pacquiao.
Oscar dela Hoya is one those rare boxers who when he fights its more than just boxing match, it?s an event. Manny Pacquiao has now entered this realm. It has been reported that Manny could earn the equivalent of a billion pesos for this fight. A win would make him immortal. A close competitive loss would also be financially rewarding in terms of future bouts. The plus side factors in this fight are on Manny?s side. An Oscar win will be dismissed as another good big man beating a good small fighter. A loss for dela Hoya will definitely tarnish what could have been a golden exit.
Top graphic Pacquiao-De La Hoya image courtesy of a Pacland forum member.
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