AT THE WEIGH-IN, OSCAR IS TOO SERIOUS, MANNY IN GOOD MOOD
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 06 Dec 2008
Las Vegas, NV:- They did the weigh-in today and the two main combatants came in different mood. Even the body language was different.
De la Hoya appeared in a very serious mood and sat on a stool surrounded by his boys, including the loud mouth, Bernard Hopkins, de la Hoya?s leading cheer leader.
In contrast, Pacquiao, the Filipino spitfire was in very jolly mood, at times was even waving to people in the crowd whose faces he recognized. He and Buboy Fernandez seem to be enjoying the adoration of the large Filipino crowd that came to witness the event.
Could the contrasting body language mean anything?
Carlos Costa, a boxing fan from Panama indicated that perhaps de la Hoya has some concerns or even issues he must address. ? I have never seen Oscar so serious in weigh-ins. Not even when he fought the Pretty Boy Mayweather. And, he looks dried out?, he said.
Could de la Hoya be just playing coy by seating on a stool, or is he weak from all that weight loss that made him go down to 145 pounds? Apparently Team de la Hoya wanted Oscar to come in at fight night at about 157 pounds, so we will see tomorrow why de la Hoya showed the demeanor he had today.
Pacquiao in contrast appeared strong at 142 pounds. The fact that he did not have to diet and hardly had any problems in training camp allowed Pacquiao to come out with a very good demeanor. ? He looks very good?, was all a pundit can say when asked about Pacquiao?s weigh-in performance.
But looking closely as they weigh Pacquiao, scribes seated with our group mumbled that Freddie Roach looked concerned about Pacquiao?s weight. From my recollection, he was hoping that Pacquiao will come in at about 145 pounds so at fight night he can blow up to about 152 which is a good fighting weight for Pacquiao.
Yesterday people close to the Pacman said that he weigh-in at 145 lbs. And, they said he had breakfast and lunch today.
How then could he weigh 142 lbs at the weigh-in?
Could there be something wrong with the scale?
Only the Nevada Athletic Commission can answer that!
Incidentally, the crowd that attended today?s weigh-in truly validated the popularity of the two gladiators. The crowd?s frenzy was amazing, an indication that tomorrow will be one hell of a cheering contest between the Latinos and the Filipinos not to mention that it may well be the fight for the century, particularly if Pacquiao comes up on top.
Of course, George Lopez had a lot to do with it. The crazy Latino comedian was at his best again. He stirred the crowd with his knee-jerk jokes some of which are ?ethnic? ( Filipinos all have the same height, the guys and the gals?) but none-the-less are funny and appropriate for the occasion. He even called Piolin, his fellow Latino comedian, a ?puto?, something that elicited a loud laughter from the Latino crowd. He also repeatedly said the ?he will kick Bob Arum?s ass? to the delight of the crowd.
If the crowd present at the weigh-in is an indication of what is to come tomorrow, the Dream Match will be one to remember.
So be it!
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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