18.11.08 – by James Slater – Oscar De La Hoya says he will not be content with a mere points win over Manny Pacquiao on December 6th. Helping to further publicise the bout that has been dubbed “The Dream Match,” De La Hoya has made it clear he wants to knock “Pac-Man” out, and has also said that if he doesn’t he will consider it a “total disaster.”
“The Golden Boy,” a huge favourite going into the welterweight match-up, is expected by many to do as he wishes and stop the Filipino legend, but is there a chance the big expectations on Oscar will put/have put added pressure on him? And if so, and if the soon-to-be 36-year-old goes out with only one thing on his mind, is there a chance Pacquiao could get lucky? Everyone knows that when a fighter is in a forward advancing attack mode, trying desperately to get his man out of there, he also leaves himself open and is therefore somewhat vulnerable.. So what if De La Hoya comes forward with bad intentions but, as Freddie Roach claims, will be unable to pull the trigger?
It seems pride has got to Oscar, at least a little. Knowing full well he should stop a rival who is so much naturally smaller and lighter than he is, De La Hoya has admitted he will be disgusted with himself if he can only manage a points win. How on earth will he feel, then, if the upset occurs and Pacquiao beats him? If failing to win by KO will be a disaster what would a loss do to the superstar’s confidence?
Oscar has gone on record as saying the fight is “very personal” for him, and that he wants to pay Pacquiao back for disrespecting him by turning his back on him and therefore failing to “honour” De La Hoya. Is there a chance, at least a small one, that the normally ice cool “Golden Boy” has let Pacquiao (and his trainer Roach) get under his skin? Maybe. Of course, there’s a good chance it won’t even matter if he has. But it’s always a little dangerous when a fighter enters the ring determined to win by a KO and a KO only.
One look in this month’s issue of Ring magazine let’s you know there are also plenty of experts who do NOT see De La Hoya winning by KO on December 6th. David Diaz, Andre Berto, Brian Kenny, Steve Farhood, Enzo Calzaghe and Alton Merkerson all see Oscar winning, but only via a points decision. Whereas two experts, Timothy Bradley and Jim Strickland (Diaz’ trainer) even predict a points win – for Pacquiao!
Therefore, and again, has De La Hoya put added pressure on himself by uttering the following words?
“I will be extremely disappointed if this fight doesn’t end in a knockout. It will be a total disaster.”
What will Oscar say in the post-fight interview come December 6th if he’s failed to do what he so clearly is desperate to?