Geno’s Boxing Corner: The Return of Oscar De La Hoya to Boxing & Manny Pacquiao Backlash
By Geno McGaheeThe challenge has been laid out by the IBF Light Middleweight Champion, Cornelius “K-9” Bundrage, 30-4, 18 KO’s, to the retired Oscar De La Hoya, 39-6, 32 KO’s, and although the return to boxing for “The Golden Boy” may be a long shot, there has to be some appeal for him to take this challenge.
All time great fighters always find their way back to the ring. It was easy for De La Hoya to say “never again” after taking a horrible beating at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in 2008, and he has since focused all of his energy into making money hand over fist with his promotional company. De La Hoya is not a fighter that will end up in the gutter asking for dollars from passer byes. He is loaded and has no reason to fight, with the exception of his competitive spirit and possible need to leave on a better note.
It is fair to say that De La Hoya came in too light against Pacquiao and was spent before he even made it to the ring. It reminded me of the Larry Holmes – Muhammad Ali Heavyweight title fight. Holmes beat and battered a shell of a former great, and so did Pacquiao. The difference is that De La Hoya may have something left in the tank and I’m sure that this is something that he knows. How many times did Sugar Ray Leonard retire before being totally convinced that the show was over?
In the IBF Light Middleweight Champion, we have a strong power-puncher, but one with defensive flaws that has been stopped on two occasions. The most memorable was a first round knockout loss to Sechew Powell when both men were knocked down simultaneously in the opening seconds. They both popped up and Powell, more together, knocked Bundrage out. Bundrage also lost by stoppage to Joel Julio and dropped decisions to Grady Brewer and Steve Forbes. If you remember, Forbes was dominated by De La Hoya in one of his last fights, so that too may be enough to convince him to return to boxing.
You can argue the greatness of De La Hoya and there is room for debate, but you cannot argue his success in the sport. For years, he was boxing, and he filled a gap that Mike Tyson had left when he began to fade away. The closest thing we have to fill the shoes of De La Hoya is Manny Pacquiao, but there is still room remaining, and there is still a market for Oscar. If he announced that he was coming back to leave the sport on top, the boxing world would get excited and we would have an event on our hands. Bundrage would make a bundle and should he knock out De La Hoya, which is certainly a possibility, he would get the recognition he craves. If De La Hoya wins, then anything is possible from there.
When you look at the older fighters that come back to boxing, it is the speed of the opposition that really gets them. They can deal with slower powerful guys…just not quick ones where they would need their younger reflexes to strike. De La Hoya – Bundrage is a pick’em fight, and a marketable one. This is a great move by Bundrage to get himself into the limelight and an opportunity for De La Hoya to leave the sport with a belt around his waist. I make this fight a long shot to happen, but a De La Hoya comeback cannot be totally dismissed at this point.
Leave Manny Pacquiao Alone!!!
I’m considering disabling the contact form box considering the onslaught of negative emails that I have been getting for asking every boxing fan to pass on the Manny Pacquiao – Antonio Margarito pay per screw.
I thought about doing a mailbag to answer the questions, but then again, there weren’t really any questions…just hate mail. So, I sort of meshed all of the comments together, put them into a five question format. Those of you expecting an email in return for your hateful email can look here instead and read away.
Question 1 – Antonio Margarito paid his dues. He did the time and should not be punished forever. What gives you the right to say he shouldn’t fight anymore?
Panama Lewis and Luis Resto were banned for life after a similar crime. Bob Arum came out and said that what they did was “unforgivable,” but apparently he has a different opinion when his bank account is involved. We needed to deal with Margarito as we did with Lewis and Resto and that means jail time and a ban for life…not rewarding the bad behavior.
Question 2- Why are you disrespecting Manny? Other writers always praise him and are for this fight. What makes you different?
I don’t live and die with boxing and I don’t need the pat on the back from the readers in support of my articles. If you agree, great, if you don’t, great, but some journalists out there continually write article after article about how great Pacquiao is. It borders on man crush and it is really sickening to see a “writer” put something out there in the hopes that either (a) the blind group of Pacquiao fans (PacNuts) will tell him that they love him or (b) Team Pacquiao will see it and give him a pat on the head. Good puppy.
I’m not disrespecting Pacquiao. I have a world of respect for him, but I disagree with this fight. I’m not going to write articles for approval. I write them from my point of view and if you agree or disagree, I’m OK with it.
Question 3 – You can’t blame Pacquiao for taking the fight. He just does what his promoter says. How can you blame him?
It would be different if Pacquiao needed the money and had no other option. There are prostitutes out there that are victims of circumstance and I don’t condemn them for providing a service for money. They need the money to survive. Pacquiao is loaded and he is the biggest name in boxing. He is holding all of the cards and all of those that scream of his righteousness have to be quiet over this. He has taken this fight for the money and I blame him 100% for taking it. He could have made a great statement and said that he wasn’t going to face a guy that has been proven a cheater that could have killed Miguel Cotto. He doesn’t deserve a big payday and he won’t get one. Instead, we have money signs in the eyes and the names on the contracts. How can you not blame him?
Question 4 – Boxing is corrupt. Why are you choosing this fight to protest?
I am choosing this fight to protest because it is extremely high profile and is sending the wrong message to the non-boxing world. Boxing is a sport that is constantly against the ropes and constantly getting bad press. Picture Margarito knocking out Pacquiao and ending his career, leaving him with broken eye sockets, and then it comes out that he once again loaded his gloves. Boxing could have prevented it and we need to prevent it. Instead, like sheep, the boxing fans follow and nod: “This is a good fight. This fight is right for boxing.” You want to know why networks won’t touch boxing anymore and why nobody knows the fighters outside of a handful? The media that once pushed it has lost all respect and after looking at the creation of this fight, I don’t blame them.
Question 5 – You would never say these things to Manny Pacquiao’s face. If you want him to fight somebody else, why not fight him yourself?
Amazingly, this is an actual email that I got…unedited and I saved it for last. Apparently, this idiot that has come up with this notion that you have to be able to beat up a fighter in order to write about them is from the good old USA, judging from his IP Address. I would expect this from the blind followers of Manny and I’m not saying that all of his followers are blind. I consider myself a fan of Pacquiao.
Now, I would absolutely say this to Pacquiao’s face. It’s the wrong thing and if he wants to fight me for it, take a swing. I don’t need to be able to beat a world class boxer to file a lawsuit against one. Bullying writers is despicable and I will continue to write what I think. If the fighter has an issue with it, then address the problem. I’m saying what many others think and many others have come out and agreed with me.
Why not fight him? If they put up a few million, I would, and I would be smiling as they carried me out of the ring on a stretcher. I think that a fight between Pacquiao and I is just as wrong as a fight between he and Margarito.
It’s up to you boxing fans. If you agree with the fight, agree that Margarito was a mere pawn in the game that had no knowledge or if you really don’t care, then rent it. But I hope I have made you think about this fight before you put down your hard earned money to watch it. Take the family out to the movies instead.