One For The Money, Two For The Show: Preview of the "Dream Match"

On December 6, two men will step into the ring in what is being dubbed as “The Dream Match.” I prefer to call it “The Mismatch,” as Oscar De La Hoya has a decisive advantage heading into this welterweight showdown. Manny Pacquiao began his career as a junior flyweight weighing in at a measly 108 lbs. Pacquiao has never fought above the lightweight limit of 135 lbs much less the welterweight limit of 147lbs.

Having said all of that, Oscar De la Hoya has several advantages over Manny Pacquiao, size being one of them. It can be said that De la Hoya’s best days were at welterweight, in other words he is a natural welterweight something that can’t be said about Pacquiao.

Oscar De la Hoya has a height, weight, and reach advantage in this fight. Among his other physical advantages are his ability to take a punch and his devastating left hook, which I predict will win this fight for him.

If Felix Trinidad, considered by many as one of the best punchers is boxing history couldn’t hurt De la Hoya much less drop him, I doubt Pacquiao will. It is obvious that De La Hoya has various physical advantages coming into this fight, but he also possesses intangible advantages such as experience.

Oscar is much better suited to fight at welterweight and coincidentally had the biggest match of his career at that weight against Felix Trinidad. He knows what it is like to fight a power punching pugilist in the prime of his career, at welterweight oddly enough.

De la Hoya’s age won't be a factor, neither will his conditioning. In fact, I can’t think of any real or decisive advantage Pacquiao has over De la Hoya other than the fact that his current coach, Freddy Roach, trained De la Hoya for a brief period of time. The insider knowledge that Roach may possess about De la Hoya will be helpful for Pacquiao but not nearly sufficient to win the fight.

This fight is a joke and has no business (no pun intended) taking place, well unless you consider the amount of money the fight will generate. This one is for the money and for the show, like much of boxing is now a days. Regardless, like a leaked out celebrity home made porn video, people will watch.

Prediction: Oscar De la Hoya in eight (TKO)