Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Mercado: Classic Fight By Ram Mercado First Person
AMONG the gifts you can imagine along the anticipated thrills of the season, the slated Pacquiao-Dela Hoya fight scheduled December 6 will top all public spectacles in the country.
The dream match will be like no other in boxing promotions. People's Champion (Manny) versus the Golden Boy.
I am diligently following the developments of the exciting negotiations between our very own Pacquiao, said to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, and the aging and retiring Mexican-American superstar.
Trust Manny's fabled coach Freddie Roach who confidently declared, "I definitely think my guy will win. I would never put my guy in a fight I didn't think he could win." In as many fights that Roach had predicted he was proven right.
The blockbuster event is being set at the MGM Grand or at any Las Vegas casino of Pacquiao's choice, probably at Mandalay Bay where he feels very lucky.
Initially debated by both camps was the fight limit at 147 lbs. for Pacman and l50 lbs for Oscar. The Filipino has the advantage with this weight. Boxing pundits thought the Golden Boy may find it difficult and enervating to scale down from his present 168 lbs. to the agreed pound limit till December 6.
While Manny is getting bigger with poundage, having weighed 146 lbs. during his last fight, Oscar may insist on the 150 lbs. level.
Basing on the pre-fight psy-ops statement from both sides, the December showdown is likely to materialize.
Freddie Roach, however, has incurred the ire of promoter Bob Arum by saying Dela Hoya is older and can't pull the trigger anymore. Arum resented this put-down as not likely to help in the negotiations. By stressing Dela Hoya's "old age," his handlers may back out from the talks once convinced of the handicap against a younger, stronger, and durable Pacquiao.
Arum has effectively issued a gag order on Roach and Manny while the Top Rank boss works on an early agreement between the boxers.
American boxing circles, this early, seem to put the odds in favor of the People's Champ. Dela Hoya has fought only once after losing to Floyd Mayweather in June last year. He is widely believed to be on the way out. But he wants one last big fight. This could be against Pacquiao or Miguel Cotto.
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P30,000 Bet Offered
Before press time, a P30,000 cash bet has been offered by the LNW Club through Tony dela Rosa. The group is betting in favor of the Golden Boy. Tony Brown said any taker(s) from the famous Monday Club are in preference because of their known sense of honor and their love of sports and fun. "Walang atrasan sa pusta come what may, ngayon pa lang kasahan na habang inaayus ang mga conditions ng proposed bout," the LNW Club said. This offer is good until the end of next month. Contact No. of Mr. Dela Rosa is 0918-620-9022.
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Golden Boy Promotions executive Eric Gomez who was in Cebu last month intimated to local media that "Pacquiao would pose a major problem for Dela Hoya because of the Filipino's fighting style and the power in his hands."
Expecting a record windfall in the match purse, Pacquiao's advisers reported he has nothing to lose but everything to gain, while Oscar has everything to lose.
The Golden Boy is expected to hang up his gloves soon and is looking for a one last glory to blaze his legendary status as a six-division world champion.
The People's Champ, a frightening power slugger, wants an equal purse with the Golden Boy. He also wants a lion's share in the pay-for-view and TV advertising revenues. It was estimated that Pacquiao can easily get not less than US$15 million for this dream bout.
Aside from the problem of purse sharing, the promoters were facing an obstacle by way of the TV station carrier of the fight in the country. Pacquiao's TV rights belong to Solar, which uses GMA-7 while Dela Hoya TV fights are under ABS-CBN. The two stations have been waging a bitter slugging contest of their own.
"Si Dela Hoya na siguro ang pinakamabigat na makakalaban ko kung sakali, yung masasabi ko na naabot ko na ang tuktuk ng career ko. Pero gusto ko parehas ang laban, kagaya ng purses, yung hindi tayo agrabyado," Manny said.
Against the Golden Boy, Manny said he would train at least 11 weeks to be in his best form. Dela Hoya offered the Pacquiao camp US$10 million but Freddie Roach is demanding US$15 million for his boy. Chavit Singson and Lito Atienza, Pacquiao's close friends would want a bigger pay, that is for sure.
What do Pampango boxing aficionados and gamblers make out of this shaping spectacle?
