It came as no surprise to many when Filipino fighting senator Manny Pacquiao announced he?s using his KO win over Mexican-American Oscar De La Hoya held 11 years ago as his motivation in his coming fight with fellow WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman.
That bout became the basis of his preparation for the July 20 showdown with the unbeaten American (29-0 with 22 KOs) at the MGM Grand Arena in the sin city of Las Vegas, Nevada.
For besides being his initial fight as a welterweight, the Pacquiao-De La Hoya encounter cemented his grip as bonafide resident of boxing?s pound-for-pound best as well as credential for being named ?Fighter of the Year? by both the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Ring Magazine.
And that while his first FoY award in 2006 was centered on his twin stoppage victories over fellow future Hall of Famer Erik Morales, that the 2008 Pacquiao-De La Hoya bout was fashioned out against two other future HoF inductees Juan Manuel Marquez and David Diaz, while winning in three different weight divisions.
It was from Marquez, of course, whom Pacquiao wrested the super-featherweight crown, his fourth of would be his rich eight-division title conquests, and Diaz the lightweight diadem, his fifth jewel
That, likewise, lowered the curtains on the ?Golden Boy?s? boxing career that netted for him the gold medal in the Barcelona Olympic Games as an amateur and the WBO junior-lightweight, WBO/IBF lightweight, WBC super-lightweight, welterweight, super-welterweight (twice) and WBO middleweight plums.
The Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight, held December 8, or nine days before Pacquiao?s birthday, led too, for boxing pundits to compare him with legendary Henry Armstrong, who during his time, held three world titles at the same time and ignited spirited debate as who is greater between them.
The Filipino was, in fact, acknowledged as the ?Modern Day Henry Armstrong? two years ahead of his earning three more division belts to complete his total eight, which many believe will be unattainable in the near future.
Pro Armstrong argue that the kid who, once worked for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad, become a kind of human locomotive, roaring and belching fire running over the opposition while reigning as world featherweight, lightweight and welterweight champion simultaneously by setting standards that never were matched.
In 2008, as Pacquiao beat Marquez, Diaz and De La Hoya, it became fashionable to mention Armstrong?s name along. After erasing the remains of DLH?s image, the comparison to Armstrong grew with many saying Armstrong, finally, had an equal.
For fight historian Bert Sugar, ?Pacquiao is sui generis; he needn?t be compared to anyone. He may be the best Asian fighter of all-time, and, perhaps, the best southpaw of all-time. Comparing him to Armstrong is a disservice to Pacquiao.?
?But you can?t compare him to Armstrong, because no one compares to Armstrong.?
