De La Hoya / Pacquiao; or, why HBO is at much fault as the alphabet gangs

[JTrainDavis]

There are 3 fights coming up featuring past their time fighters which really get me going.

Kelly Pavlik fights Bernard Hopkins next month, in a fight that Pavlik should win easily, but i guarantee that Hop will make him earn it. 2 great fighters, Pavlik is younger, faster, and hits a hell of alot harder.

On November 8th, Joe Calzaghe will end Roy Jones Junior's career, in simple fashion. No need to explain.

Now, for the part that gives tons of ammo to those who say boxing is dead.

The fight was made by Oscar's camp, at 147lbs. Pacquiao has made a career at 130, defeating 3 legends at that weight, Morales, Barrera, and JM Marquez, but other than the 3rd Morales fight, none convincingly.

So now Oscar can beat a "Living Legend" who has to gain 22 lbs for a fight, and is giving 4 inches of height, with the reach implications.

This is Oscar's chance to beat a "great" fighter in his prime, though not nearly a worthy opponent when the tape has its say.

Why not fight Margarito, or Cotto, men who have proven their worth at 147? Or guys like Pavlik or Calzaghe, at a catch weight of 154 or 160? Instead, Oscar offers a boatload of money for a fighter to gain 22lbs in 4 months, so he can dispatch a top flight fighter for his farewell, with a big paycheck to boot

The masses might call Oscar a legend, i call him a Coward.

Thoughts?

 

[Svengali]

Oscar isn't a coward. If you look at his career as a whole, he's fought almost every big name from130-160. Win lose or draw, I dare you to compare this list of names with anyone in the modern era where ducking top challengers in their prime has almost become a religion.

Ruelas
Hernandez
Leija
Chavez
Gonzalez
Whittaker
Quartey
Carr
Trinidad
Mosley
Vargas
Hopkins
Mayweather

I agree the fight with Pac man is something of a farce. But after the career he's had, with the great moments and mega fights that have kept boxing on life support all these years, I'd say he's damned well earned the right to sit back and be a business man first, fighter second.

Are there lots better fights that could be made out there? Sure. And I worry about De La Hoya's health, fighting this late into his life. This is a man who cant let go of the game. Wether it be for money, the fame, the attention, like many greats he can't just move on because he cannnot imagine himself not fighting. But he didn't choose Pacquio because it would be an "easy" fight. He chose him because it would be yet another big fight, in terms of hype, color, and promotion.

 

[JTrainDavis]

Oscar isn't a coward. If you look at his career as a whole, he's fought almost every big name from130-160. Win lose or draw, I dare you to compare this list of names with anyone in the modern era where ducking top challengers in their prime has almost become a religion.

Ruelas
Hernandez
Leija
Chavez
Gonzalez
Whittaker
Quartey
Carr
Trinidad
Mosley
Vargas
Hopkins
Mayweather

.

Buddy, thanks for the informed rebuttal. But, other than a beyond his prime JC Chavez, and an outsized Pernell Whitaker, with a Tito, who, beyond being heartless, is Puerto Rican. Other than an old JCC, Oscar has never beat a great Mexican fighter, so he will play his fake Mexican card against Pacquiao.

Manny has battled the best Mexico has to offer, and won, including my favorite all time fighter, Erik Morales, as well as Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Oscar is going to play this fight as "redemption for Mexico", but every Mexican, and American who follows Mexican fighters, will be pulling for Manny.

De La Hoya is a coward, afraid to meet a stronger man in the ring, as would happen with a match against Antonio Margarito, Paul Williams, Kelly Pavlik or Joe Calzaghe. Manny Pacquiao is a Man, taking a fight at a far higher weight than he has ever squared at, and will outbox the fraudulant legend that everyone worships in Oscar De La Hoya

 

[JTrainDavis]

And I worry about De La Hoya's health, fighting this late into his life. .

Svengali, i am not trying to post to make you seem a fool, as you seem to be a real boxing fan, something that doesn't happen much on here.

But if Oscar is worried about his health, why does he continue?

I just am embarassed for him that he is fighting Manny at 147, Pacquiao, i don't think, can fight at that weight. Why not pay off Williams or Margarito to fight at 147? Or risk a close quarters battle with Ricky Hatton?

Or why not be a real man, and move to a real weight of 160 and take on Pavlik or 168 and fight Calzaghe?

I hope Manny knocks Oscars ass out, but regardless, Oscar's legacy will be as a coward if this is his going away fight

 

[Svengali]

I never understood why Oscar's critics cited his size as some kind of unfair advantage. Every fighter since time immortal has gotten themselves down to as low a weight as possible while still possessing strength. Noone ever called Thomas Hearns, who was 6'1, a coward for "picking" on Roberto Duran or Ray Leonard. I dont get that, is he not supposed to take advantage of his edge in height?

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

Oscar isn't a coward. If you look at his career as a whole, he's fought almost every big name from130-160. Win lose or draw, I dare you to compare this list of names with anyone in the modern era where ducking top challengers in their prime has almost become a religion.

Ruelas
Hernandez
Leija
Chavez
Gonzalez
Whittaker
Quartey
Carr
Trinidad
Mosley
Vargas
Hopkins
Mayweather

I agree the fight with Pac man is something of a farce. But after the career he's had, with the great moments and mega fights that have kept boxing on life support all these years, I'd say he's damned well earned the right to sit back and be a business man first, fighter second.

Are there lots better fights that could be made out there? Sure. And I worry about De La Hoya's health, fighting this late into his life. This is a man who cant let go of the game. Wether it be for money, the fame, the attention, like many greats he can't just move on because he cannnot imagine himself not fighting. But he didn't choose Pacquio because it would be an "easy" fight. He chose him because it would be yet another big fight, in terms of hype, color, and promotion.

And now compare that to the list of butchers, bartenders, and off-duty cops that Roy Jones has fought at Indian casinos, state fairgrounds, and the state of Florida. Roy Jones is the biggest fraud in boxing.

 

[doozer]

What's boxing?
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[tncolt55]

Pacman will beat Oscar up, Oscar has no stamina and is way past his prime. In his prime Shane Mosley moved up 2 classes to beat him at his best so I do not think Pacquio will have any trouble. Oscar will not fight Cotto or Margarito because he does not want to be koed early.

Oscar can say he never ducked anyone all he wants but for him its always been about most money least risk. He waits till Trinidad ruins Vargas then decides to fight him after vowing to never fight him. He would never fight Winky Wright or someone like that. Oscar has never fought and beat a great fighter in their prime. He won a few fights just because who he is, mainly the Whitaker fight and the Quartey fight also.

 

[tncolt55]

I never understood why Oscar's critics cited his size as some kind of unfair advantage. Every fighter since time immortal has gotten themselves down to as low a weight as possible while still possessing strength. Noone ever called Thomas Hearns, who was 6'1, a coward for "picking" on Roberto Duran or Ray Leonard. I dont get that, is he not supposed to take advantage of his edge in height?

Leonard and Duran are 2 of the top 8 best p4p fighters of the past 50 years. There is a big difference there, also Leonard was in his prime at his prime weight the first time Tommy fought him. I know one thing for sure, a prime Tommy Hearns destroys a prime Oscar at any weight. Trust me Oscar chose Manny because he is a smaller fighter just like Floyd was. If he wanted to give the fans what they wanted he would have fought the real champ Margarito or even Paul Williams. For Christ sake Manny started his career at 106 pounds but one thing Manny has that Oscar has never shown is balls!!

 

[JTrainDavis]

Leonard and Duran are 2 of the top 8 best p4p fighters of the past 50 years. There is a big difference there, also Leonard was in his prime at his prime weight the first time Tommy fought him. I know one thing for sure, a prime Tommy Hearns destroys a prime Oscar at any weight. Trust me Oscar chose Manny because he is a smaller fighter just like Floyd was. If he wanted to give the fans what they wanted he would have fought the real champ Margarito or even Paul Williams. For Christ sake Manny started his career at 106 pounds but one thing Manny has that Oscar has never shown is balls!!

But Floyd had been in the 147 range for a year and a half before moving up to fight Oscar, whereas Manny is moving up 12 lbs, after only one fight at 135.

I will agree that Manny has balls of steel, and i am amazed how he has kept his feet and hands fast despite all the wars he has fought.

The wars against Morales (1st 2 fights), and Marquez are among the most brutal fights i have seen, and Manny has been able to keep plugging without missing a step.

I can't see myself paying for this one, but i wouldn't be surprised if Manny can move inside and land a good liver shot to end it.

 

[tncolt55]

But Floyd had been in the 147 range for a year and a half before moving up to fight Oscar, whereas Manny is moving up 12 lbs, after only one fight at 135.

I will agree that Manny has balls of steel, and i am amazed how he has kept his feet and hands fast despite all the wars he has fought.

The wars against Morales (1st 2 fights), and Marquez are among the most brutal fights i have seen, and Manny has been able to keep plugging without missing a step.

I can't see myself paying for this one, but i wouldn't be surprised if Manny can move inside and land a good liver shot to end it.

Yes but Floyd is still noticeably smaller than Oscar and not a big puncher at all. Manny is a big puncher at 130 lbs but at 147 who knows if his power will be near as effective. Oscar always seems to look down for his biggest challenges, even Mosley came up from 135 to 147 to fight Oscar in their first fight. The only time Oscar really took a risk was against Hopkins and it ended up with him quivering on the canvas in pain like a dying chicken.

 

[GoBigOrangeVols]

Anyone know where to watch the fight for free online???

 

[myrobbins7]

Might wanna try channelsurfing.net, im sure they have it.