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Philippines, 07 May 2024 |
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WORLD'S APART By Robbie Pangilinan PhilBoxing.com Sat, 21 May 2011  The Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley bout last May 7 at the MGM Grand made me think of another opponent of the pound-for-pound king a couple of years back. A fighter who has proven himself worthy of boxing?s Hall of Fame. A boxer who I consider as one of the greatest in history?Oscar De la Hoya. After the fight, we (Eddie alinea, Granville Ampong and son John) visited the downtown Los Angeles and saw the White Memorial Medical Center, a Seventh-day Adventist hospital where his mother was hospitalized and died of breast cancer in 1990. She was only 38 years old. The hospital, with De la Hoya as major donor, constructed the Cecilia Gonzalez-De La Hoya Cancer Center that features state-of-the-art equipment that provides advanced prostate, breast and other cancer treatment. It offers a full range of diagnostic and treatment options for all types and stages of cancer, including surgery, gynecological oncology, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. I immediately thought of Manny Pacquiao, a philanthropist like De la Hoya, who wants to build one hospital for each town in Sarangani Province which he represents in Congress. The Aquino administration has helped Manny jumpstart this project by allotting P200 million for the building of a provincial hospital at the capital town of Alabel, which is already under construction. The Filipino boxing icon also promised to get the medical equipment for the hospital. Pacquiao has also asked the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to donate eight ambulances for Sarangani. Pacquiao and De la Hoya may be the same in many aspects, but are still worlds apart. They may move in the same circle, are in the same sport, but the similarities end there. One even beat the other black and blue. They have many differences, but have become good friends. The Golden Boy and the People?s Champ have kept their relationship, both personal and professional, intact. Despite Pacquiao beating the Mexican in an 8th round TKO, the two have remained friends. De la Hoya even said that Manny is his favorite boxer. The Pambansang Kamao has always been a fighter, while the Golden Boy admits that he never thought he will be one even as he comes from a family of boxers. His grandfather Vicente was a 126-pound amateur in the 1940s and his father Joel Sr. was a professional lightweight in the 1960s. Pacquiao was the first in the family to enter the world of boxing. While De la Hoya spent his childhood playing baseball in the park and riding his skateboard around the neighborhood, Pacquiao lived everyday surviving harsh conditions on the streets, fighting for his life, looking for food to feed himself and his family. De la Hoya?s brother said that Oscar hated physical confrontations and never had a street fight. Manny earned money fighting in the streets. Oscar was forced to train in the gym early, while Manny never had proper training in the start. De la Hoya was always well-conditioned for his matches, whereas Pacquiao sometimes went into the ring on an empty stomach. His motivation came from his dream of having money to help his family and the poor residents of his hometown. De la Hoya?s was the support of his family; his cousins, aunts and uncles gave him money every time he won a fight. The two have the same devastating left hands. Cecilia, De la Hoya?s mother, was his inspiration. She fully supported his son?s career and wanted him to be a great fighter. Oscar bagged the gold in the 1992 Olympics for her. Dionesia, Pacquiao?s mother, did not want her son to be a boxer. Nanay Dionisia refuses to watch Manny?s fights; she has only done so twice, during her son?s match against Miguel Cotto in 2009 and against Antonio Margarito just this year. During those two times she was at ringside, she suffered anxiety attacks. She says she cannot bear seeing her boy receiving a beating. Both Oscar and Manny bought big and nice houses for their mothers as a thank you gift. Sadly, Cecilia never lived in the house as she already died at the time. Nanay Dion, on the other hand is still very much alive and kicking, even displaying her prowess in ballroom dancing, starring in a film, and endorsing many products. Besides boxing, the two share the same talent?singing. In 2000, De La Hoya released his first album, in both English and Spanish, on the EMI/Latin label. Ttled Oscar, the album topped Latin dance charts and one of his singles was nominated for a Grammy Award. Pacquiao is known to rehearse for his after-fight concerts as much as he trains for his fight. His 2006 debut album under Star Records was followed by another in 2007 under MCA-Universal Records.His first US single, a remake of ?Sometimes When We Touch,? sung with its original singer Dan Hill, sold out within 12 hours on Amazon.com. Both Pacquiao and De la Hoya have won the hearts of people because of their PR and charm. The two are also active in charity work and community service. Oscar has a non-profit foundation and a youth boxing center in his old East Los Angeles neighborhood while Manny, the only boxer who is active in politics, has a gym where he holds free sports clinics for the Filipino youth. Pacquiao has invested in building classrooms, hospitals and helping the poor. The boxers are both involved in businesses, De La Hoya with his Golden Boy Promotions and Pacquiao with his family investments that include malls, stores with imported goods, and real estate. Oscar is said to have earned an estimated $696 million pay-per-view income in his career. Manny?s $32 million in earnings in 2010 tied him with New York Yankees? Alex Rodriguez as the highest-paid athlete in the world. This does not include his endorsements, appearance fees and sponsorship money. Amid the fame and fortune, the two boxing icons have also faced personal problems. In 2000, actress and former Miss USA Shanna Moakler filed a $62.5 million palimony suit against the former champion to support the couple?s daughter. On the other hand, the Filipino boxing superstar has figured in several extra-marital controversies, including with a woman who is said to have bore Manny a love-child. There were also the actresses who were linked to him. De La Hoya has defeated 17 world champions and has won 10 world titles in six different weight classes. Pacquiao has fought 17 current or former world champions and has 10 world crowns in eight different weight divisions. Almost the same, but immensely different. What matters is that Pacquiao and De la Hoya are both great boxers and good persons. # 
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Robbie Pangilinan.  |
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