Saving a cherished reputation of never being knocked out in a legendary 10 year career that brought him an unprecedented 6 titles in as many divisions, Oscar de la Hoya managed to accomplish only that, nothing else. Yet his surrender after the 8th round made that same reputation hollow and meaningless. Touted as a true warrior who faced many fierce battles, de la Hoya's failure to fight to the death, like a true warrior, cast serious doubt on his spirit and substance as a tested fighter who never loses heart. On this fateful night, de la Hoya lost everything. 
In the fight top billed as the Dream Match, Oscar lost the agility in his legs, his penetrating jabs were neutralized, his power punches blocked or evaded, his surgical approach dismantled, his speed was jammed into a halt - until the fight in him vanished. He didn't do this to himself, but was masterfully executed by Manny Pacquiao, who had triumphed over all Mexicans put in front of him until they could no longer find a match for his superior fighting skills. The last Mexican standing was a legend who was bigger, heavier, with longer reach and a reputation to protect - all the elements that bolster an advantage which made the Pacman the underdog. What Oscar did to himself was to lose heart and give up to evade an outright knockout. In the process, he also lost his reputation as a true warrior.
Ringside statistics attest to the domination by Pacquiao in the lopsided fight that made Oscar looked anything but old and retireable. His speed, power, agility, and fight strategy proved beyond doubt that he is the world's best pound-for-pound fighter there is. Pacquiao pummeled de la Hoya like a permissive punching bag, hitting him at will with 224 out of 585 punches landing, as against Oscar's 83 out of 402. He also gave Oscar 45 power punches in the 7th round versus only four received by the Pacman which threw de la Hoya at the center of the ring. Two of the 3 judges gave Pacquiao all the 8 rounds except for one judge who gave Oscar the first round. Manny Pacquiao put on a spectacular display; while Oscar de la Hoya, who was a mere shell of his old self, put on a pathetic performance.
Manny Pacquiao has unwittingly put an end to a remarkable story, one that began in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics when a young Oscar de la Hoya won the gold in a skillfully executed bout. He went on to become the biggest box office draw in boxing. In the last 6 years however, he has not won a major bout. In this match, he no longer had the elements to mount a counter attack to win the fight. He was all spent and wasted. His only other stoppage came via a referee's decision, this time, he concurred with his handlers.The decision was his, and he opted to end it standing up. All is not lost for he earned a substantially sizeable amount for his closed left eye and swollen face. Perhaps pride can be covered with money, which seems to be the main reason for this battle. Oscar de la Hoya has come full circle, from a fighting legend to a shrewd businessman.
The power of Pacquiao's punches may be greatly aided by his faith and augmented in large part by his prayers and those of around 50 million of 82 million Filipinos. He has defeated a legend, and has himself become one. He bears the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders whenever he goes up the ring, and dedicated each of his fights to the people of his country. He prays before and after a fight, win or lose; and refuses to give up even when badly beaten, heavily cut, and profusely bleeding - much like his idol Oscar de la Hoya some years ago. Perhaps a fighter loses part of his spirit with every punch received over the years - all because of their stubborn refusal to stop. The addiction to glory in a viciously violent encounter boosts their ego and makes them deny their diminishing power and strength, in an event so primitive yet continues to salivate a supposed civilized world in watching two men rearrange each other's face and bones; and become ecstatic at seeing blood and gore.
The Filipino people and the Filipino nation should be prepared to pray that Pacquiao cease this brutal sport while he is in one piece. He has done more than enough for the country and to the upliftment of the Filipino psyche' and spirit, more than any politician ever has. Pacquiao's humanity and sacrifice has encouraged unity and peace - the least the Filipino nation can do is to honor him in peace and let him enjoy the fruits of his very excruciating labors. The peak is the best place to end a quest. Pray that he isn't knocked senseless by all the adoration and the summer acquaintances who shower praise - yet disappear when the rains pour.
Haaaarrrrwwwwwk...Twooooooooph...Ting!
The euphoria created by Manny Pacquiao's sensational triumph over the courageous David Diaz, may have concealed a little known peril that the Filipino prizefighter must have sensed, even before he walked into the ring: an ambush that would have robbed him of the title and disappoint the 81 million countrymen he carries on his shoulders each time he lays his life on the line. There may have been attempts to extract a bigger payoff by scoring the bout in favor of the 4 to 1 underdog if the fight went the distance. The official ring physician is 
from Nevada, the referee also from the same state, as with the 3 judges at ringside. Pacquiao knew he may be walking into a trap, but it was too late to turn back.It was Pacquiao's professional maturity as a pugilist that overcame whatever threat may have been intentionally laid out against his quest. He was focused and determined to end the fight with no questions nor doubts about its outcome. He followed the strategy zealously, crafted by his handlers after an excellent scouting and study of his opponent. The raging bull, who at times would surge with misdirected flurry of punches when hurt, became a matador who was scientific, methodical, and clinical. He gave the badly outclassed Diaz a painful boxing lesson by executing punches with deadly accuracy, landing 180 power punches that used his opponents' face for pinpoint target practice. The lion in Diaz, a big cat with intense ferocity, lost one life for each stage of the savage 9 round battering.
A closer scrutiny of the actuations of the ring physician in the 4th and 6th rounds gives an uneasy feeling. The swabs used to apply the petroleum jelly to stop bleeding was swallowed by the wound itself, indicating the depth of the injury and the danger it would pose for the fighter. Pacquiao himself slowed down in the 7th, picking his punches patiently and even looking at the wounds he inflicted. He asked the referee if the fight would continue, apparently realizing it should be stopped. But he was dismissed. There may have been hopes that Diaz could get a lucky punch or get away with a headbutt and last the 
distance, enough to call the fight at least a draw. The referee would be slow in breaking clinches as if giving Diaz the chance to strike. But Pacquiao guarded himself well. His prayers carried him through.Pacquiao made history with this win. He is the only Asian, only Filipino, and only one of nine boxers to win championships in 4 different weight divisions. It has been a history soaked in blood. To his credit, Diaz kept the tricks away from the main stage, although he managed to pull off an elbow into Pacquiao's face a couple of times. Pacquiao poured it on in the 8th, and finished it off in the 9th with a perfectly timed and positioned left hook to the right face of Diaz on a downward 
trajectory. The blow sent Diaz head turning in 3 directions before falling like an empty sack to the canvas. Yet, Pacquiao returned to lift him up after the count fearing he may have harmed him too much in the process; before running to his corner to kneel in tearful prayer of thanks for his victory.The brutality of this sport is enough to consider 
it unfit for a civilized society; yet the lust for blood while watching two human beings rearrange each other's face, break each other's bones or crack the opponent's skull, and tear up their internal organs, is taken as fun and entertainment. But the worst are those who continue to manipulate results by nonchalantly gambling with the lives of others and expect to profit from it. A vicious portrayal of man's inhumanity to man.Haaarrrrrwwwwk...Twoooooooph...Ting!Photos courtesy of Getty Images and Yahoo Sports- AP
They were both battle tested. Gladiators who train long and hard for one of the most brutal sports of man, where packed audiences in the arena and in their respective countries delight is seeing their choice smash the face of the opponent. The bloodier the event, the happier they are, like Romans during the time of the Caesars when gore and mutilation were considered entertainment. Today, it remains the same as Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez did their utmost to beat the other to a bloody pulp.
One can only marvel at the conditioning of both fighters and the tremendous endurance to take 36 minutes of beating and banging while spending energy throwing punches and doing damage of their own to the other. The power and the force of each blow, capable of ripping muscle and tissue, splashing blood all over and damaging internal organs; was not sufficient to put either one away for good. One solid blow from either fighter to an ordinary man can break the neck and speed up the appointment with his Maker. But not Pacquiao nor Marquez. These are no ordinary men. These are prize fighters who risk life and limb to win fame, fortune and glory; to rise above the anguish of their past to enjoy the fruits of their excruciating suffering in the short future of their careers.
The fight was a very close one that could have been won by either boxer. Manny Pacquiao was himself surprised to hear that he had won. While being more bankable than the retirement bound Marquez is being used as an argument for being favored, this is easily quashed by the fact that Pacquiao received the best of Marquez but was unable to put him down. Pacquiao dished his best to Marquez and he fell flat on his back once, and was staggered twice. Both had a lot of heart, both had overwhelming talent, both were pained and hurt, but only one was on his feet throughout.
Marquez may be feeling the ignominy of defeat but there is no dishonor nor disrepute in his effort. He fought an honorable fight and fought creditably, but it wasn't enough to rise above his 3rd round fall. Pacquiao's countrymen are in celebration since a victory has brought honor to the country and its people, after being dishonored by its leaders in corruption and power grabbing. The troubling issue with Pacquiao is his intent to move to a higher division where punishment is even greater. While many will marvel at this choice, they know very little of what a boxer feels after a fight - win or lose.
The pain of urinating alone is agony, where the body punches received will cause blood to come out with the urine. The wounds that are rubbed with gloves during a fight that may contain chemicals could add to the pain. The stitches for cuts and blood clots all over, damage to kidneys, pancreas and stomach; all these contribute to the short healthy life of a fighter. A long life may be lived but the suffering will dominate it. The irony is that they leave the pangs of poverty to enter into more suffering after. And these are the few who enjoy fame. Most get only up to the hospital, then to a cemetery. 
Cheer on to victory and honor for the country. But never forget the hero when he has become a shell of his old self - either because of health or because of psychological maladies. When boxers go wrong, they are rendered as beasts or monsters. In reality, it is those who enjoy watching the physical deformation of another human being, who are the real monsters and beasts.
Haarrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!
Saving a cherished reputation of never being knocked out in a legendary 10 year career that brought him an unprecedented 6 titles in as many divisions, Oscar de la Hoya managed to accomplish only that, nothing else. Yet his surrender after the 8th round made that same reputation hollow and meaningless. Touted as a true warrior who faced many fierce battles, de la Hoya's failure to fight to the death, like a true warrior, cast serious doubt on his spirit and substance as a tested fighter who never loses heart. On this fateful night, de la Hoya lost everything.
