PACQUIAO IS UNFAZED BY UNDERDOG STATUS
By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Dec 2008
San Francisco, CA?This won?t be the first time WBC Lightweight titlist, Manny Pacquiao, has entered the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Area as the underdog. In his debut in the United States, Pacquiao was a huge underdog against IBF Jr. Featherweight titlist Lehlo Ledwaba. Pacquiao was virtually unknown in the United States and took the fight on 14 days notice. Many ringside observers felt Ledwaba was too much for Filipino fighter. However, in unfamiliar territory, Pacquiao smiled and blasted his way into the boxing limelight, scoring the upset victory and shocking the boxing world. Larry Merchant of HBO said it best during his call of the fight, ?I?ve never seen or heard of him before, but now I want to see him again?.
The Ledwaba fight was just one example of Manny?s ability to rise above adversity to win a fight. At 19-years-old, he entered a boxing ring in Thailand and won his first world title, stopping Chatchai Sasakul after being way down on points. Pacquiao was also a 4-1 underdog when he stopped Marco Antonio Barrera in 11 rounds back in 2004.
This Saturday, Pacquiao fights former Middleweight titlist, Oscar De La Hoya, as a 2-1 underdog. The majority of boxing journalist and writers predict that De La Hoya is too tall, big, and strong for Pacquiao to handle. The growing theme surrounding this fight is a ?see it to believe it? belief in Pacquiao?s success over De La Hoya. For any Lightweight to move up two weight classes and defeat a top 10 Super Welterweight is an accomplishment we need to see to believe.
But if there is ever a fighter who can dispense with common beliefs and do the ?impossible?, it?s Manny Pacquiao. He?s done it before.
QUICK JABS ON THE DREAM FIGHT
Both Oscar and Manny return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, seeking get back into the win column in that venue. De La Hoya lost to Floyd Mayweather in 2008 and Pacquiao lost to Erik Morales in 2005 (in fact, Manny hasn?t won at the MGM since knocking Ledwaba in 2001)?This is the first time since 2004 that De La Hoya has fought more than one time in 12 months. In 2004, he was given a decision victory against Felix Strum and suffered his only knockout loss to Bernard Hopkins later that year?Manny loves ?Pac-Mandalay Bay?. He fought three times at that hotel, winning all three?How confident are both fighters in victory? Both are hosting victory parties after the fight?
MORE QUICK JABS
Is it me or are there a lot of Filipino fighters suffering defeats leading up to the Dream Match? Bobby Pacquiao and Rey Bautista lost fights they were projected to win. Also, Juanito Rubillar recently lost to Edgar Sosa for the WBC Light Flyweight title?Speaking of Rubillar, I was able to watch the fight and felt Rubillar gave a admirable effort in his title challenge. Fighting in Sosa?s home country, Rubillar was able to push Sosa and make him fight. Sosa had to give it his all to score the victory. Rubillar was in the fight before a single body shot hurt Rubillar, who was not able to recover before the end of the 7th round. Official judge for the bout, Rey Danseco, scored the fight most accurately at 58-55 for Sosa. Danseco was congratulated on his performance by the WBC.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jason Aniel.
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