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Despite all the talk of a “mismatch” between Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao, one boxing analyst believes that the fight won't be one-sided at all. The reason: De la Hoya's expected loss of muscle mass in his mid-section.
Like most observers, ********Boxing.com writer Shawn O'Donnell agrees that the weight issue is the most important factor in the Pacquiao-de la Hoya “Dream Match” on December 6.
“The single most significant piece to this fight is the weight,” he said in his article, Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya: An Analysis of a Legacy.
O’Donnell, however, said that by shedding himself down to 147 pounds, De la Hoya puts himself at risk.
“If we examine this scientifically, De La Hoya will have to shed extra weight to fight at this limit. The excess weight will probably be lost in terms of muscle mass, which is something De La Hoya cannot afford to lose,” said O’Donnell.
While Pacquiao has to bulk up from 135 up to 147 pounds to make the dream fight a reality, De la Hoya has to cut excess pounds to make the limit.
Exposing his weakness
O’Donnell said that lack of muscle mass in De la Hoya could only further expose his weakness.
“If he strips away muscle mass, it will probably come from his torso, which is the protective buffer to his Achilles Heel: his mid-section,” said O’Donnell.
While De la Hoya has a “cast iron chin”, he has had a hard time absorbing body punches at a lower weight.
“Look at the Hopkins, Vargas, and Mosley bouts and you will clearly see that Oscar was put in considerable jeopardy after being hit to the body. This point isn't lost on [Freddie] Roach either,” said O’Donnell.
During his fight with Bernard Hopkins, De la Hoya weighed 156 pounds. He suffered a knockout when his opponent threw him a left hook to the liver area.
Pacquiao: a physical anomaly
On the other hand, O’Donnell thinks Pacquiao can handle the added weight.
“A few years back, I had Pacquiao pegged as an energy fighter that would add weight to his frame and become less effective… I was wrong. I believe that Manny Pacquiao is a physical anomaly,” said O’Donnell.
He cited that other boxers tend to add weight around their mid-sections whenever they jump up a division.
“This impeded their ability to move, bend and get leverage to deliver their punches,” explained O’Donnel.
He, however, said Pacquiao’s case is different.
“After watching him fight David Diaz this year, I was amazed that Pacquiao was rock hard at this weight and seemed just as fast and relentless as ever,” he said.
“When I asked Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, about this he replied, ‘Manny is just filling out and adding more muscle to his body. He has really powerful legs and a large back for his size. He is just adding size to these areas,’” said O’Donnell.
O’Donnell also cited other reasons for the Filipino’s ease in increasing his bodyweight since he started his professional career at 106 pounds.
“Although Pacquiao turned pro at a body weight of 106 pounds, we must consider that Pacquiao was still a boy at that phase of his life. Not to mention the fact that poverty and improper nutrition kept Pacquiao below his natural weight,” he said.
The fight analyst said Pacquiao's weight gain has enhanced his athletic performance through maturity and exposure to better food and training methods.
‘De la Hoya to KO Pacquiao in brutal fashion’
Richard Schaefer, for his part, thinks De la Hoya will have no problem in facing his Filipino opponent.
"I actually think he will knock him out in a rather brutal fashion,” Schaefer, CEO of de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, said in a report posted on SetantaSports.com.
Schaefer even said that they are already exploring possibilities for a possible match up between the Mexican-American and British superstar Ricky Hatton.
"Assuming that happens (de la Hoya winning) and assuming that Ricky Hatton beats Paulie Malignaggi, which will be no easy fight, then I think a Hatton-de La Hoya showdown is still a very real possibility, and I have already had some conversations with Ray Hatton about that match,” he said. -- Dennis Gasgonia, abs-cbnNEWS.com
as of 10/15/2008 12:46 AM
Despite all the talk of a “mismatch” between Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao, one boxing analyst believes that the fight won't be one-sided at all. The reason: De la Hoya's expected loss of muscle mass in his mid-section.
Like most observers, ********Boxing.com writer Shawn O'Donnell agrees that the weight issue is the most important factor in the Pacquiao-de la Hoya “Dream Match” on December 6.
“The single most significant piece to this fight is the weight,” he said in his article, Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya: An Analysis of a Legacy.
O’Donnell, however, said that by shedding himself down to 147 pounds, De la Hoya puts himself at risk.
“If we examine this scientifically, De La Hoya will have to shed extra weight to fight at this limit. The excess weight will probably be lost in terms of muscle mass, which is something De La Hoya cannot afford to lose,” said O’Donnell.
While Pacquiao has to bulk up from 135 up to 147 pounds to make the dream fight a reality, De la Hoya has to cut excess pounds to make the limit.
Exposing his weakness
O’Donnell said that lack of muscle mass in De la Hoya could only further expose his weakness.
“If he strips away muscle mass, it will probably come from his torso, which is the protective buffer to his Achilles Heel: his mid-section,” said O’Donnell.
While De la Hoya has a “cast iron chin”, he has had a hard time absorbing body punches at a lower weight.
“Look at the Hopkins, Vargas, and Mosley bouts and you will clearly see that Oscar was put in considerable jeopardy after being hit to the body. This point isn't lost on [Freddie] Roach either,” said O’Donnell.
During his fight with Bernard Hopkins, De la Hoya weighed 156 pounds. He suffered a knockout when his opponent threw him a left hook to the liver area.
Pacquiao: a physical anomaly
On the other hand, O’Donnell thinks Pacquiao can handle the added weight.
“A few years back, I had Pacquiao pegged as an energy fighter that would add weight to his frame and become less effective… I was wrong. I believe that Manny Pacquiao is a physical anomaly,” said O’Donnell.
He cited that other boxers tend to add weight around their mid-sections whenever they jump up a division.
“This impeded their ability to move, bend and get leverage to deliver their punches,” explained O’Donnel.
He, however, said Pacquiao’s case is different.
“After watching him fight David Diaz this year, I was amazed that Pacquiao was rock hard at this weight and seemed just as fast and relentless as ever,” he said.
“When I asked Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, about this he replied, ‘Manny is just filling out and adding more muscle to his body. He has really powerful legs and a large back for his size. He is just adding size to these areas,’” said O’Donnell.
O’Donnell also cited other reasons for the Filipino’s ease in increasing his bodyweight since he started his professional career at 106 pounds.
“Although Pacquiao turned pro at a body weight of 106 pounds, we must consider that Pacquiao was still a boy at that phase of his life. Not to mention the fact that poverty and improper nutrition kept Pacquiao below his natural weight,” he said.
The fight analyst said Pacquiao's weight gain has enhanced his athletic performance through maturity and exposure to better food and training methods.
‘De la Hoya to KO Pacquiao in brutal fashion’
Richard Schaefer, for his part, thinks De la Hoya will have no problem in facing his Filipino opponent.
"I actually think he will knock him out in a rather brutal fashion,” Schaefer, CEO of de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, said in a report posted on SetantaSports.com.
Schaefer even said that they are already exploring possibilities for a possible match up between the Mexican-American and British superstar Ricky Hatton.
"Assuming that happens (de la Hoya winning) and assuming that Ricky Hatton beats Paulie Malignaggi, which will be no easy fight, then I think a Hatton-de La Hoya showdown is still a very real possibility, and I have already had some conversations with Ray Hatton about that match,” he said. -- Dennis Gasgonia, abs-cbnNEWS.com
as of 10/15/2008 12:46 AM
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