'OSCAR DELA HOYA COULD DERAIL PACQUIAO'S POLITICAL PLANS'
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Sep 2008
Manny Pacquiao's fight against Oscar De La Hoya on December 6 is a must win for the Filipino boxing icon and he should come out with his main faculties intact so he can retire and concentrate on his political plans in 2010. A defeat could mean his demoralization and might wreck him psychologically; a knockout loss could even inflict irreparable damage on his physical health.
This was the warning made by businessman-sportsman Daniel P. Sumagaysay in a sports forum dubbed "Ilonggo Power" held at the Danny's Restaurant and Catering Services in Pototan, Iloilo yesterday (September 2) where he enumerated the possible post fight scenario of the biggest and perhaps most expensive boxing showdown involving two boxing superstars from the Philippines and the United States.
Sumagaysay, 52, founder of the "Manny Pacquiao Team Iloilo", said now that Pacquiao has revealed his political plans in 2010,
his detractors both inside and outside the ring might take potshots at his being a politician rather than his being a boxing champion.
Sumagaysay said at this early, some of these detractors have already undermined his chances against De La Hoya (39-5, 30 KOs) citing the big disparity between the two in height and weight.
"The same detractors will criticize him and his handlers heavily if he will lose to De La Hoya," Sumagaysay said. "They will badmouth him even more when after the defeat to De La Hoya, Pacquiao will still insist in running for congressman and announce his candidacy in the 2010 elections."
Sumagaysay (right) talks to fellow boxing patron Mayor Isabelo Maquino of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo in a sports forum. Photo by Alex P. Vidal
But if Pacquiao (47-3, 35 KOs) will upset the 35-year-old gold medalist in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Sumagaysay said "these detractors will join in singing praises to Pacquiao but will continue to stab him in the back for abandoning the sport that gave him millions of pesos in exchange for an elective position."
He said De La Hoya could spoil the 2010 political quest of the 29-year-old Pacquiao if the Mexican-American ringster will administer a severe beating on his "smaller" opponent.
"Let us hope and pray that Pacquiao will not get hurt," Sumagaysay said. "We, of course, want him to win; but if De La Hoya will beat him, we wish that he can erecover soon."
Sumagaysay, who claimed he is a boxing fan and patron since the early 70's and the 80's when he was in Manila, said although both protagonists will meet in the 147 pounds, "it cannot be denied that De La Hoya is already a natural middlewight in his present age while Pacquiao has fought only once in the lightweight division."
Pacquiao is expected to get more or less US$20 million, his biggest paycheck in a career that started in 1995, including his share in the pay-per-view.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
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