De La Hoya vs Pacquiao: Come on, are you guys serious? Really?

[albsur2006]

Now, I'm a huge hardcore boxing fan but I love a big event just as much any body. When Mayweather fought ODLH, even though the fight itself was a chess match, the entire experience was worth it to me. 24/7, all the pre-fight hype, the exposure, and a decent fight made it worthwile for me. But now it looks like the boxing fans are gonna get ODLH-Pacquiao in December.

Let me start with this. This fight is a sham and is demeaning to any true boxing fan. What in the hell is the point of this fight for De La Hoya if it isn't about money? Floyd would at least talk about the money and talk about how it's a big money fight. Oscar is already trying feed the public complete bullshit and it just pisses me off to no end. If Oscar wins, what does he gain? Nothing, but money.

Everyone in boxing knows that this is a huge mismatch because Pacquiao gives away so much power and he's a much smaller man. This isn't like Shane Mosley (who btw is 5'-9" and has a 74" reach) jumping to 147 from 135 to fight ODLH (5'-10 1/2" and 73" reach) back in 2000. Pacquiao (5'-6" and 67" reach) JUST came up to 135 and won a title. He really has no business even going up to 140 right now much less 147. I know it sounds cliche but why can't ODLH pick on someone his own size? Pacquiao has got plenty of big names at 135 and 140 to establish his legacy and this bank robbery he's planning isn't a good idea.

Even though Pac is just as responsible as ODLH for making this fight, people within boxing have to start taking it's fans seriously and start living up to their responsibilities as matchmakers and promoters. What's next? Mayweather - Pavlik (hmmm), Shane Mosley - Roy Jones Jr, Winky Wright - Wladimir Klitschko? If ODLH wants to go out on a farewell fight against a decent welter/junior middle opponent that he's favored to beat. Fine. I can be down with that. But I'm not down with him trying to beat up on a guy that he's got no business being in the ring with while also raping the boxing public's wallet by overpromoting this joke of a fight. If he wants to go out like this and disappoint his more hardcore, loyal fans over the years, then at least let's start calling him what he truly is...a crook.

[C-Lo]

I agree...

De La Hoya isn't a fighter anymore. He's a promoter. In that respect, this fight would be huge. But as a figther, this fight is a joke...

[uptoscratch]

But I'm not down with him trying to beat up on a guy that he's got no business being in the ring with while also raping the boxing public's wallet by overpromoting this joke of a fight. If he wants to go out like this and disappoint his more hardcore, loyal fans over the years, then at least let's start calling him what he truly is...a crook.

Everything you say is true.........but at the end of the day...........I'd still watch it.

Oscar's problem is that there is no single "name" guy left anywhere near his weight class right now. Floyd is retired, the champs at 147-154 are relatively unknown. The two guys who had been building up recognition in the casual fan consciousness -- Hatton and Cotto -- just lost their 0's and all or most of the momentum they had been building. His wife would probably have his legs broken before letting him call out Kelly Pavlik.

So Pac is the only prospect left for an "event-type" career ending, which Oscar is obviously not going to pass up. The fact that Pac is #1 PFP will give it credibility with the mainstream media, which is the entity that decides how prominent the fight is in the public eye.

So yeah, it's all about the money

[Chino]

But I'm not down with him trying to beat up on a guy that he's got no business being in the ring with while also raping the boxing public's wallet by overpromoting this joke of a fight. If he wants to go out like this and disappoint his more hardcore, loyal fans over the years, then at least let's start calling him what he truly is...a crook.

Everything you say is true.........but at the end of the day...........I'd still watch it.

Oscar's problem is that there is no single "name" guy left anywhere near his weight class right now. Floyd is retired, the champs at 147-154 are relatively unknown. The two guys who had been building up recognition in the casual fan consciousness -- Hatton and Cotto -- just lost their 0's and all or most of the momentum they had been building. His wife would probably have his legs broken before letting him call out Kelly Pavlik.

So Pac is the only prospect left for an "event-type" career ending, which Oscar is obviously not going to pass up. The fact that Pac is #1 PFP will give it credibility with the mainstream media, which is the entity that decides how prominent the fight is in the public eye.

So yeah, it's all about the money

Well said, when you reach that level and have ONE MORE FIGHT why fight a guy that will offer pocket change when you can look for someone who can bring the fat check. Pac will get the biggest paycheck yet so he's no little innocent victim and martyr. He knows what he's getting into as well as his team.