Billy’s Boxing Blog

Needless to say last weeks announcement raised a few eyebrows. Lets just jump right into it and see what the kind folks have to say:

Hi Punching Billy

Who do you like Manny or Oscar?

I believe Manny is jumping up way to high in weight….his punches

that KO lightweights won’t hurt even and older Oscar.

Where have all the great fights and fighters gone?

The 80s were great!

Pledrappier

Well since you asked here is my view on the fight:

One of the sticking points to this fight was apparently the glove issue.

I believe that since Oscar wanted 10 oz gloves he knows the hand speed factor may come in to play and I give the edge to Manny here. I believe Oscar feels that with either 8 oz or 10 oz gloves, if he lands the big left hook Manny gets launched into orbit, which is probably true….but, that’s a very big IF, especially if you take Oscar’s fight against Forbes into consideration, he looked neither fleet of hand or foot speed.

So my opinion is…..drum roll please……Manny won the glove issue by getting those 8′s and he believes Oscar wont be able to pull the trigger at all. That is what I believe as well and is why I am picking Manny to win by decision or even a late round stoppage because Oscars face will be a mess. Again, if you go back to the video of the Forbes fight you will see that before the end of round three Oscar’s face looked like a well worn tire .Speaking of tire, I just don’t think Oscar will be able to land the hook and because he will be trying so hard to do so he will tire (okay that was a stretch) rapidly, and when he does you can break out the Hamburger Helper for his soon to be contorted grill.

Most everyone I have spoken to is pretty sour with this fight and they all feel it’s a huge size mismatch and Oscar will pummel Manny into oblivion with the greatest of ease. I do not share those views.

The only way this fight will go down in history as a classic is if Manny wins. And if Manny prevails it may turn out to be a pretty good scrap, contrary to what most people are expecting from this December bout to be.

Mocking Oscar

“I have come to bury Caesar, not to praise him” said Mark Anthony.

The saying hits the up-coming fight of Oscar De La hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao right smack on the nose.

You have always been a strong supporter of Oscar DeLahoya’s over the years  for many good reasons.

Happy to read though that you are changing the cut of your jib a little.on that subject.

As you may recall from our conversations,  my impressions of him [Oscar] were not as deeply rooted as yours, simply for the fact that I had the unexplainable feeling  that there were a slightly mean and a yellow streak in him.

Good boxer, but hardly a great one.

One could name 10 light- or welterweights who would have beat him at any time in his career is my opinion.

Well, nevertheless, he is braving himself now to fight a much smaller, lighter and shorter opponent.

What does that tell you?

Cheers

Your friend Dietrich

Dietrich,

Your views on the fight are the majority trust me, I understand where you are coming from.

As far as your personal views on Oscar, well let’s just say that I wouldn’t peg Oscar in that fashion and leave it at that. I don’t think either one of us are really qualified to label him one way or the other outside of the ring, but inside the ring, at his prime and up against the best I think Oscar would have given any of those greats a run for their money.

With that said, Oscar is no longer in his prime and things may be a little different with the current best lightweight, Manny Pacquiao.

On Wednesday morning I got the press release from Golden Boy stating Oscar De La Hoya would make his big announcement on Thursday. I quickly got on the horn to see if I could verify what the big news would be. After a few well placed calls I got the info I was looking for and relayed the message via email to our biggest fan Frank Boff. I then went to the other websites to see if anyone had a bead on the story and much to my dismay ESPN’s Dan Rafael already had the news locked in. I let Boff know and expressed my disappointment that I was beaten to the punch. Boff quickly wrote back with these kind words, “Fat Dan gets stories because ESPN is the most “legit” website and has a big readership. Promoters use him like a toilet to funnel what ever sh*t they want out there.”

With those words of wisdom I was able to swallow my pride and realize, if nothing else I was on the right track and could be happy that I was able to dig out the same info, even though I wasn’t spoon fed the news.

Throughout the remainder of the day I received calls that all came to the same conclusion, this was an event for the almighty dollar and had nothing to do with Oscar going out with a belt, there was no one who was pleased with his apparent opponent, Manny Pacquiao. To every man and woman, Pac appears to be just too small of a task for The Golden Boy.

The announcement will come today and if it is in fact Manny I have no doubt it will be a huge cash cow of an event, but will it seal Oscar’s legacy?

The jury is still out on this one.

Sometimes it’s just best to say what you feel and let the chips fall where they may. Yesterday we gave our views on a few topics and it looks like our readers not only agree with us but they are glad we have the intestinal fortitude to let it all hang out. Here’s what our readers had to say;

Competitors

There is no competition out there for you guys punching Billy and the boys are the only ones who tell it like it is with no agenda. I’ve been in this business for a while now,and seen too many so called experts in this game blow smoke up fighters,trainers promoters asses,that seem to serve a certain agenda whether its getting interviews or whatever. There are a few good ones out there such as yourself,but too many kiss asses.im a throwback kind of guy call a spade a spade and don’t be afraid to give credit when it is due and don’t be afraid to criticize someone.this is boxing if you cant take criticism your in the wrong business,people (fans) deserve the truth. Sometimes I read certain interviews or press releases and think Im watching an advertisement.

                                                Gus

Thanks Gus. It’s no big secret that many only tell what they are “supposed” to and really don’t have any real views on the game. None that they are willing to post, that’s for sure. We took a stand to say what we feel and we are glad our efforts have not gone by unnoticed. It’s readers like you that keep us motivated to tell it like it is.

Sulaiman

Hey I read your article on Manny Vs Oscar and I agree with Suliman that fight is a complete mismatch.The fight should not even take place regardless of how much money is involved. Manny is 5′ 6 and does not posses great defensive skills. He stands in front of his opponents and exchanges blows. He had trouble with Marquez not to mention he has never been tested at that weight limit. The media should really be discouraging this fight. If Oscar truly wants a great fight as he often mentions why not fight Margarito for the title. However after watching Margarito dominate Cotto, Oscar would most likely want to stay away from him.

Ronnie

You would be surprised how many in the media feel exactly like you and Sulaiman, too bad most of them won’t say it. We found the quotes from Sulaiman this weekend and felt they needed to be addressed. Hopefully the powers that be will take these views to heart, and then maybe, just maybe, Margarito will get his much deserved shot at Oscar.