Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya: Dissecting the Dream (Mis)Match

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.

As controversial as the “Dream Match” between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao is, even the most doubtful sceptics can’t help but hide their anticipation of what might be the year’s greatest sports spectacle not named the Olympics. After all, here’s one golden opportunity to see if it’s true that “a good big man beats up a good small man.”

Now, the quotation from the late Martin Luther King, Jr. might seem awkward when used in a sports article, but I think it’s relevant to both fighters.

Pacquiao will defy the odds, and the weighing scale, to fight a much bigger and stronger man. De La Hoya will defy public opinion and make people realize that this fight is much more competitive than the critics think. Whether or not Pacquiao or De La Hoya can overcome these challenges will have a telling effect on their respective careers and reputations.

This fight has generated a lot of controversy in the blogosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and even the atmosphere. Try to visit the PacLand website, and you will read differing opinions on how the fight will develop, Pacquiao’s strategies to beat the older and bigger man, De La Hoya’s ability to cope with his opponent’s speed, to name a few.

In fact, you will be entertained no end by all the forum posts discussing inane and ridiculous topics such as Pacquiao’s eating and sleeping habits, his wife’s beauty, rumors of the “other woman,” among others. Not that it’s detestable; it’s just a testament to Pacquiao’s star power and demigod status among Filipinos.

Good Big Man Beats Good Small Man—Is That True?

A former middleweight (160 lbs.) world champion fighting a former flyweight (112 lbs.), on paper, looks like an utter mismatch. So it’s no surprise that boxing critics see this match as nothing less than a “circus” for the purpose of making money.

Boxing is all about making money. I will not delve into the merits of prizefighting and it’s business side, but both parties heard the noise of the cash registers when they decided to go on with the fight. In sports, the improbable becomes possible when you place money into the equation.

One can look back to the glory days of the Sweet Science to see smaller men fight, and beat, bigger guys. Middleweight Stanley Ketchel floored world heavyweight champion Jack Johnson before losing by knockout. Lightweight and welterweight legend Henry Armstrong drew with middleweight Ceferino Garcia.

Men like Sam Langford, Charley Mitchell and Jersey Joe Walcott fought anywhere from Lightweight to Heavyweight.

Should Manny Pacquiao pull off the improbable (some say impossible) and defeat Oscar De La Hoya, we will have no choice but to place him among the ranks of the greatest boxers in history.

All-time greats like Ray Robinson, Roberto Duran, Jack “Nonpareil” Dempsey, Henry Armstrong, to name a few, overcame physical limitations to defeat much bigger opponents. If Pacquiao pulls off similar feats, then he will reserve for himself a truly special place in boxing history.

How the Fight Will Turn Out

It’s almost impossible for me to give a spirited discussion of a controversial issue without giving my own predictions. And here it is (drum-roll, please), it is a DRAW!

Before you call me a coward, let me explain my case. The fight could easily go to either man, but it could also easily be a draw. Drawn fights are rare occurrences in boxing given the public’s dislike for endings with no clear winner. But with both fighters possessing advantages in different boxing characteristics, the fight could become desperately close and result in an inconclusive ending.

Pacquiao will use his speed and quickness to his advantage, and we might see him trying to go inside with his fast punches and then move outside to avoid De La Hoya’s counters.

De La Hoya will try to negate Pacquiao’s speed by relying too much on his jabs, making it extremely difficult for the latter to launch his combinations. When Oscar sees an opportunity to end the fight early, he will try to bully Manny into the corner. But Pacquiao will see this and move away quickly, using his deft footwork and elusiveness to avoid being pinned by De La Hoya’s punches.

I won’t be the least surprised if either or both men will hit the floor, but the fight will go to the scorecards.

In the end, it will be a great fight that will leave the boxing fans satisfied and the boxing critics crying foul.

Pacquiao will get the fame and respect he so rightly deserves by going toe-to-toe with the larger and stronger man. De La Hoya will experience a renaissance in his career and go on to fight until 2009 before retiring for good. Either way, it’s a win-win situation for both fighters and future Hall-of-famers.

Pacquiao or De La Hoya? Let the debates rage on!