Against DL Hoya, Pacquiao needs Vicky Belo

By Al S. Mendoza

I HOPE I am wrong, but, seemingly, Manny Pacquiao has started to go overboard.

I mean, is he going nuts?

I say that because Pacman is really seriously considering fighting Oscar De La Hoya.

“I can not only handle him,” said Pacquiao of De La Hoya. “I can also beat him.”

My, oh, my.

What has gone to the head of Pacquiao? Success? Or plain insanity?

Success can make people insane.

Insanity can make people think they have become a success.

* * * *

For starters, let’s measure them.

Umm. De La Hoya is 5-foot-11, Pacquiao 5-foot-5, take or give away a few millimeters.

Weight? De La Hoya fights at 154 lbs, Pacquiao 135 lbs.

De La Hoya has won more than five world titles in different weight categories.

Pacquiao has tucked under his belt four world crowns, the latest being the 135-lb title.

And to think that Pacquiao has just fought his first 135-lb bout – against David Diaz whom he destroyed in 9 brutal rounds.

Now, for him to go up to a much heavier weight, why, it is unthinkable. Simply put its plain crazy.

I said, it was all right when Pacquiao hopped from 130 lbs to 135 lbs to face Diaz. To a boxer, especially in the mold of a Pacquiao, five pounds is nothing.

* * * *

People were then saying Pacquiao was treading dangerous territory when he decided to move up to 135, citing the dark period when Flash Elorde failed twice to wrest the 135 lb crown after being champ in the 130-lb weight for seven years.

Not with Pacquiao, I kept saying then.

At 29, Pacquiao was ripe for 135. He had been world champ at 112, 122 and 130. And then 135 only last June, which he handily accomplished against the reigning world champ himself, Diaz.

In praise of Pacquiao’s brilliance during their fight, Diaz said, “Will somebody please tell me the plate number of that truck that just whizzed by me?”

The truck (Pacquiao) was so fast Diaz said he didn’t see it coming.

* * * *

The tallest that Pacquiao had fought thus far was a 5-foot-8 by the name of Jorge Solis, another Mexican, in the 130-lb division. He knocked out Solis in the eighth.

At 5-foot-11, De La Hoya could become Pacquiao’s tallest opponent if and when – God forbid – they finally meet on Dec. 6.

I can only add one more thing about this fight being crazily cooked up.

Money. Yes, money.

For Pacquiao, it’s simply money.

First, it was reported Pacquiao could get as much as $20 million. That’d be approximately P1 billion, making him a certified billionaire in the Philippines!

Then it went down to possibly $10 million, with $5 million in pay-per-view (PPV) earnings — De La Hoya being the king of boxing’s PPV hits.

* * * *

But I must insist it’s unimaginable to even expect a decent fight when the two finally come to blows.

Pacquiao will keep on running, eluding harm’s way that can only be expected to come from De La Hoya.

Yes, De La Hoya is 35 years old and there’s some rust developing on his knees.

But against a much smaller, much lighter opponent in Pacquiao, De La Hoya will not find much difficulty snatching a victory -even on points as his reach and height advantage will score the blows needed to win a decision.

* * * *

They will fight at 147, if ever, which means Pacquiao will add up 12 pounds and De La Hoya will shed off 7 pounds.

For De La Hoya, 7 pounds to kill is peanuts.

But 12 pounds to bulk up Pacquiao?

Pacquiao is simply going insane.

I’ll not be surprised, too, if Pacquiao, who is giving away 6 inches in height to De La Hoya, will suddenly go to Vicky Belo to pay for miracle injections to increase his height.

In boxing, size might not matter, as in many other aspects in life.

But not height. Height is both length and reach. In boxing, if you have them both and you are good like De La Hoya, the job is 50 percent done.

In short, length has more reach that, in the end, it can translate into sweet success on any course you want to play.

(Readers may reach columnist at also147@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.)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments