Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya: One for his Legacy

One for his Legacy
Pacquioa vs. De La Hoya
by rick olivares

History is replete with athletes who hung around too long… Willie Mays, Muhammad Ali, and Dominique Wilkins are but a few.

Some have had a modicum of success like Michael Jordan and for people like Brett Favre, the jury is still out.

The Dream Match between Oscar De La Hoya and Many Pacquiao is what precisely it says, but it’s equal parts sell out for the Golden Boy and a huge opportunity to vault Pacman to heights previously unreached by any Filipino boxer. So I’d say that it at the end of it all, it’s a Legacy Match with enormous ramifications for either one.

The numbers game isn’t solely about their take home pay but the traditional tale of the tape: Oscar is 35 years old and has in 16 years fought 44 times with 39 wins and 30 coming by way of knockout. But already, Oscar is so far removed from his Gold Medal days in Barcelona. In the last several years, he’s fought so infrequently that he’s become a part-time fighter. Maybe even more tellingly, in his last two fights, he fought well in the opening rounds where he earned his points. But in the later rounds, that’s where De La Hoya faded.

Since his fight with Luis Ramon Campas in May of 2003, Oscar has alternated in wins and losses. If the trend continues, after he survived Forbes in a unanimous decision earlier this year, he’s probably due for a loss. No one will put their faith in such trends although Oscar’s camp will pay attention to it. Maybe that’s why Angelo Dundee is also in his corner; they know it’s a huge fight with not only an enormous payday but a win will cement his legacy and allow him to retire. A loss will not entirely tarnish his reputation but rather lump him in that list of athletes who stayed way past their prime. It’s a sensational match-up all right: height, strength, and reach versus stamina, speed, and an iron-clad determination.

At this point, what ghosts is Manny Pacquiao chasing on his way to immortality? The Catch-22 of boxing as a sport is one loss can undo a meticulously-crafted career. Pacquiao has kicked butt and taken names on his way to this bonanza. And it is of no surprise that he’s felled Oscar’s countrymen thus earning the sobriquet of “the Mexican Killer.”

At 29 years of age, Pacquiao is entering his prime. Already he has fought more than De La Hoya with 52. He has won 47 and knocked out 35 of his foes. He’s lost only thrice with only two draws. Since he took it on the chin for a loss via unanimous decision to Erik Morales in March of 2005, Pacman has mowed down eight straight foes and a virtual who’s who list in boxing.

The match against De La Hoya is enticing not just for the riches he will amass form it but at this point, it’s also for his place in boxing’s firmament. Word is Pacquiao has gotten stronger and his speed is even more blinding. He is in top shape and his willingness to mix it up will put Oscar on the defensive.

The Golden Boy has shown however, that he can take as much punishment as he can dish it out. But he’s not fought anyone who’s essential game plan is all-out action. Oscar will have to resort to a more tactical and methodical strategy if he wants to survive because he knows he cannot go toe-to-toe at his age.

Pacquiao will feel Oscar out in the early rounds just to see what his game plan is and what kind of shape he’s in. Once they’ve tasted blood, the warrior in both will see them come out slugging. And that’s when it’s not about the money or legacy, but two of the best mano-a-mano fighters is how that at the end of the day they both want to be remembered. And Manny will be a handful for the Golden Boy who will might have to surrender that monicker at the fight’s end.

Say what you will, but you want this fight to happen. And I see it Pacquiao in 8.