The cheerleader outfit is on.
The pom poms are waving. And Oscar De La Hoya is happy to tell you, me and anyone else with ears that “the biggest fight” of of the remainer of 2009 is his Sept. 19 Juan Manuel Marquez-Floyd Mayweather show in Las Vegas.
Sometimes, Oscar makes himself just too easy a target. This is one of those times.
Oskie also asks us to believe that the postponement of Juan Ma-PBF just made the fight bigger and better.
That is like saying the next firecracker to be lit after one fizzles out is sure to be more dazzling.
Marquez-Mayweather, originally set for July 18, was a dead fish at the box office. The reason Oskie and the Golden Boys don’t want to mention that fact is that indications are there were less than 3,000 tickets sold.
Oh, I know, they were planning on a sudden rush, a fight night walkup of 15,000 people. Yeah, sure, Oskie.
Oskie is the same guy who always parrots the “styles makes fights” truism.
Now, speaking strictly as a fistic consumer and giving respect where due to both PBF and Juan Ma, what would you rather spend your hard-earned PPV money on, this fight matching a flit and run dancing machine against a sometimes laidback counterpuncher or Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 14?
Cotto has no choice but to charge Manny when they fight. And Pacman will meet him at center ring with a truckload of fresh “Manila Ice.”
Pacquiao’s vaunted right hook gives new meaning to the expression “coldcocked.”
Ted William’s frozen head has never been as chilled as Hatton was.
If you don’t believe me, ask Ricky Hatton who is still trying to thaw out.
Really the only lure to the September bout is the question as to whether Mayweather’s luminscent skills have been dulled by his retirement period.
Will Mayweather be, as Soul Brother #1 James Brown once sang, “like a dull knife, cutting nothing?”
I cannot envision any scenario in which the September bout is more aesthetically pleasing to the paying customers than the November fight.
Mayweather and Marquez could be a semi stinker. It all depends on what Floyd is able to do. I hardly think he is anywhere near being shot as he has never taken a whipping from anybody aside from Floyd Senior.
In fact, the Grand Rapids Grandmaster has been virtually unhittable and untouchable through 39 fights.
There’s no denying the Michigander’s body of work.
But I am sure Floyd will be cautious early on, using his phenomenal jab to keep Juan Ma off balance.
That’s the jab that PBK kept in storage until the fifth round before he started to whitewash Oskie.
That sneaky right hand that JMM landed numerous times on Pacman is likely to catch nothing but air when thrown in the direction of the Pretty Boy.
It’s possible that Marquez may miss so many punches that he look like he’s trying to fan Mayweather.
Does this sound like a recipe for a boxing classic?
While I bow to no man in conceding Mayweather’s ring artistry, I realize that Joe Sixpack, whether in Denver or Bacalod, doesn’t have this same appreciation.
Sixpack and his ilk prefer to see the Battling Robots swinging for the fences.
It’s a shame this personal preference has prevented so many Pacfans from savoring and undersdtanding the fine tuning he and Master Mechanic Coach Freddie Roach have done the past couple of years.
My first in person view of Pacman was in San Antonio against Jorge Solis and, at the point, Pacquiao hopped around the ring like a kangaroo on a crack binge. He was more offbalance than Mayweather’s tax accountant.
Yes, he was exciting and yes he packed a heavy punch in both hands.
But Manny was far from the new, improved Manny we’ve seen demolish first Oskie and then Hatton.
Mayweather’s rest may make him a better fight once he shakes off the rust.
Pacquiao has little room for improvement now.
That’s why I will borrow one of Oskie’s pom poms when Mayweather-Pacquiao is inevitably made next year.
It’s the hottest match in the entire sport.
Speaking of hot matches, I had to fire up and pay for my own barbecue this July 4th.
Big disappointment there as Mayweather flacks (read Golden flacks) had promised a July 4th media barebcue hosted by Floyd Joy Jr. in Las Vegas.
I guess they were just ribbing about that as it was apparently canceled.
My sadness was abated somewhat when I was informed by a well placed spy that I was not on the invitation list.
“But cheer up, Old Boy,” my saucy spy said, “you’re weren’t being invited but they did have you on the menu.”
Roasted White Gorilla, imagine that.
(Upcoming MM contest: first prize is a weekend in Indianapolis, second prize is two weeks there and the consolation prize is a month in Naptown.)
