It’s a knockout or bust for Manny Pacquiao.
According to veteran sportswriter Al Mendoza, Pacquiao should should deck Oscar de la Hoya or else the “Golden Boy” will beat him by points at the end of their 12-round welterweight super bout, dubbed “The Dream Match” on Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday in Manila).
“Ang tingin ko diyan ay kailangang manalo si Pacquiao by knockout. Kung hindi, talo siya sa puntos kay de la Hoya,” said Mendoza during an interview on radio dzMM Friday.
Mendoza said that the odds are heavily stacked against the “Pacman” since he is four inches smaller than de la Hoya’s 5′ 10 1/2 frame.
Short of saying that Pacquiao needed a miracle to win, Mendoza said that the Filipino prizefighter may find it hard to send the six-division champ to the canvas.
“It would be hard to knock out de la Hoya because he’s tall and skillful,” said Mendoza. “Pacquiao is clearly the underdog. De la Hoya has the advantage in both size and reach.”
Mendoza also said Pacquiao will be carrying “extra baggage” as he climbs up two weight divisions to meet the 147-pound limit.
“He’s climbing from 135 to 147 pounds, that’s an additional 12 pounds for him. It’s extra weight for Manny Pacquiao.” he said.
Pacquiao is the reigning champ in the 135-lb class (lightweight) of the World Boxing Council.
It’s Pacquiao, bar none
Mendoza’s analysis, meanwhile, differed with two other sports commentators who said that the first five rounds of the megabuck fight would be for de la Hoya.
Sports analysts Dennis Principe and Ronnie Nathanielsz told ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda” Friday morning that as they see it, the first five rounds would be for the Golden Boy.
However, should Pacquiao remain on his feet after the fifth round, the two predicted that de la Hoya’s “powerful” jabs will grow weaker. Prolonged fighting may also result in his sluggishness around the ring, thus making him an easy target for the Filipino.
“This should be the most intelligence fight [for Pacquiao], like what he did in his fight against David Diaz. In and out, move side to side. The objective is to lose Oscar’s raven,” Principe said.
He added that Pacquiao should also be able to evade throws from de la Hoya. These throws, Principe said, may be used by Pacquiao to sap the Golden Boy’s strength.
“He’ll have a good chance [with de la Hoya weaker],” Principe said.
Nathanielsz, meanwhile, predicted that “The Dream Match” to be aired live in the Philippines on Sunday will stretch to the final round. And in the end, it would be Pacquiao declared as winner.
“Aabot ng 12 rounds and Manny will win on points,” the veteran sports analyst said.
Nathanielsz said the Pacquiao can easily win the fight with his improved boxing skills, speed, jabs. “Mabilis ang galaw ni Pacquiao, all angles. Doon pa lang hilo na si de la Hoya.”
Key to de la Hoya victory?
Renowned trainer Angelo Dundee, meanwhile, dismissed reports about Pacquiao’s speed and said that the de la Hoya camp has found the “perfect style” for the smaller but faster Filipino.
“We found out stuff he can do against Pacquiao,” Dundee told reporters on Thursday. “Exactly what we did, that’s our business, and you’ll see on Saturday night.
Dundee, who has trained such great fighters as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and George Foreman, is an adviser to de la Hoya during his training camp.
“There are certain things you can do in a fight. Like when Ray Leonard fought Marvin Hagler (in 1987), I noticed that every time Hagler stepped forward, he would punch,” said Dundee.
“So I said to Ray Leonard, when he steps, take a move, so he can’t punch. Manny Pacquiao does things like that. And we know what he does.”
Dundee, however, said that Pacquiao, 47-3-2 (35 KOs) presents unique challenges.
“Nobody fights like Pacquiao,” he said. “He’s got his own style, he’s an awkward guy, and he’s a busy guy.”
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said de la Hoya, 39-5 (30 KOs) would struggle with Pacquiao’s fast-paced, aggressive style during Saturday’s fight in Las Vegas.
“Manny Pacquiao’s one of those fighters who’s very hard to read,” he said. “He doesn’t do usual things. He throws punches from odd angles, you don’t know where he’s coming from.
“You don’t know what he’s going to next, because he doesn’t know either.”
