What a joke of a fight. If his name weren't Oscar De La Hoya, people watching Saturday's mauling by Manny Pacquiao would have thought Pac Man was in with a journeyman fighter.
Oscar just didn't try. He didn't throw punches.
And it's not because of Manny's dominant speed. It was because Oscar didn't want to get hurt. He's a business man, and he didn't want to take a risk.
That's what boxers have to do. They have to take a risk in the ring. When you try to punch someone, you leave yourself open to get counterpunched. That's taking a risk. Oscar wasn't interested.
David Diaz couldn't deal with Manny's speed either, but at least David took chances and came at Manny. He got knocked out, but that's part of the game.
I predicted in the paper that Manny would win. I said Oscar's heart isn't in it because he's motivated solely by money. I wasn't surprised by the outcome, but I was surprised by Oscar's performance.
And while he obviously should retire, he won't. There are still millions to be made, and he's still the only highly marketable fighter in boxing.
I just can't see how anyone would pay $55 for Oscar's next fight. I know I won't.
i aggree, what are these contact sports coming to?? these guys dont want to be out there they just get offered an obsene amount of money and they play the game and collect. im not watching boxing ever again, what a dissapointment, nor will i ever watch ufc again after that pile of muscle brock lesner has turned it into fake MMA.. oh man im going to lose it. i guess i need to just stay away from the $100 an hour channels!!! ahhhh!!!
Dido to that Roman Modrowskion this fight was rediculous n Oscar showed what truly motivates him.. I would not pay to see another one of his fights go Manny!!!!
it was a disappointing fight! i am a Oscar De La Hoya fan but man today was crazy! i never seen him like this. he didn't even try like he is know for and it was sad. i don't know if he has it in him anymore. he will have to prove himself and everyone else.
you are right that was a joke
what the hell was that ,i never seen a fight this bad
worst performance by any boxer in history
Oscar looked like a man that couldn't pull the trigger. He's done and should never fight again. But knowing how greedy he is, Oscar's probably going to set up some farewell fight with a journeyman (even less of a threat than Stevie Forbes).
yer a punk oscar. you ripped us off dude now get out and stay out.
Yeah right, I agree that Oscar did not gave his best to win.. He made Manny win the match I may say nearly without difficulty. As published in Wikipedia --> When asked whether he would continue fighting, De La Hoya responded, "My heart still wants to fight, that's for sure," De La Hoya said. "But when your physical doesn't respond, what can you do? I have to be smart and make sure I think about my future plans." -- really you're right Roman.. *^__^*
Btw, I'm a Filipino but I wasn't super excited that Manny won. I just want to watch Manny struggle to fight and win against Oscar. But, I was just disappointed with Oscar.. Manny hardly got a wound from him. To Manny, a Dream Come True!
Thought you should of mentioned all children in hbo special. I have respect for Oscar and greatest guy in boxing but hurt that he didn't mention all his kids. Always had the upmost respect for his hard work and his honesty. Just don't hide the children you have. It's not fair to them to not be included in your documentry of prefight.
Why not mention all your children in hbo documentry?
oscar dela hoya is a legend in boxing .. he didnt get chance to throw punches manny was just to fast .. and wouldnt you carry on fighting if you wer making millons ?? anow i would .. pac man and hatton will be the fight of the decade .. cant wait to watch it .
I agree....Oscar wasn't fighting back. He let Pac Man win. I never in a million years thought OScar would do that to his fans. Every fight hes had were entertaining. I hate to take anything away from a fighter Like Manny because hes a good boxer but if Oscar would have tried the outcome would have been different. I was Oscar's number one fan.....but today I'm ashamed I ever was. I was deeply let down. Not because he lost....but because he didnt try. He let his fans pay money and he stabbed us in the back with a pathetic performance like that. If Oscar ever reads this.....i want to tell him...atleast Chavez went out fighting.
You nailed it on the head: no one is going to pay the PPV prices to watch Oscar fight.
Oscar should have enough business sense to realize this, and that's why I think he will retire.
I also know this, in today's economic climate there isn't a fighter I'd pay $55 or any other figure to fight, EXCEPT for Pac-man. No one.
So you know what? The Top Ranks and Golden Boy Promotions of the world better arrange some meaningful Pac-man boughts for 2009. I wouldn't mind seeing Hatton, Margarito and(gulp) PBF outta retirement to face Manny Pac. Throw Miguel Cotto in there too. Some awesome matchup possibilites, no?
What a fight!
Oscar had him beat every round;
what fight were the judges thinking about
as they watched Oscar give that butt woopin?!
I cant believe that someone didnt throw in the towel.
Pac Man.. pack it in... go home.. be thankful for that
joke of a fight... that you somehow survived.
I don't know who oscar was really trying to fool on saturday. I had a feeling this fight was going to have some so-called controversy but I didn't think de la hoya was going let himself get beat so shamelessly. He talked and talked about taking manny's heart away but I guess that was just oscar promoting his fight with a lot of bs. He has no real excuse for losing the way he did. He made himself look out to be some 50 year old man coming out of retirement. He's only what, 35? marquez, a fellow mid 30 year old fighter has had more wear and tear than oscar in his career and still put up a far better fight against manny. I mean really, who was oscar really fooling out there. Analysts made a case to point out that oscar was the slower fighter, and with good reason too but if you look his fights over the years even as far a year ago against mayweather that even to untrained eye that oscar isn't a slow puncher at all. I didn't think he was going to look like some grandpa out in the ring, but I guess the hundreds of millions he'll be getting were well worth a beating to the face. If this fight hadn't been corrupted the way I feel it was, realistically oscar would of won by the sixth round, but he couldn't risk hurting manny with the obvious power advantage, there was too much money at stake. I may not know how, but money now-a-days money has everything to do with prize fighting in vegas. This fight was so far from suspicion, mainly due to the bad but very willing acting of oscar de la hoya. I might be losing my credibility but manny didn't even show any sight of joy except for when he hid his face and kneeled in his corner. There was no sight of shock in his face. It's as if he already knew what was going to happen. Money talks and oscar as well as manny are no exceptions to greed especially in oscar's case. If it were being presented with a 7,8, possibly 9 figure sum of cash, I too would think it would be in my best interest to take a beating and not give one. I don't question this fight because I like oscar. This just closed the door on any credibility oscar had left in my eyes. The thing is oscar has managed once again to convince the viewers to believe he was capable of saving the sport he himself is killing with these ridiculous circus acts. Once again he has managed to make a mockery of the hopful mexican fans by playing the hero card, claiming he would end the reign of the mexicutioner. I guess if there was anything credible to oscar's side was his assurance that there would be a knockout, and bernard hopkins more precise claim that oscar would finish the fight in the eighth round.
"Oscar's next fight"? As if there will be one? I think it's over for him, and it's sad how it ended.
I guess I've been a fan of Oscar's for years, but he has never failed to frustrate and confound me, in seemingly never really going after an opponent and when he won, fighting just good enough to win, as if he was tabulating the points in his head while he fought. He almost got me this time, talking in interviews the past week about how Manny would make him fight better, how he wanted to go up against a fighter who would be in his face, etc. Like the friend, partner, employee, student, etc. who tells you, 'I'm gonna get it together this time, I'm gonna impress you. I'm really gonna fight like you've thought I could fight this time.' And then true to form, he disappoints. I nearly spent the $55 this time, glad I didn't, but wish it had ended differently.
I cant believe you have to pay $55 to watch the fight its only £15 over here, by the sounds of it then im glad i didnt order it! i just hope hatton enialates him at wembley
Riddle me this: Why on Earth would anyone worth a bazillion dollars want to get their brains beat in? Where's the motivation? It surely isn't hunger.
Honor? ... Pride?
Wounded pride is easily assuaged when you live in a mansion full of servants, and can afford to eat Beluga caviar for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
We've seen it over and over again. With occasional exceptions, once atheltes hit paydirt they invariably get fat and sassy, figuratively, and sometimes literally.
I think Floyd Mayweather made the right call, and got out while he was still on top.
As for the money you wasted on that travesty; I believe P.T. Barnum summed it up rather nicely.
That was probably the most pathetic fight I've ever seen. You're right Roman, Oscar didn't throw any punches and he could barely defend himself by the end. What a waste of $64.99, which by the way would've cost me 10 bucks less had I purchased the fight a few hours earlier. But why does he have to be in the ring to make money? Can't he just be a promoter? He'll still get a huge cut. If he does become a promoter though, I hope he lines up better fights than DeLaHoya/Pacquiao otherwise he'll never make it.
I watched the fight and paid for it but really disappointed with the way oscar fought. For me, the fight is 50%/50%. I am a huge fan of both fighters so i am happy who ever wins the fight but not this kind of fight. looks like a stage act for me.
I am very disapointed in oscar,he chose not to fight.His golden spotlight in the ring is over...
Oscar..I still love you man! I dont regret the money I spent to watch your fight. IF you fight again I will pay to see you fight.If you decide to retire then its your decision and I'm sure all your fans who love you will respect that.Thank you so much Oscar.
...atleast Chavez went out fighting.
your right about that!
de la hoya was effortless throughtout the entire fight. at his age, he should've never dropped down to a weight class that he hadn't fought in, in over 12 years. he was weak and stunned by pacman's power and speed. i was pulling for manny to win, but i never expected him to win by such an upset. u guys are right tho, oscar seems to be all about his money. that performance was embarassing, in the last round it was like manny was holding back punches and almost allowing oscar to get some shots in! oscar said the fight was "personal" , he didn't fight like it was.
all this hype about the talks of hattin vs pacman doesn't interest me, manny will definitely do to him what mayweather jr did, but quicker. pound for pound, mannys the best, and as humble as they come. he didn't run for the ropes to brag that he decimated de la hoya, he knelt to give thanks 1st. Mayweather, where u at man? i know where u ain't, nowhere near pacman!
Jandro ... Get a room!
I don't know what people are so disappointed about, the fight went exactly as it should have gone. I had no plans to watch this fight but cicumstances threw me in the mix.
The previous fight last night, where the BUM fell to his knees 3 times in the first without being touched, erased any emotion I had about seeing boxing in a pay-per-view group environment for the first time in YEARS.
Ali, Frazier, Palomino, Leonard, Benitez, Hearns, Hagler, Chavez, 'No Mas', etc.
When you watched fights of the 70s and 80s it's VERY HARD nowadays to get excited about the game.
As for Oscar, he's lost so much muscle in his body that his head looks FREAKISH in size. Not a good sign. I'm just curious to hear his excuse for this one. Five years of dismal fights should be enough for even the greenest fight fan to have not expected any more than he gave.
I'm just glad it only costs me $10 bucks to flee for another ten years.
Now that's money well spent!
Get real boxing fans lets look at the facts.Oscar has not been a great fighter since he fought mosley.I agree he let fans down but not me.Do you truly really think hoya was the same fighter as he was ten years ago.Ten years ago he would of beaten manny, would of been siting in his corner.Lets look at some real Fighters the unbeaten mayweather,hatton,cotto,and hard hiting antonio margortio.Everybody knew oscar was at a end.Manny will see his day and will lose.And the next big fighter will show him a tuff loss.Roy jones jr.was the best pound for pound fighter for ten years.One day he got knocked out three times in three fights.Name one boxer who hasnt been there and done that.I can see maywether now saying I can beat this guy.Dont act like hes not thinking about breaking mannys heart.Oscar fought cortay chavez,gotti,vargas,mosley,hopkins,tito,forbes,six diffrent titles, gold in 1992.Those fighters who have all been there and done that.
Roman responds: I've been an Oscar fan his entire career. I've defended Oscar to my best friend, who's Mexican, about whether Oscar was "Mexican enough." Oscar fought the best and beat them.
I put money on Oscar beating Fernando Vargas, who was considered the more macho and Mexican fighter. And Oscar knocked him out. That was Oscar's last big win as far as I'm concerned, and that was 2002.
This was a sham. Once Oscar saw the difference in speed, he had absolutely no interest in exchanging. And to me, that's a complete rip-off of people who spent a lot of money that went into Oscar's pockets. If he doesn't have it in him anymore to take chances and try to fight a guy, then DON'T!
He made over $30 million for that sham - $30 million. For what?
That fight was such a joke... we arent fools we all know this fight was all business and it was fixed!!! How can someone like great champion Oscar De La Hoya not punch back??? it doesnt make since he wasnt trying at all!! HE LET MANNY WIN!!! which is a bunch of BS!!! fans actually paid to watch De La Hoya fight and think about all the people that lost money betting that Oscar would stop Manny... I dont think he cares about his fans anymore is all about the money now!!!
The only thing that surprised me was that one judge who gave Round 1 to Oscar. They should have his eyes examined..Oscar did throw punches, Roman. But he missed!! He did try, but Manny was a much better fighter. Let's give credit where it is due, please. Manny could have beaten Oscar even in his prime.
Roman responds: He threw 402 over eight rounds, which is more than I thought, and more than the announcers thought. Manny threw 585. But Oscar landed just 83, which reflects not only Manny's elusiveness and head movement, but Oscar's lack of commitment to hit him. And there is NO way Manny beats Oscar in his prime.
I am a Pacquiao fan.. it should have been the fight of the decade, a classic like "ALI vs FRASIER", "DURAN vs LEONARD", etc etc. something for the books. A history in the making. And a real pride for the filipino people if only OSCAR DE LA HOYA fought.
I am not taking anything away from Pacquiao. He did his jod. Oscar didnt. he just gave it to Manny in a silver platter. It was a christmass gift to manny and for himself for his pay day.
Oscar took away Pacquiao's real opportunity to greatness. Something that would last forever. he should have at least fought & tried. My granfather could have beaten OSCAR anytime of the day.
Hey man, what are you talking about? You do not know anything about boxing. Oscar did not fight back because he could not, not because he didn't want to. Its ludicrous to say he chose not to fight back because he did not want to get countered and hit. What fight were you looking at? He was getting hit at will so I don't think the not getting hit was a factor here. Oscar grew old over night.
He knows it. His trainers know it. His Family knows it.
Oscar has made a lot of money in boxing and will continue to, as a Promoter. He will not get back in the ring. He is a smart guy. He knows his time is up.
Roman responds: The problem is who's he going to promote? He has no highly marketable young fighter right now. The best he has is Juan Manual Marquez, who will not sell PPV units. He had Manny, but now he's with Top Rank.
And I would bet you that he fights again. He was very careful to avoid saying he will retire after the fight.
Grew old over night??? When was Oscar's last big win? It was over Vargas, and that was in 2002. Long time ago, when Oscar was hungry and establishing himself as one of the best ever.
These last several years were for one thing: $$$$
After stupidly paying for the De La Hoya-Mayweather Jr. fiasco, I vowed never to spend another penny watching that over the hill bum fight again. Doesn't Oscar have enough money already? I knew this fight would end up being a disaster. Now, after proving skill > brute strength, boxing needs to work out a Mayweather jr.-Pacquiao fight. I bet the numbers would be huge!
Sorry people, but Delahoya lost because that little dude meant business. As soon as Delahoya's head started swelling up he didn't want any part of Manny.
Delahoya could have won bigger fights, but he quit on all of them. He's not the finisher he once was. Should have beat Mayweather, Tito etc, but he can't finish.
Mayweather vs Pac Man? If Mayweather decides to fight and not dance he'll get his lunch.
Roman responds: I agree Manny would have won even if Oscar did fight back. And I'll even entertain the possibility of Manny beating Oscar in his prime, although I would take Oscar. My point is Oscar didn't earn his money. He didn't try. I was ring side when he lost to Tito, and Oscar boxed beautifully for nine rounds before thinking he was so far ahead he could coast the last three. He didn't box Saturday. He didn't do anything.
I don't think Oscar realized how fast Manny is until he stepped into the ring with him, and by that time, it was too late. The clock keeps ticking, and every great fighter needs to keep this in mind. The fight sort of reminded me of the little gamecock, Carmen Basilio, beating the great Suger Ray Robinson. But in the end, take it easy on Oscar. He lost, but he still stepped into the ring and put himself on the line. And in my estimation, anybody who does that shows his courage.
Roman is as accurate here as he was with his prediction of how this "fight" would turn out.
Fight fans, be thankful we have him covering the boxing scene. The media doesn't think much of boxing now, and for good reason.
However, it doesn't stop Roman from going out of his way to make sure it gets coverage.
Was a good fight to ME! Pack-yow just had a quick left that Dell could not pick up. He was younger, quicker and more serious about this fight. I never liked Delahoya since being donned the golden boy. I gave him props for getting in the ring with the toughest fighters though. And he deserves credit for that. But Sat. was Manny's night. Dell was about to get seriously hurt. Pack-yow dominated with speed. I have seen it in Mayweathers fights before and know that a fighter is frightened and confused when they get hit with a shot they NEVER saw coming. It stuns and paralyzes. Manny dropped several on Dell. It was like driving with your eyes closed. Dell should have thanked Manny for not hurting him. Manny is a classy fighter.
I would love to see Delahoya fight Roy! Perfect fight, both looking for money. I would like to see Manny fight someone like Bernard, Winky or Zab. Mayweather would destroy Manny, but that would be entertaining. Maybe a Mayweather Winky fight? I still like the fights.
STYLES MAKE FIGHTS, AND FATHER TIME GOT INVOLVED AS WELL, OSCAR
IS VERY FORTUNATE THAT HE DIDN'T GET HURT SERIOUSLY IN THIS ONE,
BOXING IS DANGEROUS ENOUGH WITHOUT TAKING AN UNNECESSARY BUTT
WHIPPING, MANNY IS TO GOOD AND TO YOUNG FOR OSCAR!
SORRY YOU GUYS TOOK A HIT FOR ORDERING THE FIGHT!
WHEN FATHER TIME COMES FOR YOU, THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT
THAT!
YOU HAVE TO RETIRE AND COUNT THE ROSES!
'''YES'''Someone should teach the #1 comment guy unibrow how to spell...............
Roman you hit it right on the head with this. As macho as it sounds you go out on your shield when you fight. You only owe it to the fans in the arena and the ones paying $55 on PPV. You don't go in there and look like a statue. Malinaggi showed more heart in his fight w/ Ricky Hatton. I remember when Corrales fought Mayweather Jr. at 130 a couple years back and he got knocked down 7 times. He was irate when his corner threw in the towel that he even pushed his stepdad for doing so and was in tears during the post-fight interview. Boxing needs true warriors like Corrales, Pacquiao and Erik Morales not boxing businessmen like Floyd Jr. and Oscar. I hope Oscar retires and that he doesn't even take a farewell fight. Hopefully no one pays attention and he goes away so he doesn't steal more money out of the diminishing fanbase of boxing.
Anyway Pacquiao looked amazing on Saturday and he's only getting better. Crazy to see how he's turned from a one handed brawler to a 2 fisted boxer-puncher. I hope more people take notice of him because this guy is a once in a lifetime figther like Roberto Duran. Roman I would love to hear your thoughts on a potential Pacquiao/Floyd Jr. fight on who would win and what it would do for boxing.
Roman responds: Good post. I agree, he wasn't even knocked down and let his corner throw in the towel. You don't quit just because the other guy is faster. The more I think about it, the more it upsets me.
Manny-Floyd? Love it. My money still is on Pac Man.
Roman,
As always, great article. I am totally with you that Oscar didn't try in his fight. Yes he is a businessman, but some of the blame on his lack of performance should be that he may have overtrained. I know its tough to believe this, but he weighed in 2 pounds below the 147 pound limit. He hadn't fought at 147 in over 7 years. There was a lot of talk about him coming in flat and leaving it in the gym, and that's what may have happened. Granted, he didn't throw hardly any punches and was an embarassment. Manny went out and proved he is head and shoulders the best pound for pound fighter in the world today. I certainly feel bad for Ricky Hatton, because Manny will destroy in the same fashion he has been able to run through most of his last few opponents. Hatton, although he has gained better pure boxing ability, is still too slow and is not capable of taking the barrage Manny would throw at him. Hatton was rocked by Juan Lazcano and almost went down. The Pacman as we all know is no Juan Lazcano. For Top Rank's new Golden Boy, bring in Hatton in the summer and in the fall let's see the fight fans have been clamouring to see the Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquaio. Great job again Roman.
Roman responds: "Good post. I agree, he wasn't even knocked down and let his corner throw in the towel. You don't quit just because the other guy is faster. The more I think about it, the more it upsets me.
Manny-Floyd? Love it. My money still is on Pac Man."
______________________________
Sorry Roman, but here is where you and I part company.
Mayweather would destroy Pacman. It wouldn't even be close.
Props to Pacquaio for dismantling a washed up Golden Boy, but Floyd Jr. is another smoke entirely.
Get your head out of your rectum.
I think that Oscar knew he couldn't fight anymore which makes this just a plain ol' rip-off, he should be ashamed. But then how ashamed are you going to be when you make 50,000,000 out of all us dummies. No more Oscar for me.
You're absolutely right, I thought I was the only one who had the same observation. Dela Hoya didn't want to throw a punch because he'll open up himself to the much quicker fighter. But if he's making $50M for this fight he should have at least fought back and gave the fans their money's worth.
hi...
im a great fan of oscar dela hoya, i love that guy, he was my idol since i have knowledge in boxing at 12..
oscar boxing capabilities is so great, hes style, the power punches, the left hook oh super.. chavez, hector macho camacho, tito trinidad,vargas and mayorga and steve forbes..look who are these guys they are one of the most powerfull boxers in the world but oscar beat them..
chavez is older than oscar when they fight, but look how chavez fights he gave punches and respose and bounce back.. it was great..
about manny and oscar's fight...ohh man why oscar didint throw punches he let manny destroy his golden face..thats not oscar anymore, onething for sure its all about money..
....oscar dela hoya in that fight goes in the ring ready for lossing, and manny pacquiao goes in the ring ready to win..granting without admitting, you know what is \"""LAS VEGAS\""
I WANT OSCAR FIGHT BACK AGAINST MANNY PACQUIAO, A REMATCH..
IF OSCAR READ THIS MEASSAGE..PLS., IM APPEALLING ON YOU, IM BEGGING, AND GET OFF DOWN MY FEET,, PLS..MAKE A REMATCH..
im a filipino but im a no. 1 fan os the GOLDEN BOY OSCAR DE LAHOYA..
Paquiao is a southpaw at the top of his game. southpaws are hard to hit in general, especially when you are at the end of your career. "let the buyer beware" PPV events are a crap shoot. quit your whining. anyone who has watched Oscar fight in the last few years would know that he can't beat good opponents. Oscar was getting humiliated, throwing in the towel sucks for the fan but made sense for the fighter. how would a few more rounds of watching him look terrible have been a better fight? Oscar is a smart fighter - smart enough to get paid $30 million when his career is over and smart enough to know he was getting his a** beat.
Someone should have grab Millie and start kissing her. Maybe that would have woke Oscar up and fight!
Every one in this site needs to shut the F*$K up every one is an expert in sports but your mommy had to wipe your nose when the little bully didnt pick you to play football, baseball, or basketball. Do you know who you are talking about the golden boy, the best boxer ever yes ever. he beat guys that where unstopable. take your crying ass in the ring with oscar and last 3 seconds. pacman is a good fighter yes, but if pacman tried 3 years ago it would have been a first hit ko. no question asked, for oscar to drop that much weight do you know what that will do to you, and 36 years old you try getting hit in the face for 10 years and tell me you wouldnt want to give it up remember tyson lost his last three fights pacman will do the same.