Heart for Pacquiao, wallet for DL Hoya

By Al S. Mendoza

MANNY Pacquiao, 29, is a four-time world champ in four weight divisions.

Oscar De La Hoya, 35, is a 10-time world champ in six weight divisions.

Pacquiao is 5-foot-6.

De La Hoya is 5-foot-10; is almost 5-foot-11.

Pacquiao’s reach is shorter by almost six inches than De La Hoya’s.

Pacquiao had bulked up from 135 to 147.

De La Hoya had gone down from 160 to 147.

In boxing, when you go up in weight, your speed will suffer.

In boxing, when you go down in weight, your speed is doubled.

After the weigh-in, a boxer usually gains weight – almost about 10 pounds.

But, alas, not in Pacquiao’s case this time.

A natural lightweight at 135, Pacquiao will find it hard to carry a load of from 147 to 155 once he climbs the ring to fight De La Hoya. I even doubt he could grab a 155 at fight time.

Not in De La Hoya’s case.

From 147, De La Hoya will easily balloon to 157. And, remember, his fighting weight because of his height of 5-foot-10 is 160!

Thus, all the big factors a boxer needs to win are seemingly stacked in De La Hoya’s favor.

So, when they fight today, December 7 (December 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada), who do you think would win?

The taller De La Hoya?

The longer in reach De La Hoya?

The 10-time world champ De La Hoya?

The heavier De La Hoya?

If your answer is yes, I won’t debate with you.

You are using logic, not magic.

You are using reason, not emotion.

But if you are reading this piece at half past noon today, December 7, chances are the fight might be over.

I wrote this in advance to beat deadlines. (Our Julie Ann Arrogante, the PUNCH’S Online Administrator, is strict in deadlines, you know.)

They say De La Hoya is old dog at 35.

I don’t buy that.

At 35, De La Hoya is less “ring battered” than Pacquiao.

In 44 fights, De La Hoya has lost five times-but except for that eighth-round knockout he absorbed against Bernard Hopkins last year-the other defeats Oscar suffered were close, if not controversial, split decisions.

Of De La Hoya’s 39 wins, 30 were by knockout. That’s a high percentage knockout for the Olympic gold medalist in Barcelona in 1992.

In 52 fights, Pacquiao has lost three times-the first two by knockout and the third on points against Erik Morales in their first encounter in 2005. (Pacquiao went on to knock Morales out in their subsequent second and third fights in 2006.)

Now the hardest part: my fearless forecast.

My heart is for Pacquiao, but my wallet goes to De La Hoya.

I can only hope I’m wrong.

I feel everything’s going De La Hoya’s way, not to mention that the legendary Angelo Dundee, Muhammad Ali’s trainer, is also in his camp.

The one and only time I had bet against De La Hoya was in his fight with Hopkins; I won.

This time, too, it’s my first time to bet against Pacquiao.

Will I lose?

Did I lose?

Well, if I did, there’s always the first time.

(Readers may reach columnist at alsol47@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/general-admission/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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