Pacquiao Effortlessly Dominated De La Hoya

If there is something that boxing experts and analysts concurred unanimously about the Dream Match, it was a mismatch. And it was, in the strictest sense of the word. But the thing is it was the other way around.

The shorter and smaller Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao completely bested Oscar “The Golden Boy” De La Hoya, who was picked by many to win the fight by a knockout. Pacman, the current WBO lightweight champion, moved up two divisions to meet De La Hoya at welterweight (147 lbs), whose walking weight is pegged at 160 lbs.

Pacquiao’s blinding speed and quick reflexes proved to be decisive against De La Hoya, who seemed confused as to what the Filipino pugilist is going to whip up in the fight. Flushing De La Hoya’s face with a series of straight lefts, followed by rapid combinations then either quickly sidestepping to the left or stepping back to get out of the danger zone, it was apparent that Roach made a fine job tuning the brawler Pacquiao to a multi-dimensional and highly technical boxer.

De La Hoya, unable to make even the slightest dent on the Filipino boxing icon, had to resort to holding Pacquiao’s head and gave Pacquiao’s face three quick blows. Still, Pacquiao was unfazed and continued to pound the Golden Boy at will. At the dying seconds of the 8^th round, Pacquiao unleashed a barrage of punches that had De La Hoya in trouble.

Before the start of the 9^th round, De La Hoya waved the white flag. His record now stands at 39-6. Pacquiao, still the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, improved his standings at 47-3-2.