The round of 2008 - No 5

Manny Pacquiao v Oscar De La Hoya, MGM Grand Garden Arena,  Las Vegas, December 6 - round 4

OK, we knew that Pacquiao would start fast, but this was the round that it began to become clear that De La Hoya was not even at the races and that the upset was on.

De La Hoya actually began the round well, finally landing with the right about a minute in, but he just couldn't pin the jab on Pacquiao. The Filipino sent over a looping left which catches De La Hoya plum on the nose. De La Hoya countered but Pacquiao started scoring with flurries, looking loose while De La Hoya looked stiff and slow. When Pacquiao opened up, De La Hoya backed off and buried himself behind his gloves, unable to match Pacquiao's pace.

Not a thrilling round in the toe-to-toe sense, but who wasn't on the edge of their seat now? “He can't handle your speed, son,” Freddie Roach told Pacquiao at the end of the round.

Comments

[Ramon Gorgonia]

Congratulations for being a good example of how it is to work hard, to succeed, to remain humble, but to strive to be a better person! Just pray for guidance that you will not make big misjudgements in your decisions that will deplete your resources and disaapoint your friends. Don't forget to give tithes or donations to your church for the support of the church so God will continually bless you.

[Strummer Jones]

Steve Z, from the top of my head, de la Hoya fought Pacman, Floyd, Hopkins, Mosley (twice), Whitaker, Trinidad, Chavez (twice). All of these fighters were from the upper echelons of any P4P list. He certainly made the fights that would make him the most money (wouldn't you?), but to say he hand picked opponents he knew he could beat is clearly wide of the mark. Also, to criticise him for "picking on the little guy" with Manny conveniently ignores his bouts with Hopkins and Sturm. What was he doing wrong there? Picking on the big guy?!

[Steve Z]

Pacman was dominent throughout the fight and at the end of round one, I think Oscar was wishing he'd never chosen Pac as his "retirement" fight. Oscar wanted too go out a winner and thus renegged on his commitment too fight the winner of Margarito/Coto after Coto was pounded out. Same thing and smart move too not even consider Kelly Pavlik as a "crowning achivement" last fight of his illustrious "big money fight" career. Reality is, Oscar has almost always lost the fight when he stepped in with top quality opponents. His career has been more about who can I beat for the most money, versus which fight will be the best(hardest) battle for the sport. In chosing Manny Pacquiao for his going out "fight of the century", he not only caught flak for "picking on the little guy" (remember how many weight classes Manny has moved up, and Oscar had too drop too just too make it work), but looked really desperate in trying too find an opponent that he could for sure beat (think his prior two fights against "Contender" reality show has been fighters". It's poetic justice that Oscar De La Hoya will be remembered as the guy who got his arse "Davy and Goliath'ed" by a guy who stepped up from a flyweight (started his career)too dominate a welter/middle weight and sent him into retirement as a joke instead of one of the sports greats. Oscar will be remembered more for his business savy as a top promoter in building his Golden Boy Promotions company than for his skills as one the sports greats.