Pacquiao, De La Hoya prep for fight 
December 4, 2008 by Sharief Ali
Dec. 6 showdown promises excitement and hard punches
Oscar De La Hoya (left) and Manny Pacquiao (right) attended Wednesday's press conference in the lead up to Saturday's fight. Photo by: Devin Loretz
As future boxing hall-of-famers Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao (current pound-for-pound king) get set for their super fight, one thing is undeniable – this is by far the most anticipated and most intriguing fight of the year.
Before the contract for the fight was signed, feelings of a possible De La Hoya – Pacquiao fight were mixed, and on the surface, there was good reason. De La Hoya, a natural 154-pound fighter seemed to be just too big for the much smaller Pacquiao, who is a natural lightweight. The difference between the weight classes was tremendous – 19 pounds.
Granted, the two fighters are meeting at 147 pounds, but that does not count for the natural body frames of the two fighters. De La Hoya is a bigger man than Pacquiao, and it’s easy to see how that could have alienated fight fans.
Still, as time passes and fight night draws near, the energy and excitement surrounding the fight constantly builds. This is partly due to the HBO series “24/7″ which chronicled the background of the fight and the month leading up to fight night.
Manny Pacquiao (left) and trainer Freddie Roach at Wednesday’s press conference. Photo by: Devin Loretz
For De La Hoya, this is not a career-defining fight, but more of a career-redefining contest. Any one of his wins over Fernando Vargas, Julio Cesar Chavez and even his controversial loss to Felix Trinidad could be considered career-defining fights. This fight is redefining because De La Hoya, 35, is around the age where most championship-caliber boxers contemplate retirement. If De La Hoya feels great, looks great and performs well, this could open the door to a new set of challenges for the Golden Boy.
On the other hand, this is the career-defining fight for Pacquiao. Though he has fought and beat many of the top fighters in the world around his weight class, he has not fought anyone of the same caliber as De La Hoya.
The fact that De La Hoya is much bigger in size and poses such a great challenge to Pacquiao would make a victory immense.
Trainer Nacho Beristain (left) and Oscar De La Hoya are paired together for the first time. Photo by: Devin Loretz
Pacquiao has had success against many top Mexican fighters.
It can be argued that Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales were three of the most popular and beloved fighters to come out of Mexico over the last decade. Pacquiao defeated all of them by knockout or decision. While he lost a decision to Morales in their first fight, Pacquiao knocked him out in their next two matches, with the final being a devastating third round knockout.
But now, Pacquiao faces the biggest challenge of his career in De La Hoya and his entourage, which leads into another intriguing storyline that surrounds the men who are training these two fighters – Freddie Roach and Nacho Beristain.
De La Hoya’s trainer for the last few years has been Floyd Mayweather, Sr. but when De La Hoya fought Mayweather’s son, Floyd Jr., a conflict of interest caused De La Hoya to turn to Freddie Roach, current and long-time trainer of Pacquiao.
After losing the split decision to Mayweather, De La Hoya fired Roach complaining that his bad strategy cost him the fight. Roach in turn had no love lost for De La Hoya, calling him less-than-flattering names. And according to Roach, he knows De La Hoya’s weaknesses, which he seeks to help Pacquiao exploit.
On the other hand, De La Hoya has hired hall of fame trainer Beristain to train him for the fight. Beristain was the man who trained Marquez in his two fights against Pacquiao, both of which were incredibly close. It seems that De La Hoya seeks to exploit Pacquiao’s weakness through Beristain, just as Roach wishes to exploit his.
The most important of these storylines is that both of these fighters are two of the top pound-for-pound fighters of our generation. Pacquiao is a firecracker who is incapable of fighting a boring fight. He will bring the fight to De La Hoya, and rest assured, De La Hoya will bring it right back to him.
The fight takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday.
I think there’s good reason to believe this fight’s fixed from the start. It started from an idea from Roach who was at one time Dela hoya’s trainer & long time friend and maybe they still are…you have to consider that Arum & Oscar are both businessmen and would spare no expense to hype this match so great that it’s unbelievable people are buying into this mismatch….hmmmmmm….maybe it is or maybe not but when you throw in Roach’s incessant comments (hype machine at work), make it a lot more obvious that it is….
Here’s my take of the match…if it’s fixed, the pacman wins..maybe gets knocked down once in the first half of the fight but eventually overwhelms the goldenboy in the later rounds.. oscar gets to benefit from pac anyway from his future fights, which will be big if not bigger..IF IT’S NOT then goldie beats the little guy to pulp..
It’s like everytime Pacquiao seem to overcome his underdog status, his fight gets acknowledged as “fixed”.
Erik Morales, both 2nd and 3rd. Even JMM. If he wins, it’s already “fixed”? Come on, get real. The guy’s been putting up a real showcase of talent and people don’t even notice that.
When you beat the odds, that’s called greatness.
I agree with Ed. I don’t understand that at all. Can’t you guys just accept greatness and not try to make it seem like its just “fixed” Get over it
stilios300 is a mexican. He knows De la Hoya will lose that is why they condition themselves that when Mexican champions loses to an underdog, it should be a fixed fight.
If at all, it is not the nature of Pacquiao to agree on a ‘fixed; fight. Mexicans should be proud losers. At least they lose with grace and honor, and not what stilios300 and the rest of Mexicans think — and are used to in Mexico…
Anyway, Oscar lost. Surrendered in 8th round. So stilios300. eat your crows.
I too feel it may be rigged. DLH threw weak and barely any punches on his first and second rounds. Then his knees starts to give in in later rounds but yet not huffing and puffing when he sits at his breaks. huh? Seeing Oscar fights in years this truly wasn’t his style. He would take shots that he could but DIDN’T on this one. Its just really odd. Also after the fight he just gave all the comments away without flinching as if he just knew what to say. Just easily bowed down. A shot of Oscars wife also didn’t show any concern when oscar was being pummeled. did she just expect it? When asked if Oscar was surprised with the outcome he flatly just said no. Just seems to all point to a fixed fight. He just took it too gracefully. The surrender, the first round, just everything generally. Its always possible that he just didn’t have the heart anymore but this just seems there was more of a direction (to lose).
Why would the fight be fixed in favor of Pacquiao? While Manny proved to be the far superior fighter, DLH still remains the bigger box office draw. Of course, that could change quickly if Manny/Floyd happens, but there’s really no incentive for DLH to throw the fight. DLH has been an old, washed-up fighter for at least the last 3 years, possibly longer. If you watched the Steve Forbes fight, Forbes was hitting DLH with some solid punches. I’ve never been one to defend the integrity of boxing, and if there was some controversial decision based on the scorecards, I might be thinking about your argument, but for DLH to fix a fight by coming out for 8 rounds and getting completely destroyed doesn’t make any sense.
then his lack of performances without really hard tofind reasons also boggles recognized boxing analysts. Looking at the fight again still gives the sense of question. His first round already shows his lacking and that can’t be from fatigue or anything else that contradicts his 3 minuntes sparring sessions in the gym. It really is still strange.
another idea just want t throw in is that if DLH won the fight then there is no other Pacman “dream matches” it will probabaly stop there. By Oscar loosing he opened the door to fight bigger guys. Manny would be bring money to Golden Boy Productions perhaps? if manny lost also the hype of boxing would diminish further. oscar business sense
I totally belive the first guy. People act like fights are never fixed. Look at the trainers and the comments and the HBO crew. He is just too fast you can’t win. Have you ever heard anything like that?
Most manny fans don’t know much about boxing.They just started watching since pacman started winning, so Manny fans might be repeating what they heared on T.V. Announcers are not allowed to say what they really think. remember DLH vs. Mosely II. That was George forman’s last day as a HBO boxing announcer; watch the tape? If manny was to fast, a boxer’s jab nutrializes the speed. Manny’s a south paw ,so DLH could have moved to left all night to stay away from the straight left by pacman.Pacman wasn’t too fast For DLH. Pacman only looked fast cause he was the only one throwing punches. In addition DHL’s reach , Speed, and Power and lt’s let’s not forget DHL has 10 Belts. you think pacman’s style was baffling to DLH; think again. DLH has faced dangerous fighters such as Trinidad, Vargas, Qurtey and Mosley in which DLH fought back and at least came out of the fight with a split decision against DLH. Pacman man was taylor made for DLH. With no defence and only offence, wide punches and a little wild at times he’s a fighter similar to Miorga or Hatton. Pacman has been on the canvas by Light weights and been hit and blooded by less fighters than DLH, so PPV/HBO wants us to believe DLH couldn’t figure pacman out? At the start, DLH looked worried, and his wife looked unconcerened toward the end of the fight ? IT WAS FIXED. I’m a DLH fan but moreover I’m a boxing Fan. Manny deserves all the credit ,but DLH had other plans that night.
Mayfox,
you should go back to watching ping pong or practice Kareoke Stillos 300 never said Pacman was in on the fix. DLH was the person who fixed the fight. A true Boxing fan loves all fighters that FIGHT including Pacman. Were not taking anything from Pacman . It’s DLH who caused all this mess.
Finally somebody who can see behind the curtain. Thank u sir for having an open mind. You are correct on the fact that Oscar and Arum are good friends who would benefit greatly if Pac won. Pac is a great Warrior that was in need of world wide recognition. This fight was Pac introduction to Super Stardom by Oscar and Arum to set up the bigger fights. Pac is a Beast but the connection of Roach,Oscar and Arum are suspect. Oscar is going into retirement to be fully engaged in Golden Boy promotions. He needs a young Superstar to headline his roster. Besides money Arum could be helping Oscar setup Golden Boys future because he’s getting older at looks at Oscar as the top promoter of the future or Oscar could be helping Arum promote his young Superstar Manny Pacquiao. Look at Oscar at the end when he said now you are my Idol. That was the passing of the torch and the stamp of approval in front of the whole wide world that Manny Pacquiao is now the New Golden Boy of Boxing. We all know that Oscar could of fought better then he did. The fight was a set up Point Blank.
It’s easy to say that those who don’t believe this match was fixed are either Filipinos or amateur boxing fans. Enjoy the disillusion of your pride while it last.
i too believe that this is fixed. it is all planned..see enumeration
1. what is the real reason behind the retirement of mayweather?
-to prepare for future bouts. so that DLH, hatton and pacquiao would have to match first. this is to avoid conflicts
2. golden boy is a businessman.
-he already had the glory before. now it won’t be important and money will be all that matters. he earned in the match and will earn in the future matches as a promoter.
3. they say pacquiao is the heart of boxing at the present for there are no other explosive or exciting boxers coming right out of the heavy weight division like before.
-then what would happen to boxing industry if manny would lose this fight?
4. it is evident on the actual fight. DLH did not even try to win