Oscar: Hungry to Win or Just Hungry?
Posted by Laura De La Torre on 12.05.2008
Oscar's view on how fighters make weight and more specifically on how he's made weight for his upcoming match with number one pound for pound fighter, Manny Pacquiao.
Photo by Laura De La Torre / 411mania.com
In the final week of the much anticipated match between Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao, the "Dream Match" is set for December 6th at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Both fighters have agreed to meet at the 147lb welterweight limit which will make for a compromising fight as Pacquiao has only fought once above 130lbs and De La Hoya hasn't fought at this weight in about 8 years.
As we approach fight night, emphasis has been placed on how both fighters plan on making weight. Oscar who was close to 160 lbs in the early days of training camp has now lost weight and according to HBO's 24/7 series, he has been able to maintain his weight. Pacquiao on the other hand has also been able to gain weight appropriately. Additonally, Manny's long time trainer Freddie Roach has stated to 411mania.com that after Manny weighs in for a fight, he'll gain weight, and was actually close to 148 lbs when he fought Juan Manuel Marquez in March 2008. So if Manny is able to gain that much weight in such a short period of time, and be able to come out a winner, is there much of challenge for him compared to Oscar?
In Oscar's recent media conference, it was stated that Oscar appeared to be doing well as he has been weighing 145 lbs during his last three weeks of training and states that losing the weight was the easiest! "In the first couple of days that I did make weight or I tried making weight, about a month ago, I did feel a little lightheaded and weak, but now that I have gotten used to it and now that weeks have passed by, I feel strong and fast and comfortable with welterweight," stated Oscar. He continued by stating that his way of training has been very strict from the first day of training camp. Now, his body has adapted to this weight class and Oscar has been tolerating food well and eats anything he wants.
Oscar began looking at how weight can compromise a fighter's performance. When a fighter gains weight, you can take the punch, but what matters most is if you have the chin, heart, and the desire to win. Many fighters who move up in weight don't have the chin and can't take the punch; which leads them to getting knocked out or a very one-sided fight. Take for example the recent fight between Kelly Pavlik vs Bernard Hopkins. It was believed by many, including media writers that Pavlik would take the win by a landslide, but Hopkins stepped up his game and won. Was this all due to inappropriate weight gain by Pavlik?
As for Manny, he's been gaining weight, and Oscar states that Manny has the right people behind him to make sure he is gaining it the right way. Freddie Roach stated that Manny might lose a little speed with his punches because of the weight gain, but to be quite honest, by watching HBO's 24/7, Manny is strong, fast, and has the desire to win.
Oscar, on the other hand, has dropped weight easily and many believe that he too might lose punching power and most importantly, stamina to sustain a full 12 round fight at a lower weight class. It would seem that this is a bigger challenge for the Golden Boy simply for not knowing how his body might react or not react, and if it does, will it react in the same way as before? Thereby, De La Hoya training camp has been focusing on fighting a hard and strong 12 rounds to build stamina, strength, and endurance.
Looking back over the course of publicity events for the "Dream Match," it has been all the while very entertaining to see Freddie Roach and Oscar have a few back and forth moments in open forum, which in other circumstances, is very rare to see a trainer and a fighter go back and forth. Oscar admits that Freddie has made some comments, but still respects him as a trainer and as a person. "So, I have nothing bad to say about Manny," stated Oscar, "and if Freddie Roach is going to say something bad about me, so be it. But I'm oozing with motivation, that's for sure." Manny Pacquiao and Oscar de la Hoya exhibit pure respect for each other and of course, a great sense of humor. Just last week, Manny sent cheesecake to the De La Hoya's training camp as a Thanksgiving gift. Turns out, all that Oscar did with the cake is give it a good beating. If Oscar wins on Saturday night, he'll prove not only to himself but for many boxers and boxing fans that he can beat a young, hungry lion like Manny Pacquiao - the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world!
The "Dream Match" is set to take place this Saturday, December 6th at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, NV and will be broadcasted by HBO PPV.
