Philippines, 22 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Men whom Manny retired


PhilBoxing.com





There were five fighters whom former eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao retired in his storybook 26-year pro career that began in 1995 and ended in 2021. In all, Pacquiao faced 64 opponents in 72 total bouts with the list including those whom he took on more than once----Juan Manuel Marquez (four), Erik Morales (three), Tim Bradley (three) and Marco Antonio Barrera (two).

The five who never fought again after losing to Pacquiao were Dele Desierto in 1995, Sung Yul Lee in 1996, Oscar de la Hoya in 2008, Bradley in 2016 and Lucas Matthysse in 2018. Almost making the dubious cast was Ricky Hatton who fell like a log and took the full count in losing by a second round knockout in Las Vegas in 2009. Hatton returned to the ring after three years and was stopped by Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester, never to fight again.

Of the five whom Pacquiao retired, De la Hoya was the most celebrated. The fight happened at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and the protagonists agreed to battle at the 147-poind welterweight limit. Six months before, Pacquiao scaled 134 1/2 for David Diaz and seven months previously, De la Hoya tipped in at 150 for Steve Forbes. The Golden Boy was up to 160 when he tangled with Felix Sturm in 2004. At the weigh-in for the Pacquiao meeting, De la Hoya scaled 145 pounds. Pacquiao checked in at 142. It was the lightest De la Hoya had tipped in since 1997.


Oscar de la Hoya (2nd from left) announces his retirement surrounded by family and associates outside the Staples Center Arena (now Crypto.com Arena) in Los Angeles on April 14, 2009 a few months after he fought and lost to Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 6.

Someone said De la Hoya had tell-tale IV marks on his arm when he walked into the ring to battle Pacquiao. It seemed like he was drained and dehydrated from bringing down his weight. De la Hoya later confessed that he felt like a “dead man walking” as he marched into the ring. But backing out wasn’t an option and neither was making excuses.

Before 15,001 fans, Pacquiao put on a performance of the ages, totally dominating De la Hoya to the extent that in the seventh round, the three judges scored it 10-8 despite no knockdown. De la Hoya surrendered on his stool before the start of the ninth round and was whisked to a hospital as a precaution, skipping the post-fight press conference. Tris Dixon of Boxing News said, “De la Hoya was caught in a storm of punches without an umbrella. For every punch De la Hoya threw, it seemed five or six were returned. Even when Oscar landed two punches in the eighth, Manny simply banged his head in complete contempt.” The judges had no difficulty choosing the winner. Adelaide Byrd and Dave Moretti scored a shutout, 80-71 while Stanley Christodoulou saw it 79-72.

De la Hoya was 35 when he lost to Pacquiao and retired. He said it wasn’t an easy decision to hang up his gloves. “I get the itch every single day,” said De la Hoya, now 51. “But I’m smart enough to realize I can’t compete anymore, not at the highest level, if I did ever get the crazy idea of coming back.”


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Higher Seeds New York, Denver Fall in Playoffs Second Games to Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Young Gildo: The Baguio Bearcat
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Filipino International Master Paulo Bersamina places solo runner-up in the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open in Thailand
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Female Amateur Boxing Star Sar’ai Brown-El Signs with Split-T Management
    , Tue, 22 Apr 2025
  • Apolinario to fight Hu in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Warriors Shoot Down Rockets, 95-85 as Celtics, Cavaliers, Thunder Take Care of Business
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing International Open Finalized on Saturday
    , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Verano to face Thai in Clash of Nations on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Masangkay to fight Ocampo in JAS on April 23
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Denver Holds Off LA Clippers in OT, 112-110
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Arca clinches 3rd and final IM norm; Guns for GM norm in last round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • IN HER GOLDEN GIRL ERA: GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST MARILYN BADILLO
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Fundora Retains Undisputed Flyweight Titles; Perez Shocks Conwell in Oceanside
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Dalton Smith Drops Mathieu German Three Times, Retains WBC Silver Title
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Filipino GM Antonio beats Serbia's IM for share of lead in Caberra Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Villanueva to fight Antaran on April 27 in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • MASOUD AND MCGRAIL CLASH IN ALL-BRITISH SHOWDOWN
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Semifinals Conclude at 2025 USA Boxing International Open
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • FM Arca is inching closer to his 3rd and final IM norm
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Undefeated, rising Canadian prospect Eric Basran wins in Opening round to advance to quarterfinals of inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Weights From Washington, PA
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Jerald Into Advances in WBC Boxing Grand Prix with Dominant Win Over Ahmad Jones
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Set for Homecoming Title Defense against Edwin De Los Santos at Norfolk's Scope Arena
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.