i honestly would not have believed it if i havent had witnessed it myself. just about an hour ago, manny pacquiao defeated one of the most celebrated boxers in history in oscar "the golden boy" de la hoya. i'm callin it right now, pacquiao will be on the cover of the next 'Fight Night' game.
watched the fight here at home with my dad's crew of uncles. there is no other place and people i rather be with to watch a manny pacquiao fight. i feed off the pride and joy of these old filipino men who can relate to their accomplished countryman on a deeper level than i ever can. this win, is like their own brother landing on the moon.
oscar de la hoya is the MAIN reason i followed boxing. trinidad, vargas, gatti, hopkins, mosley, mayorga, mayweather; i was on those fights. he was the face of boxing to me. i was too young for tyson and not even born for ali. i never would have dreamt of a filipino being a boxer. so when pacquiao showed up, it was hard to believe, and his success just blew my mind. and so to expect a fight between these two, both i admire greatly, is indescribable.
nervous and anxious, the fight began finally. first two rounds were the 'safe' rounds, both fighters feeling out the other. these two rounds is where pacquiao udnerstood that he was FASTER than de la hoya, connecting with straight lefts and a couple of right hooks. third round he loosened up, stringing his punches more and throwing combos. it was over. after each round, de la hoya's face was flushed with frustration and defeat, with his left eye swelling. last couple of rounds, de la hoya retreating into the ropes facing flurry after flurry, called it quits after the eighth round. victory!
its sad that these boxing matches are the only times that evoke filipino pride within myself, and the following will put into perspective: this is sooo huge for the philippines and all filipinos, that if any (god-forbid) scandal is discovered behind pacquiao's success, the philippine islands will SINK into the Pacific ocean in shame. i hope to god no such drama occurs.
congratulations manny pacquiao!
