By Trevor Weis – Milwaukee, WI – By nature, humans are brash and outspoken, boldly predicting what looms ahead with confident conviction. But time tends to clean the lens: hindsight provides 20/20 vision. And with that in mind, I thought back to the eager anticipation, the unwavering predictions from Manny Pacquiao’s last two mega-fights–“contests” which are now brought into question, even disregarded after the impossible was accomplished.

Disclaimer: I am not denying that Oscar De La Hoya was weight drained on December 6th, 2008. However, we seem to forget the unanimous predictions that were shouted across the boxing board. Thomas Hauser, famous boxing writer and analyst, wrote “The disparity in weight between De La Hoya and Pacquiao has led to complaints that boxing’s Golden Boy is buying a gold-plated mismatch. Oscar is in danger of being seen as a school-yard bully who, after having lost to fighters his own size, is now picking on tough little guys.” Even fellow welterweights Paul Williams and Antonio Margarito blasted De La Hoya for fighting a lightweight, predicting a third round KO for the Golden Boy.

And now that the dust has settled and De La Hoya is throwing promotional punches full-time, the world seems to forget the way it was “supposed” to go. In factual comparison with all bias aside, Mayweather himself challenged a tough lightweight in Juan Manuel Marquez, at a catch-weight of 144 lbs (although Mayweather ignored the limit). With the blue-print of Pacquiao/De La Hoya scrapped and the finished product cemented, some were giving Marquez a fighting chance, largely due to his blood-and-guts wars with Pacquiao, the new Pound for Pound king.

But unlike the “Dream Match,” the fight followed the predicted script, with the bigger and stronger Mayweather soundly beating a “tough little guy.” Meanwhile, Mayweather’s iconic rival went on to assassinate the bigger Hitman inside of two rounds. Roach predicted a KO inside of three rounds, which many scoffed at during the prelude to the fight. And although Manny was the betting favorite following his Goliath-like slaying of De La Hoya at 147 lbs, he was facing a prime RING champion in his own 140 lb weight class.

But boxing has no season, and as the fight calendar moves forward and new anticipations are found, fans tend to forget that Manny Pacquiao is defying the odds. De La Hoya writes in his exclusive RING blog that Pacquiao never hurt him with any punches, yet his swollen face and post-hospital visit beg to differ. And while Mayweather stays busy fighting radio DJ’s like RA the Rugged Man, Pacquiao prepares for the fight of his career in Miguel Cotto. Much like his fight against the bigger and stronger Hatton, Pacquiao is already a 2-1 favorite over the bigger, stronger, prime, and natural welterweight.

Some have stated in the aftermath that Pacquiao “cherry-picked” Oscar and Ricky, weight-drained and overrated, although both defeated foes were the one’s to challenge the newly-crowned king. And in challenging Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao is doing what Mayweather should have done, and may be favored by odds-makers and sports-betters, but at least one boxing purist views this fight as even. Anyone who disagrees is seriously underestimating both warriors.

On the morning of November 15th, listen to the whispers around the boxing world. Will they say “Miguel Cotto was damaged goods,” even after boldly predicting an end to Pacquiao’s reign? Or will Cotto emerge victorious and restore logical thinking, executing the predicted-ending that was written off and forgotten after Pacquiao shocked the world? Maybe RA the Rugged Man can challenge the winner after his TKO of Mayweather.

No matter the outcome, fight fans can rejoice, witnessing the best fight the best. All predictions, heated debates, and personal opinions aside, we should embrace the winner and finally give them the credit he deserves. If Pacquiao’s hand is raised, we will know that Pacquiao bested a prime, welterweight champion, and all other squabbles about Oscar’s weight and Hatton’s lack of skills should be left behind. And if the Caguas Crusher celebrates in victory, he will have beaten Manny Pacquiao, the man that defied the odds. As fight fans of the Sweet Science, back-peddling to excuses is trivial, yet some writers continue to live in the past. I for one am looking forward to the future, and an entire year of new anticipations to discover.