Heart, Not Size, Matters in Oscar-Manny Fight
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 28 Sep 2008
"It is not the size that matters but the fighting heart," this was what my father told his sons up until he passed away in 1995.
Back then, I felt it was his way of assuaging our feelings realizing that he had sired 11 sons deficient in height and heft. But looking back, I really think he was right after all because in my life, I have engaged people bigger than I am and beat them, physically and politically.
When people started issuing warnings that Manny Pacquiao's decision to take up the taller and bigger Oscar dela Hoya was like getting a hammer to hit his head, it would seem like they have not heard of the lessons my father told us.
Yes, Manny Pacquiao is shorter and smaller giving away at least two inches in height. But do people know what is the size of the Pacman's heart?
I have been involved with boxing for so long and I have known a lot of boxers, characters even, in this sleazy business. I have seen a long line of brilliant boxers who moved like ballerinas in the sparring ring. But on fight night, they fought like a scared street dog who barked with his tail in between his legs.
Believe me, I have not seen a fighter with a heart as big as Manny Pacquiao's or a pride so robust that makes him feel he could beat anybody inside the ring.
"Hey, why are you so scared? You are not the one fighting. I am," Manny once told his handlers who appeared jittery before a big fight.
The images of Manny Pacquiao knocked out cold in his young career but still struggling to get back on his feet or badly bloodied by Erik Morales in their first bout but fighting on with just one good eye, are testaments to the heart of this greatest Filipino fighter of all time.
But it is more than just his heart and pride, factors that are totally intangible, that would bring Manny Pacquiao a victory over Oscar dela Hoya.
There are two other factors that will decide this fight: Age and Fighting Style.
Oscar dela Hoya was a great fighter. Now, he is old and I mean no disrespect.
The effect of age was clearly seen in his last fight against the smaller and shorter Steve Forbes, who, while admittedly a brilliant ring tactician, lacks the power of a Pacquiao. At the end of that fight which I thought was an easy one for Oscar, he came out of the ring with welts all over his face and panting like a horse who ran a mile and a quarter.
Oscar is old. Or to put it more diplomatically -- past his prime. A younger Oscar would have been very dangerous for Manny Pacquiao. But not the Oscar of 2008. He will be not match to the speed and youth of the Filipino boxing icon.
And then there's the fighting style. Oscar delivers his punches from the outside. Indeed, he throws a good jab but after two thrusts of the jab, he goes off balance. His roundhouses would leave him open to the powerful straights of Manny.
This is how I see the fight to unfold: Oscar will attack in the early rounds knowing that he will have to reckon with a second foe named "Old Age" halfway in the fight.
Manny, on the other hand, will back off, pirouette towards the center of the ring as he did in the fight against David Diaz. He will be patient in this fight because he has a friend named "Youth" to back him up in the second half.
Manny will sense for telltale signs of fatigue towards the second half and when he sees that Oscar will start snorting like a bull, he will charge, tagging Oscar with jabs, uppercuts and straights.
And Oscar will wilt under this barrage of punches from Manny.
My prediction: Manny Pacquiao will knock out the great Oscar dela Hoya in the second half of the fight. It should be between the 8th to the 10th rounds.
That victory will not only be a great day for Philippine boxing and the Filipino nation.
It will also a great boost to the morale of small people like me.
In boxing, as in life, height, after all, is not might.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
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