DE LA HOYA vs PACQUIAO: WHO WINS AND HOW?

A BRC EXCLUSIVE POLL

 

   

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

ALADDIN FREEMAN:

 

Oscar by late KO.
 

GEORGE ELSASSER:

When this one was signed and ready to go, the first thoughts were Pacquiao would have the energy and desire with decent punching power at 147 to handle the today De La Hoya version. Then came the afterthought, that unlike Hoya-Hopkins, the Oscar "Fools Golden Boy" is entering this one for more than the money - is looking for a win. 

Pacquiao is an honest, exciting crowd pleaser - but is not a welterweight - his  Filipino brand of banzai isn't going to get it done. I recall his having Marquez down several times early in their barn burner but then slowed late in the fight and nearly lost. 

Pick is De La Hoya by late round stoppage. 

P.S. Would like to be wrong with this one.

STEPHEN JONES:

This fight is once again one of those weight differential fights where we have to consider how much size really matters. Oscars strength will be matched by Manny's determination and will, I know how much preparation both men have put in for this fight and know how an on-form Pacquiao can overwhelm most anyone he faces with his high octane drive... But this isn't just anyone... Oscar is always ready to deliver and has wisdom that may be very important to him in event of a long fight.

I honestly want to just sit on the fence here but if pressed I may have to go with Manny, purely because I just love his style. Oscar has had a few less than stellar outings in the last few years (Hopkins / Sturm etc...) and If cracks emerge anywhere in his make up in this fight, Pacman will expose him..  It's an extraordinary fight...

Pacman by Majority decision...

JEFF MAYWEATHER:

I think Oscar will win with in six rounds Pacquiao is just too small and have never been hit by a man as big as Oscar especially with Oscar's talent. The biggest man he has faced is David Diaz, who was one of the weakest Champions in the division. He was dropped by much smaller fighters with not the same talent.

I feel the first time De la Hoya hits him with the left hook Pacquiao will be effected in a way that he has never been before. It might even turnout his lights for the night. It certainly wouldn't surprise me. So De la Hoya inside of six rounds.
 

FRANK GONZALEZ JR.:

Somehow, this fight reminds me of Washington bailing out the very banks who squandered (see stole) all the money in the first place. Why should WE pay to see this fight that is little more than an exhibition match up? Is De la Hoya  that important these days, after his last four, less than impressive outings... all on PPV! (except for the Stevie Johnson fight) Hey, even Yuri Boy Campas got to be on PPV fighting Oscar.
 
Are fans supposed to believe that a famous 154 pound fighter went out bravely by choosing to fight a guy three weight classes below him? (and Pacman only recently moved up to 135!)   What's next? Heavyweight Vitali Klitschko vs. light heavyweight Joe Calzaghe on PPV?
 
I like Pacman to win by decision. He'll out-hustle De la Hoya  in the later rounds. When Oscar slows down from rounds 7-12, Manny gets all his best work in to justify the win, in what by design, should be a "close" decision.  
 
So let's all get ready to donate our hard earned dollars to the save Oscar De La Hoya PPV foundation, sponsored by HBO.
 

SCOTT SANDERS:

I'm usually strictly old school about bigger vs smaller, but Pacquiao can win this fight. He'll have to fight almost mistake free and hope Oscar shows his age though. Nobody talks about it, but Oscar (like many fighters who depend mostly on their left) doesn't like fighting southpaws and has stayed away from them.  To my knowledge he has only fought three (Bredahl, Whitaker, Camacho) and only been impressive over the well past his prime Camacho.

Summing it up, the youth, speed, and conditioning of Pacquiao can win this fight, but if De la Hoya  makes weight easily enough he'll come from behind to wear down and stop a tiring Pacquiao in about the 10th round.  For whatever it is worth, I'd rather to be wrong and see the Filipino sensation win.  IMO, that would be better for boxing in 2009 and beyond. 

RICKY RAY TAYLOR:

De la Hoya clobbers Pacman almost into retirement.  'Nuff said.
 

GARY TODD:

I'm going for a calculated Pacquiao win. Late TKO. I'll be there and can't wait.

 

MARK URBAN:

 

I think it will be closer than people are making out, but ultimately I can see De La Hoya winning on points.

 

 

FRANCISCO GUZMAN:

 

When the fight was first made many criticized Oscar for choosing to fight yet again a smaller opponent in Manny Pacquiao. Oscar who had just finished facing another smaller opponent in Stevie Forbes, a light punching junior lightweight. Why was Oscar de la Hoya seeking a match up against a fighter who had made his pro debut at 106 lbs?

 

Oscar, who has fought as high as 160 lbs., had decided to go to back down to the welterweight limit. He had a choice of facing the best fighters in that division but instead he chose to face a fighter whose last fight was at lightweight limit (135 lbs.) and gets away with it. Oscar always said he was seeking the best fighters in the world. What a joke!

 

You can’t blame boxing columnist Michael Katz for giving Oscar the name “Chicken” De La Hoya.

 

Looking back at Oscar's performance against Stevie Forbes, a fight where he suffered a fractured cheek bone and was hit at will by the smaller Forbes, has made this fight with Manny a bit intriguing. Manny has been able to beat most of his opponents in the lower weight classes because of his speed and punching power but Oscar has a pretty sturdy chin so hurting him is going to be a huge task. How does Manny hold up against Oscar's punching power?

 

Manny is really an offensive fighter who is constantly moving forward and may fall in the hands of the bigger De La Hoya, and for that reason I give Oscar a huge edge. Southpaws have given Oscar problems in the past but Manny is not a defensive minded expert who will give you angles.  In his fight against David Diaz, Manny did box very well but that was against a smaller opponent in the lightweight division. Oscar's  size and strength are probably going to be the deciding factors in this fight.

 

Oscar by a 12 round decision or late knockout.

 

By the way I am rooting for the “Pacman.” 

 

ED LUDWIG:

Size and power favor Oscar De La Hoya whereas youth and speed favor Manny Pacquiao. De La Hoya can’t hit what’s not in front of him. Pacquiao has to box smart and not trade or get caught on the ropes to pull this out. Many people talk about the size advantage for Oscar but if Pacman stays on course he should be able to neutralize Oscar’s offensive output.

Pacman by unanimous decision.

 

BILL STEPHENS: LY

De La Hoya drops in weight and still claims to have more power IN his punches. Nacho is in his corner with new training techniques to bring the most out of the lighter Oscar. 

Pacquiao will be determined as ever to make his mark on the boxing world with a defeat over the Golden Boy. This one is going to be a mix up of great proportions when the gloves touch.

I will say the Pride of the Philippines will return home to his people victorious by decision.

 

 

LARRY FLORES:

One of Oscar's left hook bombs put Pacquiao to sleep, just like he did to Ricardo Mayorga.   Oscar wins inside of 12 rounds & "The Pacman" will go back to the lighter weights looking for wins against the little guys! Manny has never been hit as hard as Oscar's left hook.

Sorry, Manny,  you are deep over your head in this one, just like Oscar was deep over his head against "The Executioner".

This is a FARE WELL party for 'The Golden Boy."

 

 

ELISA HARRISON:

 

Oscar de la Hoya's quest to become a billionaire, as he has openly acknowledged, places him in a no win situation against Manny Pacquiao. Should Oscar win, most will say, well, wasn't he supposed to win? The bigger man vs the smaller man theory will be brought up ad nauseam and the win will be of little (non-monetary) value to Oscar de la Hoya. But, dare I say it? What if he loses to Manny Pacquiao? What then? Will it be his last fight? Could Oscar's ego survive such a loss? Talk about a no win situation!

 

Call me crazy, but I favor Manny Pacquiao in this fight. 

 

 

 

 

12-3-2008

 

 

 

 

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