Oscar Da La Hoya Vs. Manny Pacquiao

[Sinister]

The biggest boxing match in years will, indeed, take place. Oscar De La Hoya has agreed to a Dec. 6 match with rising superstar Manny Pacquiao.The official announcement, barring last-minute reversals, will be made in a conference call Thursday morning.The match, the grand finale of 35-year-old De La Hoya’s unprecedented career as the box-office king in a sport that has survived on his back for more than 10 years without a dominant heavyweight, will be held at the MGM Grand Hotel Garden in Las Vegas. The pay-per-view will be available on HBO.Ten days ago, Richard Schaefer, De La Hoya’s partner in the operation of Golden Boy Promotions, and Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank had announced that negotiations for the much-anticipated fight had broken down and it would not take place. Schaefer and De La Hoya wanted a 70-30% split of receipts, which would include a projected 2-million-plus pay-per-view buys. Arum and Pacquiao had balked and the deal was off.In the interim, as recently as two days ago, stories had appeared that the front-runner to replace Pacquiao on De La Hoya’s farewell card was promoter Dan Goossen’s Paul Williams, who had a victory over Antonio Margarito. Margarito, who is from Mexico, was the recent surprise winner over Miguel Cotto in a fight that was to set up De La Hoya’s next opponent.But when Margarito won, that took the Puerto Rican Cotto out of the picture and De La Hoya had said all along that he did not want his farewell fight to be against a fellow Mexican. De La Hoya, of Mexican heritage, was raised in East Los Angeles and won an Olympic gold medal for the United States.But the Williams talks apparently were mostly wishful thinking, and De La Hoya agreed to drop his percentage of the take in a Pacquiao bout to a two-thirds/one-third arrangement.They will fight at 147 pounds.Pacquiao, 29, the most celebrated and recognized athlete in the Philippines, has won titles at five lower weights and is more comfortable around 136-140 pounds. De La Hoya has won multiple titles and is more comfortable around 154.The largest pay-per-view fight in boxing history was the 2007 match between De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr., won by the now-retired Mayweather. That drew 2.4 million buys. De La Hoya previously was involved in the largest non-heavyweight pay-per-view fight when he suffered his first loss, in 1999, against Felix Trinidad.De La Hoya will take a record of 39-5 with 30 knockouts into the fight. Pacquiao’s record is 47-3-2, with 35 knockouts.

Weight Issues:

There’s still another weighty issue to deal with as far as the planned Manny Pacquiao-Oscar de la Hoya megabout is concerned.Pacquiao’s camp is asking for a penalty of no less than $3 million per excess pound if the Golden Boy doesn’t meet the catch weight of 147 lbs.“We still don’t have any deal yet with regard to that but we are asking $3 million,” Pacquiao’s chief counsel Franklin Gacal told the Inquirer.De la Hoya has not fought in the welterweight division for the past seven years and will be coming down two weight classes to meet the current WBC lightweight titlist.Pacquiao will leapfrog two divisions to meet him though he has not gone past the lightweight ranks (135 lbs) since starting his pro career at light flyweight (108 lbs).Both camps have also yet to agree on the date of the weigh-in, something that could tilt the favor either way.Pacquiao is pushing for the same-day weigh-in but Gacal admitted that it won’t be acceptable to De la Hoya’s camp.“We want it to happen the day before fight,” said Gacal.However, considering the toll it might take on the 35-year-old De la Hoya shedding pounds that much, his camp might opt for three days before the fight.“That won’t be acceptable for us,” said Gacal. “We would practically surrender the fight if we agree on that.”The mere size difference has brought the Dec. 6 fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a different dimension.“It is important for boxing that at least once a year there is a matchup which truly transcends the sport, which captures the imagination of sports fans everywhere, and which has everyone buzzing,” HBO PPV chief Mark Taffet said in an interview posted on the Internet.“De la Hoya-Pacquiao is that matchup for 2008. It is a true megafight which people will be talking about for years to come,” he said.Pacquiao’s representative, Top Rank president Bob Arum, said at a teleconference held in Las Vegas: “I’m thrilled that this fight is taking place. I’ve been involved in many great fights but this one has worldwide implications. [it is between] an American Olympian and the greatest athlete ever to come out of the Philippines.”

[UN.Muzik]

Big Big BigI'll have my money on Pacquiao

[Guest Medic]

hoping for pacquiao, but dlh will be too big for him.

[Sinister]

I minds saying pacman, but I reckon the weights gonna cause an issue for both of 'em.

[Shawn_Carter]

Reckon DLH will come in a good few pounds heavier and outpower pacman. Tbh.

[darkman]

One of my all time fave boxers, hope he winsPacquiao is a tough little c*nt though

[Numero001]

Want DLH to win. Poor fella mst be the only big-named fighter to be robbed when scorecards are close

[Skanker]

to be honest weight will be an issue oscar will struggle to make 147 where as manny regularly rehydrates around the 147 mark. Pac's speed will be an issue with Oscar but Oscar needs to establish his jab from early and stick with it. Its a stupid fight to make but if Pac man wins it will be huge for boxing

[Yung Fly + Flashy]

I'm not fooled. This is DLH's fight. Yea Pacman's sick but it's effectively a welterweight vs a blown-up Super-bantamweight. Come on now.......

[Shawn_Carter]

Mayweather Sr. has said he can't see Oscar losing...

[drifterman]

pac >>>

[Yung Fly + Flashy]

Upon further reflection, I still think DLH will win but Pacquiao winning will be the best thing for boxing. If DLH wins, he use the win as an oppourtunity to bow out on the top. But if Pac-man wins, it opens the door for a whole host of mega fights to go down in '09/'10;Pacquiao vs Nate CampbellPacquiao vs HattonPacquiao vs CottoPacquiao vs Margarito and most of all ....Pacquiao vs Mayweather!

[drifterman]

would love 2 see pacman dup hatton infront of a uk crowd

[drifterman]

furthermore who has seen hattons next opposition... guys str8 out of sopranos, looked decent vs coto though

[NO SUNSHINE]

furthermore who has seen hattons next opposition... guys str8 out of sopranos, looked decent vs coto though

Malignanni is a cocky little guido faggot.

[drifterman]

lmfao

[revs]

this tee shirt made me lol

[Guest Medic]

haha quality!

[Roscoe]

this tee shirt made me lol

[bladerunner]

this tee shirt made me lol

LMFAO @ how it gets bigger each time.P.S. fight is a joke.

[Sinister]

De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7Part 1In this episode, cameras follow both camps as De La Hoya and Pacquiao travel from the opening press conference at the Statue of Liberty to downtown L.A. on a six-city tour to publicize the fight.

http://rapidshare.com/files/164665179/De.La.Hoya.Pacquiao.24.7.1.part1.rarhttp://rapidshare.com/files/164667713/De.La.Hoya.Pacquiao.24.7.1.part2.rarhttp://rapidshare.com/files/164668822/De.La.Hoya.Pacquiao.24.7.1.part3.rar

OR

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZQ8AXGCH

[Gordon Gekko]

Anyone know what channel this is gonna be on here?

[Guest LucaPiano]

yo anyone got a stream

[Flojo]

You're a week early

[Steven]

Why can I see this happening:DLH beating Pac...so then...Pacquiao vs HattonMayweather vs DLH 2Hatton beats Pacquiao, Mayweather beats DLH again and then Mayweather-Hatton 2 is set-up in England.Everything is on course for a spectacular Ricky Hatton revenge win, however this shatters as he is knocked out AGAIN by Mayweather.