Sports Blog Philippines

Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao forced Oscar dela Hoya to submission on the night of their match tagged as “The Dream Match” on what could be considered as boxing’s one of classic fights.

Oscar dela Hoya opted not to continue the fight in the ninth round rather than face a humiliating defeat from Pacquiao. Pacquiao dominated almost all the rounds, from round 1 to 8 giving the Golden Boy a surprised pugilistic strategy which was not anticipated in his camp. Pacquiao played smart during the fight and exuded with enthusiasm that he can defeat the Golden Boy of boxing. All the three judges scored the fight in favor of Pacquiao prior to the decision of dela Hoya to call it a day and concede to the moment’s swing. Oscar dela Hoya suffered a cut in his left eye which bears the mark of a signatured Pacquiao punch. The key to Pacquiao’s victory is speed and power. He kept dela Hoya off balance most of the times and confused him of the punches he was throwing in different angles. It is small wonder that Oscar was not able to capitalize on his height and reach advantage because Pacquiao kept on moving around making it hard for dela Hoya to figure out where the next punches are coming. Like a buzzing saw, Pacquiao released some of his best shots in rounds 6-8. During these rounds, Pacquiao dominated the game and dictated the outcome of the fight. Some good combinations from Pacquiao almost sent the weary dela Hoya in the canvass as he was not able to answer Pacquiao’s punches in the late seventh and eighth rounds. Referee Tony Weeks warned dela Hoya to release some punches midway of seventh round otherwise the fight will be stopped. In the eighth round, dela Hoya tried to box Pacquiao and get a good angle for his punches but Pacquiao is just too quick, causing dela Hoya’s punches miss their target. The last forty seconds of the fight proved too much for dela Hoya as Pacquiao released a barrage of punches that put the Golden Boy to the corner as a mere target shot and was hit by torpedo-like punches that you know not where they are coming. Oscar was just lucky to have been saved by the bell. Before the ninth round, Oscar’s corner were at a mess, confused whether or not to continue the fight. Nacho Beristain, dela Hoya’s coach, asked his boxer if he could still stand another round, dela Hoya chose the better path for virtue. He expressed a sign of submission and approached Pacquiao to give him an embrace, a mark of respect for a foe who has beaten him.

Several months prior this fight, many regarded it as a mismatch. Ironically, it was. The mismatch was tilted no against Pacquiao but for dela Hoya who has been to several battles in the ring and the wear and tear is just too much for a fighter who “could no longer pull the trigger” as Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, will tell all non-believers. But the defeat did not diminish Oscar’s stature. His legacy to boxing is something which cannot be denied. As Pacquiao himself would acknowledge that he (dela Hoya) remains “his idol.” But age had betrayed the Golden Boy and gave it to Pacquiao. Pacquiao was just the better fighter that night. The Dream Match was a dream came true to the fighting pride of the Philippines.