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Philippines, 03 Jul 2025 |
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FRIDAY'S CALM DELIVERED SATURDAY'S PERFECT STORM By Greg R. Penilla, M.D. PhilBoxing.com Wed, 10 Dec 2008 It was well known that Manny Pacquiao was very calm, cool, composed and oozing with confidence the day before the fight. Astonishingly, it seemed the whole of Las Vegas was equally calm. It was an unusually lethargic Friday for Sin City's standards. The casinos were eerily slow and the streets were strangely quiet. A Friday, with a mega boxing event about to happen, would usually make this gambling capital of the world bustling with dynamic activities. Then Saturday came. The city was suddenly transformed. Once again it was a Mecca of controlled chaos and so much more. The streets were jammed. Casinos are packed. $10 minimum tables are nowhere to be found. Bars were full of ?experts? debating the looming 'mismatch'. One can sense, there was something ominous about to happen, not even a U.S. economic meltdown could stop. MGM Grand Garden Arena, with its every seat filled with frenzied fans and a parade of celebrities, was suddenly the focal point of a mass of people about to witness a fight of historic proportions. There was a giddy anticipation in the theater of the unexpected. There was a perfect storm brewing. Then, it happened. For full 24 minutes, Typhoon Manny proved to be the perfect storm that befuddled Oscar De La Hoya into submission and worst beating of his illustrious career. Even before the bell sounded to start the first round, it was palpable who would emerge triumphant. By the third round, most loyal De La Hoya fans felt embarrassed and silenced with their heads down. They cannot even bear to watch, as the fight was becoming an annihilation of their hero. Pacific typhoon Manny was simply overwhelming the rickety USS Oscar. Mercifully, the Golden Boy gave up while his senses are still intact. Unfortunately, Oscar DeLa Hoya's Hall of Fame career would be remembered most, as the fighter who quit on his stool, instead of a 10 time World Boxing Champion in six weight classes. What a virtuoso performance! Manny was like a Monet using his gloves as his brush and Oscar's face as his canvas. He has been transformed from a free-swinging power puncher into an accomplished, deliberate, intelligent and methodical boxer, thanks to surrogate father, mentor, friend and trainer, Freddie Roach. The rare diamond in the rough is surely becoming a polished gem. The scary part is that he improves with every fight. He is indeed the indisputable pound for pound king by a wide margin. Nobody even comes close. Oscar DeLa Hoya said it best, 'Manny, you are now my idol'. The torch has been passed. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Greg R. Penilla, M.D..  |
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