Hopkins victory, a warning to Pacquiao

By Jesus A. Garcia

MANNY PACQUIAO’s trainer Freddie Roach keeps on saying that his ward will win against Oscar de la Hoya and most likely via knockout. He maintains De la Hoya can no longer pull the trigger because De la Hoya, at 35 years of age, is already old and has passed his prime.

But lately, after the Kelly Pavlik-Bernard Hopkins middleweight battle last Sunday, Roach is now singing a different tune. This time he says in case Pacman will be mauled by De la Hoya during their coming December 6 mega fight, he’s ready to throw in the towel to save his ward. (Obviously to preserve Pacman for another lucrative clash against Briton Rick Hatton for the 140-pound collision).

I watched, and I believe Roach, too, watched that Hopkins-Pavlik middleweight non-title encounter where the aging Hopkins, 43, clearly pummeled the youthful and undefeated Pavlik, 26. In that classic battle, the former world undisputed middleweight king Hopkins displayed his indefatigable dexterity to surprise the heavily favored and young Pavlik.

Maybe Roach perhaps finally realized that a man with an exceptional attitude like Hopkins, and the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games gold medalist De la Hoya, is not really old at all and that he can still pull the trigger against younger opponents, like the Filipino boxing icon Pacquiao.

And now he’s beginning to eat his words. Or could it also simply be one of his antics or a ploy to better sell the super-battle of the two most admired prizefighters in the world today.

But if you ask me guys, I go for De la Hoya. He can still upset the younger, quicker and smaller Pacman in their Dec. 6 Las Vegas, Nevada encounter.

Why?

Because I believe that the taller, more skilled Los Angeles-born Mexican gene De la Hoya because the De la Hoya’s hands’ killing instinct is still there.

Muhammad Ali defeated Leon Spinks via unanimous decision to win his third world heavyweight crown at 36 years of age. Same happened to Ali’s nemesis George Foreman capturing the World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight crown at his age of 45.

Just like what Elvis Presley said, “life begins at 40.” That may be hard to believe in boxing but sometimes it could be true.

But let’s wait and see when Dec. 7 comes. It could be De la Hoya by a knockout or by decision.

Two cases of beers, please. For sure I will be drunk.

* * * * * *

My town Mangaldan received four mountain bicycles (not for racing) for the town’s PNP personnel’s use to respond to emergency calls by the townspeople. Our chief of police, P/Supt. Gerardo Roxas, was very grateful to receive the balloon-tired bicycles delivered recently from the Sangguniang Bayan through the initiative of Mayor Herminio A. Romero and Vice Mayor Pedro A. Surdilla, Jr.

Roxas said that the bicycles will also be used to patrol the town proper because they don’t add to the pollution and also serves as good exercise for the personnel.

I believe him. That’s being done in China, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

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

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