It was last year’s biggest fight. Outside Pacquiao’s fans, most people thought it was a circus freak show. It was a fight that turned the boxing world upside-down. It was a moment in boxing history when the baton was handed and a new king wore boxing’s crown.
I will not go further into details as most of you probably already know what happened in the fight. Pacquiao entered the ring visibly as the smaller man, but he also showed he was quicker and made De la Hoya look like he was walking on quick sand.
It was the fight that silenced Pacquiao’s critics- temporarily that is. They all kept mum and hush until about a few weeks after the fight. Some even complimented Pacquiao for a job well done. But like all good things, almost nothing ever lasts. It was just a matter of time when the critics could figure out a backlash.
Even De la Hoya who was humble and gracious in defeat on the night of the fight, seems to have recovered his swag and has repeatedly belittled Pacquiao’s feat and suggested that he lost the battle in the scales. In other words, what people and De la Hoya was saying is that he was dehydrated.
Some writer from some website was saying something like Pacquiao was only good at beating over the hill and dehydrated boxers. I could?ve sworn his name was Floyd or Joy with the way he was diminishing Pacquiao?s accomplishments. Okay, let?s say Pacquiao beat one dehydrated boxer in Oscar De la Hoya, but wasn?t De la Hoya just saying how ready and strong he was prior to that bout and even showing the world in the 24/7 show all the amazing new scientific methods only ?Golden Boy money? can buy that they were employing on him? If De la Hoya was simply dehydrated, he would?ve given us at least a decent first few rounds, but he was simply outclassed from the get-go. Dehydrated? Sounds more like devastated.
Other than that, who are they saying Pacquiao beat that was dehydrated? Hatton? Come on. When Hatton went up a notch in weight-class, they were saying it wasn?t his natural weight and used it as one of the factors why they lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Besides, didn?t Hatton say nobody can beat him at 140 and rightfully so, he was undefeated at that weight class priot to climbing the ring against the Pacman. Pacquiao and Hatton were also identical in age when they fought so they can?t really use the age card as excuse. Maybe they were talking about Morales and Barrera. Pacquiao first beat Morales and Barrera when they were both 29 years of age. Marquez has never been knocked since he fought Freddie Norwood- and that was 10 years ago. But Pacquiao floored the consensus number 2 Pound-for-Pound fighter in the world one, two, three four times in their two fights. Pacquiao has scored a total of eleven knockdowns against the three best Mexican fighters of this era, made the biggest boxing superstar of the past decade quit and made one of the best boxers to ever come out of Europe look like a sparring partner flooring him more times than the rounds they fought. I guess that?s why people who dislike Pacquiao have to reduce themselves to calling those who appreciate his accomplishments as ?nuthuggers?- there?s simply no other logical comeback left. Talk is cheap and with the recession, it’s value further plummeted to being worth nothing.
The Dream match against De la Hoya last year is truly an epic fight. It was a milestone in our sport of boxing. Some people are just not used to change. But Pacquiao’s fists have been as convincing as Obama’s speeches. Slowly but surely, people are realizing how good that change is. Who’s John Mc Cain and Sarah Pallin though?
Writer’s Note: Happy Father’s Day to all the hard working dads out there. We appreciate the roof on our heads, the comfort of our beds and the life lessons you’ve shared. I personally can’t ask for a better father. Mr. Guillermo Guilermo, dad, Thanks! And being a father myself, I can’t think of a better day in my life than when I first saw my child. Happy Father’s Day to all!
