IF YOU need any more proof that the Pacquiao-De la Hoya experiment is fast turning out to be one big circus, look no further than Bob Arum?s acerbic idea of putting up a beauty contest between Filipinas and Mexicans to spice up the event.
What, Mini-Manny vs. Oldee Oskee isn?t titillating enough for you?
While we?re at it, I have taken the liberty of offering my suggestions to bellicose Bob, in order to up the ante:
Let?s do a cook-off. Or a throwdown, Bobby Flay Style. Pinoy Adobo vs. Mexican Tamale. Kinilaw vs. Ceviche. Mmmm. My mouth?s watering already.
Of course, what?s a decent cook-off without something to wash down those delicacies.
How about liquor drinking contest? Pinoy Lambanog vs. Mexican Tequila. Now, that?s the Last Round?s kind of contest.
This early I?m boldly predicting a terrible mismatch. The last time I drank tequila, I ended up on a stage, croaking and strumming a guitar.
But the last time I drank Lambanog, I missed the stage and croaked my stomach?s contents onto my guitar. Yikes!
BETTER NOT HEAVIER. The manner in which Kelly Pavlik lost last Sunday after moving up in weight by 10 pounds should be carefully considered by Manny Pacquiao?s camp.
Although Hopkins clearly outfoxed the younger man, it was also quite apparent that old man Popkins was the stronger fighter in there, despite moving down five pounds to meet the catchweight.
With all the glowing reports coming out of Manny?s camp about his increasing punching power, it?s easy for the Pacman to become complacent and delude himself into thinking he will indeed be the stronger fighter come fight time.
If punching power was a simple matter of moving up in weight by eating more and adding bulk, we would already have seen a mass exodus of all fighters coming up from staw-weight all the way to middleweight, and perhaps beyond.
Nobody would bother to reside at lower weights where big money fights are scarce.
CONCERNS. One of the problems facing a fighter moving up in weight is that many of his latent flaws or weaknesses are exposed or become magnified.
Up against opponents similar in size, a fighter can mask many of his flaws by his superior strength alone, as he can outmuscle the other fighter, despite his technical deficiencies.
But against bigger stronger guys, he cannot just power his way out of a tight predicament.
Fighters that readily come to mind are Felix Trinidad and Rick Hatton.
?Tito? was strong for a welterweight and had the height and the build to pack more meat to his frame, so he moved up. But he had slow, plodding feet and his hand speed was nothing out of the ordinary.
Hopkins broke him down at middleweight and in his last fight, he looked woefully slow against an aging and shot Roy Jones Jr. at light heavyweight.
Ricky Hatton was undefeated and had a sterling record of 40-0 with 31 KOs when he moved up by one weight class. Ricky isn?t exactly the embodiment of slick and he struggled mightily against Luis Collazo at welterweight and subsequently suffered his first knockout loss against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
I would rather that Manny?s team focus on improving his defense and technique. He doesn?t have to match Oscar?s punch and weight. He just has to be better.
LAST ROUND. It?s on two Daves (Lim and Ting), a Que (Dennis the menace) and a Chad (Ca?ares of ALA Promotions) for unselfishly helping out our Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) Basketball Team in the Thursday Club Basketball Tournament and the United Architect?s League. Cheers!
