|
Oscar De La Hoya appears to be leaning toward a final farewell fight with Manny Pacquiao on December 6. Sure, Pacman is the undisputed P4P king now that Floyd Mayweather has retired, but does this fight really make any sense? Would beating Pacquiao do anything for Oscar’s legacy?
Oscar is a giant compared to Manny Pacquiao. Beating Pacquiao would only solidify that fact in the mind of spectators. Sure, Pacquiao is the better fighter, but does he carry enough pop to fight someone that much bigger than him? If Oscar wins, he’d just a bully. If Pacquiao wins, Oscar’s even more of a bum.
Oscar is alleged to want that one big, career-defining win. This would typically be done by fighter the most challenging competitor available. Manny Pacquiao is definitely not the most challenging fighter within reason. That distinction belongs to Antonio Margarito. Just about everyone knows that, but there are a slew of other fighters he’d be better off fighting as well. Here is a short list, just off the top of my head;
1. Paul Williams
2. Winky Wright
3. Shane Mosley (DLH is 0-2 against Sugar)
4. Miguel Cotto (still)
5. Ricky Hatton
6. Zab Judah or Joshua Clottey (depending on winner of Saturday’s showdown)
What do all of the above fighters have in common? They aren’t tiny, plain and simple.
Finally, if Oscar really wants to go out with a bang (AND a winnable fight), why not just go after Felix Trinidad? Tito looked okay in his loss to Roy Jones, Jr., and Oscar could exercise some demons from his past.
So man-up, Oscar De La Hoya. Don’t just look for the easy way out. Make a fight that boxing fans actually want to see.
For more great articles like this one, visit THE BOXING STOP. | 
