Sexy. Exotic. Yummy. Appealing. Striking. Famous.: Pacquaio toys with a battered De La Hoya

Pacquaio toys with a battered De La Hoya

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Manny Pacquiao produced an astonishing display to stop Oscar De La Hoya after eight rounds of their superfight in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
In March this year Pacquiao was plying his trade at super-featherweight, while De La Hoya was a light-middle.
Here they met at welterweight, and Oscar was expected to hold all the aces in terms of size and reach.
But once the build-up was over and they finally got in the ring, it was speed that killed as the Filipino icon first mystified De La Hoya, and then worn out him.
Manny started the attack by boxing well from the outside, and even in the early going he just couldn't miss with his straight left lead through the De La Hoya guard.
Oscar meanwhile, who came in at his lightest weight in 11 years (145lbs), appeared tense and sluggish, struggling to get his punches off with any speed or power.
In the seventh it was time for Manny to move in for the kill, and with De La Hoya apparently ineffective to get off the ropes, the Filipino icon scored at will with constant attacks.
De La Hoya signaled that he wanted to go on regardless of his struggles, and did keep Pacquiao at woof for the first two minutes of round eight.
But in the dying seconds of the round he was back on the ropes a broken man as Pacquiao handed out more punishment. It was like Ali v Holmes back in 1980 - a once-great fighter faded beyond recognition acting as a virtual punch bag.
With his eye virtually shut, Oscar was told by referee Tony Weeks between rounds that if he kept eating punches the fight would be stopped.
More punishment wasn't necessary though, as the ring doctor decided enough was enough before the ninth could get under way.
For Pacquiao it brought to a close one of the most brilliant performances in ring history. And next up could be a showdown with Ricky Hatton.
For De La Hoya meanwhile, it surely signaled the end of a golden age.

Source: sportinglife.com

Pacquiao - up for Hatton clash.

Manny Pacquiao says he'd be happy to fight Ricky Hatton in England after destroying Oscar De La Hoya in their superfight in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Labels: boxing news, dream match, manny pacquiao, oscar de la hoya, sport news, the re-mtach