Pac-Man Gobbles the Golden Boy

Ladies and Gentleman, Let’ssss get readddyyy tooo Rumbleeeee……

As Michael Buffer said those famous trademarked words, the crowd goes crazy!

After the three National Anthems, yes I said Three! Oh and the US National Anthem was sung by a hot lady in a “body suit,” which left little to image…

Ok, Back to the boxing…

If Fred Roach had a secret, it could only be that Oscar De La Hoya is susceptible to the straight left jab from a southpaw. Otherwise we know the 35 year old “Golden Boy” is slower and less powerful. But! Was he actually in shape to contend in this bout?

The obvious answer is no!

Ladies and Gentleman, I have watched many a boxing match, however, after the Round 4 of this fight, I felt real guilty about thinking the “Golden Boy” even had a chance in this contest. I have watched several of his bouts, and with the speed and strength at the weights he was fighting at, wow, truly “Golden.”

Enter Sandman…err…Pacman…Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao. Considered the best current Pound for Pound fighter in the world. Was Oscar too bold in taking this fight as a “measure” of his current ability? Is DLH going to retire after the answer was an astounding Yes, you are slow, old, and not competent in the ring? He did not say yes, but he did not say no.

After a quick turnaround from Pac-Man signing with Golden Boy Promotions, to it being nullified about 6 months later as Pac was still with Top Rank. Within another six months, they are in the ring, Oscar saying it’s personal, Manny saying it's business.

Once the first bell rang, it was obvious De La Hoya was outmatched. He couldn’t stop Pacquiao’s left jab. It got through almost every time it was thrown, all fight long.

Rounds One and Two were obvious Pacquiao rounds, however Oscar threw pretty hard and actually connected on some power punches early in the second, Manny took back over and finished the round with several flurries of his own.

Round Three was Oscar’s best round, connecting often. However, Manny had several flurries, in which despite the 10 point must system by Compu-Box, this writer would have called that round even, 9-9. That was the last true offense by De La Hoya.

Round Four: Pac-Man keeps landing the left jab, directly through the Golden Boy’s defense. A few small flurries that looked good, but landed few actual connections. With Oscar not throwing many punches at all.

Rounds five and six showed more Pacquiao punches, and more of them landing. DLH got wore out in round five, coming back with some attack in round six, after that, nothing. With Round seven being a pivotal round because DLH needed to win it and gain momentum, however, he didn’t fight back.

Maybe a few “complimentary” jabs, he did not throw a worthwhile punch. With his left eye swelling, at the end of the seventh round his corner told him, “Fight back or we are throwing in the towel” …

Round Eight: Manny smelled blood and went after it, though giving credit to DLH’s heart, he had nothing left, could barely hold his arms up to defend himself, and was flat beat. So his corner called it for him before the ninth round could start.

Over all Oscar had very little offense, and virtually no defense. He displayed a few flurries that would excite, however couldn’t finish or keep it up. Manny kept throwing the left jab right through Oscar’s hands, and capitalizing on any opening he could find. Which was many.

Now, giving De La Hoya some due, he did not go down. With the last two rounds he took a lot of punches, power punches, and was just whupped. Either that or he pulled a better rope-a-dope than Ali, and convinced his own corner to not let him go out to the ninth round.

With recent developments in the world of boxing, a few older guys coming out of retirement, some up and comers finally making a name for themselves, and the lackluster heavyweight division finally getting a little life, boxing is in the biggest uproar it has been in, in years. This fight shows how desperate the boxing world is, to get two big names in the same ring at the same time. Oh, and actually put on a good fight!

With Roy Jones Jr. getting whipped by Joe Calzaghe, and the upcoming whippings of Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe, and now DLH’s whipping, what has become of boxing today?

One thing is for sure, I feel sorry for Pac-Man’s next opponent.

And one more thing, retirement should be permanent!