Pacquiao vs De La Hoya

De La Hoya should make short work of Pacquiao

By Jerry Magee

UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

September 2, 2008

Puzzling, I would say. Oscar De La Hoya, wanting a signal triumph as a final footnote to his distinguished career, chooses to engage a guy nowhere near his size.

De La Hoya's opponent on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas: Manny Pacquiao. A champion in five weight classifications, Pacquiao is a fiery little fellow. Underscore “little.” When he began boxing in 1995, Pacquiao was fighting at 107 pounds. His match against De La Hoya is at 147, which is 12 pounds more than Pacquiao has weighed for any of his appearances. Neither at a listed 5 feet 6½ does he have the height to deal with De La Hoya.

If his legacy is his concern, De La Hoya, 35, could have acted more wisely in selecting a rival for what is expected to be his last fight. Should Oscar win, which he almost certainly will, his victory is likely to be dismissed as having come from picking on a little guy.

It was Jim Murray who said, “The good big man doesn't always beat the good little man, but that's the way to bet.” It is here.

Pacquiao does not agree. He said during a news conference that he watched De La Hoya's most recent bout against Steve Forbes at the Home Depot Center where De La Hoya, boxing at 150, failed to drop Forbes, pretty much a journeyman, and was wobbled a time or two.

“I think I'm faster and stronger than him, and I'm younger,” Pacquiao argued. “My speed is going to be a big factor in this fight. He has the advantage in height, but I believe that I am stronger than him.”

Concluded Pacquiao: “This is the focus of my boxing career, because this is a visit from God.”

The celestial reference aside, De La Hoya also should be coming calling, although he discounts his apparent advantages. “Size really isn't going to be that much of a big difference,” De La Hoya said.

Point of order: It is all the difference. The thing that struck me the first time I observed Oscar was how wide his shoulders were. He clearly was a man whose structure would permit him to get much heavier, which he has. He has boxed at as much as 160 (against Felix Sturm in June 2004).

Some months ago, promoter Bob Arum brought Pacquiao to a publicity function at a restaurant in Old Town. After standing next to Manny, I have to say of his listed height, “By whose ruler?” If he is 5-6½, I am Yao Ming.

For motivation, De La Hoya has the remarks of Freddie Roach, formerly his trainer and now Pacquiao's handler. Roach has said De La Hoya no longer can get off his punches and that Pacquiao could stop him.

“That started getting into my head,” Oscar said. “It started to become a challenge to me. And these are the type of events that really get me fired up. I understand the relentless style that Manny has; I understand the speed he has. So, for me, as a 35-year-old fighter, it really is a big challenge.”

Source: www.signonsandiego.com