Breaking news in the boxing world has confirmed that Oscar De La Hoya will have his swan song against boxing?s number one pound for pound fighter Manny Pacquiao on December 6th, live on HBO Pay Per View.
What is that you say? Oscar is a true champion for taking on the pound for pound best fighter in the entire world today?! News Flash… De La Hoya is taking on a fighter who turned pro as a flyweight at (112 pounds) and at best, is a very small lightweight at (135 pounds). Oscar on the other hand, turned professional at junior lightweight (130 pounds) and today, fights as a junior middleweight (154 pounds) and walks around even heavier than that.
RSR?s Managing Editor, Geno McGahee, in his column today titled ?Geno?s Corner,? said ?I am in complete and total shock that this fight is actually happening but this is boxing and money overrules rationale most of the time.? Since the article went live, the hate emails have come in. How can any fan of Manny?s, boxing writer, promoter or commission allow this fight to happen? Do we need another Arturo Gatti vs. Oscar De La Hoya to happen in the ring again? If you did not see that fight, go to Youtube.com and watch Gatti, who was no way a 147 pound fighter, get totally destroyed in round five of that match.
Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter and for sure Hall of Fame material. De La Hoya is as well, but his career at times, was based on taking on a lot of smaller fighters to achieve the multiple belts he has in his cabinet. I give him credit as well for facing some of the best of his era, but to go out on this fight, is a total shame. He could have faced Welterweight Kingpin, Antonio Margarito, Paul Williams, Miguel Cotto or even RSR?s very own, Kermit Cintron. Win or lose, it could be said he didn?t take an easy last fight to cap a great boxing career.
But once again, he took an easy fight that will see Manny slower at 147 pounds, less power in his punches, and he is going to be hit by a man that?s twenty to twenty-five pounds heavier than him. In turn, you are going to see Manny stopped within five rounds. Sure he will make a lot of money even if his cut is not even half of what ?The Golden Boy? will get, but the more important factor is: Is the money worth the damage he is going to take that could, in turn, end his boxing career?
Note to Paclanders: I have always commended you for your true love of your National Hero Manny Pacquiao, but on the flip side, put your hearts on the table and think with your minds. This fight should not be made! I know you can never say never in regard to Manny possibly pulling it off, but the odds are so stacked against him. What fight are we going to see after this? Manny Vs Bernard Hopkins? Manny Vs Roy Jones, JR.? Or hey, go for it all, Manny Vs Wladimir Klitschko.
Note to Manny: Money which I know you have an abundance of, does not mean you need to take a huge fight like this with more risk than reward. I would much rather see you fight Edwin Valero which is a solid fight on paper or how about giving rising contender Anthony Peterson a shot?
Any way you slice it, dice it or shred it, this fight is going to make boxing have a bigger black eye then it already has. If the boxing commission wants to have some credibility, step in now and say, ?Hell No! This fight is not going to happen!?
