The G Manifesto

Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar de la Hoya Prediction

PACQUAIO/DE LA HOYA: OFFICIAL PREDICTION

I’m a firm believer that if you’re a couch potato and you start to take care of yourself late in life, you can get in shape. But I don’t believe that an athlete who was already in decent shape but has simply aged will have the same ability to transform himself this late in life. Oscar has a lot of miles on that 35 year old body. Calzaghe is a year older but we see how fresh he looks after taking a rather scenic route (in comparison) until the twilight of his career. Against Forbes at 150 lbs, I think Oscar looked weakened and although he stayed on his toes for the full 12 rounds, I think it was a bit misleading because he faced a man who isn’t known for punching power. Still, Oscar left the ring badly swollen and despite the victory, he was clearly not what we know him to be. Pacquiao, on the other hand, is coming up in weight and although he looked nice at lightweight (135 lbs), this test will be 12 pounds north. When it all boils down, I think you still have to apply that “WARNING” label on Oscar because a flush left hook would seal the deal.

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De La Hoya will make it eventful early on, but soon, Pacquiao’s hand-speed and power will have an accumulative effect as the rounds grind away at the old former champion. Pacquiao will hurt De La Hoya to the body and be able to see the slower punches coming, and be able to attack through De La Hoya’s defense until De La Hoya becomes ineffective.

Pacquiao by unanimous decision.

Source

The big fight between Oscar and Manny is nearly upon us. Here are our predictions:

Wallace Matthews, Newsday: The great thing about beng Oscar is you can beat up little men for big money. On paper, this matchup is a joke and an embarrassment for de la Hoya to fight a guy who not that long ago was fighting at 106 pounds. There’s a reason why they weigh fighters, and it’s because in boxing, size matters. and it will matter greatly in this fight. Pacquiao is an electrifying performer against men his own size, but this is too big an assignment for him. De La Hoya KO 9.

Mike Rose, Newsday: Manny Pacquiao is moving up 12 pounds in weight to fight Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds. But after reading comments from Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach, I don’t think speed is an issue. I’m confident Pacquiao will retain his speed. De La Hoya has that dangerous left hook to worry about, but I think ultimately Pacquiao will be too fast for De La Hoya to contend with. Plus, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s current trainer, trained De La Hoya for the Floyd Mayweather fight. So I think Roach comes up with a strategy to win this fight. Pacquiao wins by a unanimous decision.

Source

Dream Match will go 12 rounds–Dundee
December 04, 2008 04:59:00
Francis Ochoa
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LOS ANGELES—Angelo Dundee has trained some of boxing’s biggest names for some of their biggest fights.

And he still can’t help but get excited about this one.

“This is the fight people want to see,” the 87-year-old great told journalists Tuesday during the formal welcome for Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand, where on Dec. 6 the Golden Boy of the sport meets tireless Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in a fight dubbed “Dream Match.”

“People are excited because it’s going to be a great fight and both of them are great fighters,” added Dundee, who once trained legendary great Muhammad Ali. “I see a great fight, a great night of boxing. And the year will end on a good note for boxing because of this fight.”

Bob Arum, whose Top Rank is co-promoting the card, took it a step further by calling the bout the “Super Bowl of boxing.”

De La Hoya entered the MGM Hotel to strains of Mexican music and with throngs of supporters clicking away with their cameras. He ascended a makeshift boxing ring that had a gold-plated lion statue in the middle and posed for photographers who covered the event.

He was later joined by Dundee and chief trainer Nacho Beristain.

“I have all the respect for Manny Pacquiao,” said De La Hoya, flashing his trademark dimpled smile. “But this fight is a special event in itself, not just because of who my opponent is. Every time I fight, it is always a special event.”

Pacquiao, on the other hand, arrived at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino riding in the custom-painted bus provided by Top Rank. He was joined by a large entourage that included former Manila mayor and current Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.

“I promise to do my best because Oscar De La Hoya is a great opponent,” he told a swarm of print and television journalists who greeted his arrival.

Dundee said he expects the fight to go the distance belying predictions from both camps that somebody is going to end up on the floor. De La Hoya’s camp has predicted a fifth-round knockout while Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said he sees the Golden Boy kissing the canvas in the ninth.

“I think it will go 12,” Dundee said. “They are both very strong and they both can take a good punch. It’s a shame these two guys will have to fight because they’re both good fighters.”

Source

This fight is nearly impossible to predict.

But I will be pulling for the former childhood street kid from the Philippines.

The Rest is Up to You…

Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA El Campeón De La Gente
The Guide to Getting More Out of Life
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http://www.thegmanifesto.com

Track suggested by Chris R:

Jadakiss – The Last Days