De la Hoya vs Pacquiao - Any KATG boxing fans?

[memecherry]

I love boxing, and I especially love De la Hoya... I was in Vegas when he lost to Hopkins (whew that was nuts when the fight was over).

I love all the background involved in how these fighters are trained too... Freddie Roach, who trained De la Hoya to fight Mayweather last year (De la Hoya lost), now trained Pacquiao for this fight... De la Hoya hired trainers Angelo Dundee, Nacho Beristain, Edwin Valero to prepare him for the fight.

I've been watching the 24/7 HBO show that has been following them around for the last 4 weeks... I'm rooting for De la Hoya, but I know this will be an awesome fight to watch either way....

Saturday's Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao has turned into one of the most hyped fights of 2008.

At a time when mixed martial arts continues to gain popularity, the fight between two of the world's most popular fighters has provided the sport a need publicity boost.

Organizers in Las Vegas have even referred to the fight as recession-proof as loyal fans make their way to Las Vegas. Former US Olympian De La Hoya will draw plenty of American fans to the MGM Grand Garden Arenawhile Pacquiao will draw a sizable contingent from his own country of the Phillipines.

Pay-per-view sales for the fight, which is scheduled for 9 pm start time, are also strong and will likely surpass the record 2.4 million PPV buys for 2007's Oscar De La Hoya fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“This is a fight that attracts everybody,” Arum said. “Hispanics and Filipinos. Boxing fans and the non-boxing fan. Women, people who normally don’t follow boxing. They’ve always been intrigued by Oscar, and now they’re also intrigued by this exciting character from the Philippines.”

Still, Arum demurred on offering a prediction on how many pay-per-view sales the fight will generate.

“You really can’t tell,” he said. “Anybody who makes predictions in this economy is the same type of person who would decide to build buildings hoping the bank would finance them.”

Source: lasvegassun.com

The result of the fight is equally difficult to predict, although most boxing insiders say that De La Hoya's size advantage over Pacquiao make him the odds-on favorite. The 5'6" Pacquiao had to pack on weight to fight De La Hoya, a transition that might negatively impact the Filipino's agressive style.

Pacquiao won his first title fighting at 112 pounds. Earlier this year, Pacquiao fought and won at 130 pounds and 135 pounds. Against De La Hoya, Pac-Man will weigh in at around 147 pounds. If Pacquiao defies the odds and wins on Saturday, he will have fought and won at three dfferent weight classes in one year, one of the most amazing transformations in boxing history.

"It's a big accomplishment if I win this fight," Pacquiao said. "It's going to be boxing history and a big honor to my country. To fight in three divisions in one year, that's amazing. To win the fight is really good for me and a really big honor to my country."

[Not You]

De La Hoya is to old and to slow.
Save your money Pacquiao is a lock.

[memecherry]

What Pacquiao has going for him is his speed, but you can't use De la Hoya's age against him to count him just based on that. Bernard Hopkins, who is 43, Beat Kelly Pavlik a couple of months ago. De la Hoya is 35! He's not in his 20's, but he's not old. And he has a legacy to defend. If he can go in there confident and just take control from the beginning he can take it! I think it's going to be a good fight.

[club america]

Pacquiao is so much better, but De la Hoya probably paid him off

[Not You]

Hopkins beat Pavlik cuz he is faster, that is the key.
De La Hoya's legacy has become a question mark.
When was the last time he really won a fight, and
I don't mean on the cards. DeLa Hoya will lose.

[Not You]

P.S. know one counts Forbes.
that fight was a joke.

[gumby013]

Boxing is dead.