Saturday, August 30, 2008

Who Wins Pacquiao Dela Hoya Fight?

Boxing analysis by Recah Trinidad, Philippine Daily Inquirer Columnist

No contest and no need to dig into prizefight records, either.

Manny Pacquiao on Friday scored his biggest, quickest off-ring knockout when he formally agreed to fight the fight of the decade against a bigger, richer, glossier Oscar de la Hoya.

So what if it has the makings of a mismatch, in favor of the Golden Boy, right at the start?

Yes, the only edge Pacquiao could visibly bring inside the ring at MGM Grand is his age.

At 29, the smaller, shorter but reputedly quicker Pacquiao will not be carrying in his legs the burden of the years, rust and cobwebs that have been predicted to hobble down the 34-year-old De la Hoya come fight time on Dec. 6.

* * *

Experts will predictably be divided on how the fight would shape up and finish.

The biggest letdown, of course, is the risk of the bout not being scored based on superb athleticism.

There's the great danger of the fight being decided mainly on physical disparity.

It could be that our man is too small or the enemy is too old and tired.

Could it be that Pacquiao would prevail mainly because De la Hoya is already slower, softer than the famed Golden Boy the world has learned to adore?

Or it could also turn out that De la Hoya, despite the visible slide in his abilities in recent fights, has one precious, golden final blast that could erase and offset Pacquiao's perceived advantage.

Pacquiao - De La Hoya's Weight Problem Before Boxing Fight

By Marc Anthony Reyes
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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.

Is Manny Pacquiao Like Barack Obama?

From the column of boxing thinker Recah Trinidad. He writes an advanced preview of the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar Dela Hoya.

Anyway, going to the latest rare knockout Pacquiao has scored, the feat also helped our disgraced national sports leaders.

While we were waiting for a bigger event, not necessarily another tragedy, to overlap the dismal, discouraging showing of the Philippine contingent in the Beijing Games, Pacquiao handily provided a festive atmosphere that definitely soothed frustrated Filipino sports fans both here and abroad.

Pacquiao has momentarily provided excitement to a nation that had prayed and hoped for at least a medal from the Olympics but which was instead repaid with dismal setbacks in the Beijing battles.

Manny Pacquiao, just like Barack Obama, did make history by simply signing up for the fight against Oscar de la Hoya.

In the process, Pacquiao swept under the rug the anomaly of the failed Philippine mission to the Beijing Olympics.

Of course, the biggest beneficiaries are again the incompetent national sports leaders who have refused to learn from their mistakes.

These same sports officials, no better than village quacks, offered a new set of cures and promises but, with no hint of change we can believe in, have also assured themselves of another all-expenses paid excursion to the next Olympics in Britain.

Long live Manny Pacquiao, Philippine pride and savior of shamed sports leaders.

Dela Hoya Knocks Out Manny Pacquiao?

People have been talking about this fight between Oscar Dela Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. Who will be knocked out first? Recah Trinidad of the PDI wrote an interesting opinion on the sensational fight.

There will be endless debates.

But there's no assurance the fight will go to the younger but quicker or, God forbid, to the older but bigger, warrior.

It will be war and the winner will be the smarter and, definitely, the braver one who would risk everything to prevail.

There will be a clash of two schools, between combatants of contrasting build, prowess and lifestyles.

Based on available ability and achievement, the sensational Pacquiao would draw enough wagers to his camp.

But it goes without saying that De la Hoya could still swing it riding on the intangibles.

In fact, the strongest weapons De la Hoya could bring into the fight may not exactly be that worn-out, limited artillery Pacquiao and his trainer have gleefully observed and dismissed.

Manny Pacquiao Defeats Oscar Dela Hoya?

Here's a curious observation of PDI columnist Recah Trinidad of the Inquirer newspaper.

Experts will predictably be divided on how the fight would shape up and finish.

The biggest letdown, of course, is the risk of the bout not being scored based on superb athleticism.

There's the great danger of the fight being decided mainly on physical disparity.

It could be that our man is too small or the enemy is too old and tired.

Could it be that Pacquiao would prevail mainly because De la Hoya is already slower, softer than the famed Golden Boy the world has learned to adore?

Or it could also turn out that De la Hoya, despite the visible slide in his abilities in recent fights, has one precious, golden final blast that could erase and offset Pacquiao's perceived advantage.

Manny Pacquiao Fights Oscar De La Hoya Boxing Preview

Recah Trinidad of the Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote an interesting preview on the upcoming fight between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar dela Hoya. Read on...

No contest and no need to dig into prizefight records, either.

Manny Pacquiao on Friday scored his biggest, quickest off-ring knockout when he formally agreed to fight the fight of the decade against a bigger, richer, glossier Oscar de la Hoya.

So what if it has the makings of a mismatch, in favor of the Golden Boy, right at the start?

Yes, the only edge Pacquiao could visibly bring inside the ring at MGM Grand is his age.

At 29, the smaller, shorter but reputedly quicker Pacquiao will not be carrying in his legs the burden of the years, rust and cobwebs that have been predicted to hobble down the 34-year-old De la Hoya come fight time on Dec. 6.

Job and Work Opening

We are pleased to inform you that the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) through the Philippines - Canada Cooperation Office is seeking applications for a LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MANAGER.  The Terms of Reference (TOR) detailing the background, scope of work, roles and responsibilities and qualifications are attached and is also posted in the PCCO Website.

The LGSP-LED Philippines is a collaborative 8-year program of the Governments of Canada and Philippines, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and implemented through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Its purpose is to reduce poverty by strengthening local governance and supporting sustainable local economic development (LED). The Canadian Executing Agency (CEA) of the program is a consortium of the Canadian Urban Institute and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges.

This is a full-time position will be based in Manila and will require travel to various regions.  Interested applicants must submit a letter of intent and a comprehensive CV, not to exceed 4 pages) detailing the following:

    * Name and citizenship:
    * Education and pertinent dates and degrees received:
    * Language(s) spoken, read and written, and degree of proficiency in each category:
    * Length of service with current firm and status: (permanent, temporary, contract employee, associate, etc.)
    * Present employer and position in the firm (if applicable):
    * Pertinent experience: A summary of the skills and experience that would be valuable and applicable to this project:
    * A history of employment and assignments (in reverse chronological order):
    * Service in and knowledge of developing countries:
    * Supportive experience: A summary of other skills and experience that could serve as background and be beneficial to this project:
    * List of publications/presentations, if applicable:
    * Membership in Associations:

Please send your application via email to lgspledpm@pcco.org.ph not later than August 27, 2008, Wednesday, 5PM. Only short-listed applicants will be called for interview.

We also encourage you to share this information with your colleagues and network partners who might be interested and qualified to apply for this position.

Thank you for your continued support.
 

Sincerely yours,
 

GARY NITORREDA
General Manager

Philippines - Canada Cooperation Office
The Program Support Unit of CIDA in the Philippines

9th Floor, Salcedo Towers, 169 H.V. dela Costa Street
Salcedo Village, Makati City, 1227 Philippines
T (+63) (2) 813 8255 F (+63) (2) 892 8913 M 0920-906-9108
www.pcco.org.ph