Although Oscar de la Hoya has not issued a categorical statement about retirement, he nevertheless admitted that he is giving it a serious contemplation. With the lopsided match that ended in a TKO in the eighth round, de la Hoya should indeed seriously consider retiring. Despite de la Hoya’s physical superiority and rigid training for the “Dream Fight”, he was a picture of a worn out boxer who cannot stand the rapid and powerful punches of Pacquiao.
“You were right Freddie, I don’t have it anymore”, de la Hoya said after the fight. The statement was in effect, a clear message of retirement, though no official announcement was made as of this writing.
Some 15 thousand people saw an aging boxer in Oscar de la Hoya during the during the eight-round bloody encounter at the MGM Grand. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s favorite trainer said that he feels the same way. Some say that de la Hoya was ill-trained, a claim that undefeated boxing sensation Edwin Valero confirmed as he sparred with de la Hoya at the Big Bear training camp. But many boxing fans believe that age is fast catching up on him and he knows it with his parting words to Freddie Roach when he said, “You are right Freddie, I don’t have it anymore”
Everything said and done, Oscar de la Hoya is finished as a top-rated boxer and is now part of boxing history. But his name will linger for years to come, not as a topnotch boxer but as part of boxing business. Oscar is the owner of Golden Boy promotions, a company that is engaged in staging top-rated boxing events.
In the meantime Manny Pacquiao is in cloud nine awaiting a grand celebration in his home country. Some of the most popular boxers are chasing him for another boxing blockbuster that could equal or even surpass the earnings generated by the “Dream Match”.
One of the most talked about boxer who has been chasing Manny Pacquiao for the opportunity to test his awesome power is Ricky Hatton of England. He was in the ringside spying on Pacquiao. If the promoters agree on a Hatton-Pacquiao match, it could be another blockbuster. Early on, Hatton expressed his preference of holding the fight in his native England where he is recognized as the best and most popular in all of UK. In response to Hatton’s invitation, Pacquiao said that he is willing to give Hatton a break and he is accepting the invitation to visit England for the fight.
Some enterprising boxing fans have coined the next boxing blockbuster as “Pacman vs. The Hitman”, “King Kong vs. The Hitman” “Pacman-Hitman Duel at Wembly”.
Two other boxers are known to have been courting the Pacquiao for a chance to fight him and that is Juan Manuel Marquez for a rematch and the undefeated Edwin Valero.
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