LAS VEGAS, NEV. (December 7, 2008) – In a battle between Oscar De La Hoya, boxing’s top attraction, and MANNY PACQUIAO, the sport’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, Pacquiao, a 2 -1 underdog, emerged victorious last night, stopping De La Hoya at the end of round eight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
While securing his claim as 2008’s Fighter of the Year, Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs), also capped off a Henry Armstongesque year, winning three fights in three different weight divisions – two of them for world titles.
Armstrong, the Hall of Fame fighter, is the only man to hold three world championships simultaneously, a feat he accomplished 70 years ago, capturing world titles at featherweight, welterweight and lightweight (in that order) during a nine-month span between November 1937 and August 1938. Pacquiao, officially proclaimed a National Treasure by the Philippines, captured the WBC super featherweight title in February by defeating Juan Manuel Marquez and the WBC lightweight title in June by knocking out defending champion David Diaz. He completed his personal trifecta by stopping De La Hoya in a welterweight battle. It should be noted that Pacquiao’s last two victories were his debut in each weight division with the latter two full divisions above his previous fight.
“Speed was the answer to this fight,” said Pacquiao. “I was connecting with everything and he was connecting with nothing. The only thing that surprised me in the fight was that my trainer picked the correct round the fight would end! [he was close!] I am very happy that this victory will contribute honor to my country.”
And let’s not forget World-Famous Freddie Roach, a shoo-in for Trainer of the Year, and the architect of Pacquiao’s victories, who confidently predicted that Pacquiao would knock out De La Hoya in the ninth round.
“I knew the first round would tell me how this fight would go and it did,” said Roach. “I knew we had him. Oscar had no legs. He was hesitant. He was shot. The flaw in Oscar is that he doesn’t know how to cut the ring off. We took advantage of that and Oscar paid the price by eating left hands all night long. In the corner after the seventh round I told Manny it was his job to knock Oscar out so go out there and do it. Oscar has had a great career and he has been a great champion. I hope there will be no hard feelings between us. ”
HBO Sports will present Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao, the exclusive replay of their welterweight showdown, This Saturday! December 13 (4:45 p.m. ET / 1:45 p.m. PT with a same night replay at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO. The Sports team, which was ringside for the live event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, will call all the action. The replay will be available in HDTV.
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