MANNY Pacquiao?s lethal destruction of Oscar de la Hoya was quite impressive and elevated his status as one of the all-time greats in boxing.
On the other hand, the pathetic performance exhibited by the ?Golden Boy? raised calls for his retirement from the sport he has so gallantly represented for the past decade or so.
As admitted by him, his physical tools just would not respond or were already inadequate in that fight.
If indeed he responds to that clarion call, how will he be remembered? Let?s examine some relevant factors.
FIGHT RECORD. The beatdown at the hands of Pacman was probably the only fight where Oscar was hurt, save for that one-punch knockout administered by Bernard Hopkins.
Oscar will end his career with 39-6 with 30 KOs, which is still a very handsome record. Coupled with the fact that most of his opponents were top-shelf fighters, this is quite impressive.
GRADE: A-
QUALITY OF OPPOSITION. Most fighters will never have the opportunity to face a who?s who of boxing elite. Pernell Whitaker. Floyd Mayweather Jr. Bernard Hopkins. Shane Mosely. Felix Trinidad. Fernando Vargas. Manny Pacquiao. Rafael Ruelas. Julio Cesar Chavez.
Oscar was fortunate to have been guided expertly by his promoter Bob Arum and given the proper breaks early in his career. When he ventured into promotions, he maintained that habit of fighting the best opponents possible.
Save for his refusal to fight Antonio Margarito, it?s difficult to legitimately claim that Oscar ducked anybody. In fact, he sought bigger and bigger challenges. Never mind if he was seldom successful in his career defining fights. But he certainly sought the best guys available.
GRADE: A +
FIGHTING STYLE. Oscar never really had a consistent fighting style. Early in his career he was a punching machine. Then he turned boxer-puncher. In the Trinidad fight, he inexplicably ran the last few rounds and practically threw away a fight he was supposed to be winning.
In the first Shane Mosely fight, he punched with the smaller man but failed to sustain his work-rate and lost via split decision. In the rematch, he boxed more and moved backward behind a jab. But in the minds of the judges, he still wasn?t good enough.
Under the tutelage of Floyd Mayweather Jr. he learned new defensive moves, including the famed shoulder roll. Then he worked with Freddie Roach and recently Nacho Beristain.
Too many trainers have only contributed to Oscar?s lack of a genuine style. But one thing is undisputed. Whether he boxed or slugged, he was exciting to watch and that is why he is the reigning boxing pay-per-view king.
GRADE: A
IMPACT. Undeniably, Oscar has been boxing?s face for the past few years and has carried the sport in terms of popularity and mainstream appeal.
His fans were both men and women. When he founded his own promotions company, teaming up with fellow boxers Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins, he cemented his status as an icon in the sport.
GRADE: A+
INTANGIBLES. This is where his evaluation takes a dip. The great ones always delivered at crunch-time. For some reason, Oscar failed to get the ?Ws? when they mattered the most.
(to be concluded)
LATAGAW XMAS PARTY. Don?t forget our Christmas party on Dec. 28, 7 p.m. at Hotel de Mercedes. See you there. In HBST.
THE LAST ROUND. It is on Sun.Star Cebu?s Sports Editor Mike Limpag who recently and willingly committed himself to reclusion perpetua with the love of his life Rora Patino. Cheers!
