In the eve of December 6, 2008 (December 7 in the Philippines), the best of the best haymakers will take the center stage on what to be the biggest fight of the year. Pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao of the Philippines will try to stamp his name on the boxing world pitted against the most popular boxing commodity, the pay-per-view king Oscar “The Golden Boy” Dela Hoya bidding farewell on the boxing world but not without this bout that shall further cement his stature on the upper echelons of the boxing world’s demigods. Taunts and provocations had all paved the way to the staging of the Dream Match that will transcend to the genre of the undersized against the huge, David versus Goliath, and basically a match that doesn’t seem like matched at all.
It can be recalled that HBO’s grizzled sportscaster Larry Merchant quipped waning with hope to witness a fight between this year’s pound-for-pound ranked number one against the boxing’s top draw, and as if the two about-to-be protagonists living with the hype and acting to grant the wish of the old fella, the December 6 bout was signed, sealed and about to be delivered on pay-per-view thru HBO. While the hyping machine upped the ante, and as nearly as the first day of sale sold out all of the venue tickets, the match in itself took a lot of beating as it almost didn’t materialize due to some glitches on how much to be paid to whom and how much will the lion is willing to distribute his share. And it took two-time trainer of the year Freddie Roach to provoke Dela Hoya stating that he could no longer pull the trigger thus giving reason to the Golden Boy to pursue Pacman.
Pacquiao, on his part, will be dealing with the biggest fight of his life—not to mention his biggest paycheck to date and potential revenues off pay-per-view shares. Jumping from a measly 112 pounder when he began his career to fighting Dela Hoya at 147 lbs, the Pacman will be on a definite unchartered territory. The uncertain impact of Pacquiao’s hand speed and iron-coated fist to carry on a much heavier division will be tested no end on fight night. And this matter-of-factly issue of his had odds makers favoring Dela Hoya a wide 2-1 favorite. But Roach, wistful of the mere fact that he has trained Dela Hoya on the past is banking on the fact that Dela Hoya is past his prime and to put more emphasis to his running gag, he can no longer pull the trigger.
Dela Hoya on the other hand, took a barrage of criticism for taking this fight with Pacquiao. Accused of just doing this all for the money, in large part of the fact Pacquiao is way undermatched in terms of reach and heft. But the Golden Boy, may be business oriented, sure has other things in mind in stating that he wanted to fight the best of the best to be the very best and it so happened that the person the description was referred to was Pacquiao.
But critics and enthusiasts alike are all unanimous that this bout will be an epic battle worthy of everyone’s attention as both fighters try to salvage the sagging popularity of boxing and making it as intriguing and as entertaining as before. Climbing on the ring with their nations behind, this will be more than an individual battle as anyone would deem this Dream Match is just as illusory as its title implies to be.
FFUgay
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