Let's Go Pacman

It is the calm before the storm.

Months of countless hours of training, blood, sweat, and dedication, all come down to a showdown between two boxing icons fighting in a boxing dream match.

Only days away from what some consider the fight of the year, fans are excited between a much anticipated match between Filipino ring king, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, and “The Golden Boy,” Mexican Oscar De La Hoya.

The two will enter Saturday night's fight at MGM Grand during significant times in their boxing journeys. De La Hoya is heading into the later years of his boxing career at age of 35 while Pacquiao is said to be entering his prime at the age of 29.

Both fighters took a different approach in preparing for the match. De La Hoya decided to retreat to Big Bear, Calif. and train in a house complete with a gym and ring while Pacquiao spent his days in Hollywood, living in a condo with nearly a dozen of his entourage, a few miles away from trainer Freddie Roach’s gym, Wild Card Boxing Club.

But as De La Hoya chose the seclusion and Rocky Balboa-like training and Pacquiao decided to stay in the Hollywood limelight and train alongside amateurs and champions, many wonder how will the fight pan out?

For the first time since his Las Vegas debut, Pacquiao will be fighting as an underdog with Las Vegas odds makers favoring the bigger and taller De La Hoya.

Pacquiao, the current World Boxing Council lightweight champion, is ready to fight De La Hoya, who once trained with Roach, and defend, not only the Filipino people, but also his other nickname, the “Mexecutioner.”

Pacquiao has defeated some of Mexico’s finest boxers such as Erik Morales, Marco Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, and David Diaz. The speed and combination of punches were no match for the former champions.

Jonathan Lim, a Filipino and boxing trainer at California State University at Northridge, said Pacquiao will come out the victor.

“Manny is going to be way too fast for De La Hoya, he’s too old,” Lim said. “He’s going to attack and attack and his punches are real powerful too, but at the end he’s going to be faster and quicker.”

Pacquiao’s energy and tenacity has made him successful throughout his career ever since he won his first title as a late replacement in a super flyweight fight against then title holder, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba. Pacquiao has moved up in the ranks since then, winning titles in four other weight classes. Only Roy Jones Junior dominated the ranks like that.

Some Mexicans are supporting Pacquiao though because of the first fight that put De La Hoya on the map. De La Hoya defeated legend Julio Caesar Chavez for his WBC light welter weight belt as an underdog, by technical knockout in the third round.

“It’s hard to support Pacquiao but I’m going to because I hate De La Hoya,” Max Parra said, a personal trainer in boxing and mixed martial arts. “Chavez is a legend, and I’m never going to get over that. I’m all for, Manny.”

Pacquiao has seven wins in eight matches in Las Vegas. He has showed progress as a boxer, changing from a brawler to a technical and sound fighter, but also as a person, donating money and food, by hand, in the Philippines, and building schools, clinics, and churches.

“The People’s Champ” is adored by millions of Filipinos and boxing fans have grown to love his lively and aggressive style. De La Hoya should be no match for Ring Magazine’s top rated pound for pound boxer.

“Pacman” will come out the winner, beating another Mexican champion, and should be in shape to face, European slugger, Ricky Hatton.



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