I must admit I was wrong. But so were Bob Arum and Freddie Roach.
In a previous article, entitled “Not exactly a mismatch,” I dared defy veteran boxing writers and experts and even some Filipinos, who said the “Dream Match” between Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao was a mismatch, and that De la Hoya would just toy with Pacquiao.
I pointed out in that article that De la Hoya has been relatively inactive with just seven fights in the last five years, winning five (only by two by KO) and losing two. On the other hand, Pacquiao fought 14 gruelling matches over the same period, winning 12 (9 by KO), losing one (to Erik Morales in the first of three fights) and drawing one (against Juan Manuel Marquez in their first fight).
In conclusion, I said: “If you still think Saturday’s Dream Match is a mismatch, let me remind you that there are at least six equalizers in this battle – De la Hoya’s reduction in weight, inactivity, and older age, and Pacquiao’s power, speed and heart (others call it guts). And if you think it will be a nightmare for Pacquiao, you got another think coming.”
Arum and Freddie Roach also said it would be a great fight, not a mismatch as many others claim.
Well, the media and the experts were right. It was indeed a mismatch, but on the side of De la Hoya, who was obviously not at par with Pacquiao’s speed, power and heart.
From the time the bell sounded to start the fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, I could sense the fear in De la Hoya’s face. It did not reflect the confidence he had in his fights during his prime. While he showed confidence before the fight in predicting he would knock out Pacquiao in the fifth round, it did not show in the ring. He was too cautious.
De la Hoya may still have had the heart to fight, but he did not have the fire in that heart. Failing to land a punch on the agile Pacquiao, De la Hoya was visibly frustrated and despirited. He started backing when Pacquiao stung him with left straights to the face in Round 2. When Pacquiao started hitting him with body shots, De la Hoya’s jabs and punches became rarer.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, didn’t want to be the underdog and chased De la Hoya throughout the fight. He was relentless.
Instead of De la Hoya stinging Pacquiao with jabs, it was the Filipino boxer who reddened De la Hoya’s face with jabs after jabs, followed by left and right combinations.
When De la Hoya couldn’t connect with his much vaunted left jab and left hook in the very first round, it was clear to this writer that Pacquiao would prove me right, that he would overwhelm De la Hoya with his speed, power and agility. He ducked and bobbed, frustrating De la Hoya’s jabs and left hooks, at the same time pummeling De la Hoya with body shots and powerful punches to the head.
At the end of the seventh round, where Pacquiao nearly knocked him out in De la Hoya’s own corner, the Golden Boy was reduced to a bloody and swollen pulp. When the bell rang for the eighth, he remained seated on his stool for a while, his hands down, as if having second thoughts about going on. He did stand, only to be punished again by Pacquiao throughout the round.
It was sad watching the legend getting punished like that. I have always been a fan of De la Hoya since the time he won the gold in Barcelona, and have watched many of his fights on HBO. He is definitely one of the greatest boxers of all time.
But his time has come to a close. And a new Golden Boy of boxing has emerged. Pacquiao is the new “King of Boxing,” as Arum described him during the post-fight press conference.
The unbelievers were suddenly believers. Light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins, a good friend and partner of De la Hoya and who said De la Hoya would take Pacquiao to school, said Pacquiao is definitely one of the five best boxers in the world and certain to be a Hall of Famer. Shane Mosley, another partner of De la Hoya at the Golden Boy Promotions and one the few who defeated De la Hoya, agreed that Pacquiao is now the best pound-for-pound fighter.
Michael Buffer, the ringside announcer famous for his line “Let’s get ready to rumble,” said it rightly when he said before announcing the winner: “Tonight, we turn a page in boxing history.”
That night, the era of Oscar de la Hoya came to a close, and the era of Manny Pacquiao started. Everybody within the 130 lbs. (super bantamweight) and 147 lbs. (junior welterweight) will want to fight him, not only for the money but to be proclaimed the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. And Manny can choose his opponent and, of course, dictate his share of the purse.
England’s Ricky Hatton should come next sometime next year. Hatton is not as fast as Pacquiao, but packs a solid punch like him. And he can engage in a brawling match, unlike De la Hoya. But this early, I can say that Pacquiao would beat him, too.
After Hatton, I don’t see Pacquiao fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. at once. He should first complete a trilogy with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, who he defeated by a split decision in a bloody fight in the second early this year. Pacquiao was held to a draw in their first fight in 2004 after flooring Marquez three times in the first round.
He can take his time fighting other pretenders to the best pound-for-pound title and make some more money before finally facing it up with Mayweather, the undefeated former best pound-for-pound fighter in the world before his retirement. Mayweather would certainly come out of retirement for that other Dream Match.
But those would all come later. For now, Pacquiao can bask in the glory of his greatest victory thus far.