Boxing

ESPN's Brian Kenny Calls Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao 'Like a Handicap Match'

Posted Aug 28, 2008 6:46AM By Michael David Smith (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Golden Boy Promotions, Boxing Video

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Brian Kenny of ESPN is the smartest boxing commentator on television, and he had an interesting comment about the size difference between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquaio, who will announce today that they will fight on December 6:

"Both guys are legitimately great, but it's like a handicap match," Kenny said. "Why Oscar, who's like 5-10 and a half, against a guy who's 5-5-ish. What type of shot will people give Pacquiao?"

I agree with what ESPN's Dan Rafael said in response: "Yes, Oscar is the bigger fighter. ... But Manny Pacquaio is a southpaw, he's got great speed. ... This is no easy fight for Oscar."

I was surprised that De La Hoya is such a heavy favorite, and I think people might be overestimating the importance of De La Hoya's size advantage. De La Hoya is bigger, but Pacquiao is younger and quicker, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he pulls the upset.

Tags: Manny+Pacquaio, MannyPacquaio, Oscar+De+La+Hoya, OscarDeLaHoya

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-28-2008 @ 9:25AM

TSequoia01 said...

De la hoya is fighting smaller and smaller guys, keep it up Oscar you will get a win even if it is against straw weights.

8-28-2008 @ 11:46AM

eyybbss said...

watch out for the biggest upset in boxing history. Shame on you oscar, manny is too much for you.. Its tom and jerry playing inside the ring where oscar will be runnin out of gas chasing pacman. In the end, oscar will kiss the canvass with his mouth widely open gasping for air....

8-28-2008 @ 11:24AM

eyybs said...

watchout for the this coming ODLH-pacman fight and witness the biggest upset in boxing history.

8-28-2008 @ 1:05PM

marlex vbrw said...

Manny is my hero but you got to wonder about the negatives against him like him winning one fight at 135 and then jumping up two classes and fighting a much bigger guy who has taken blows from bigger guys like Hopkins,Mosley,Mayweather,Vargas,Trinidad. I think Manny's punches will barely faze Oscar and Oscar will just go at him and it's no secret that Manny cannot fight backing up and sooner or later Oscar will tag Manny with his left hook and Oscar using smaller gloves will hurt Manny easily. If Marquez can daze Manny Oscar should definitly hurt him too. Sure Manny will score points here and there but I just see Oscar hurting him bad and knocking him out withen 5 rounds. It's going to be sad watching Manny get KO'D.

8-28-2008 @ 4:27PM

DANIEL D said...

You took every single word right out of my mouth. It just so happens to be that I, myself, am a big big fan of Manny and Oscar. I've seen both of these warriors fight from their beginnings.
But we really have to look at reality. Oscar is not an old man. And Manny being the quicker and faster fighter, doen't mean that Oscar can't connect a solid good punch. Though I'm bending towards wanting Manny to win this fight, my good guess is that Oscar's size just might be his advantage. This is one fight where I'm gonna have to just wait to see what happens. Best of luck to BOTH of them.

8-28-2008 @ 1:55PM

mike said...

It is dream fight come true, no matter what you say. History in the making. Can't wait for December 6th. Height might matter in basketball, but I see here just four hands like missiles, some hitting, some missing, targets. Both OLDH and Pacquiao are expected to be fiercely sizing and firing at each other like in that old WW 2 movie, "The Enemy Below", a war of nerves between a battleship (Oscar) and a submarine (Manny). I'm glad this is happening in my lifetime.

8-28-2008 @ 9:41PM

Penny hardaway said...

This rocks, can't wait!

8-29-2008 @ 11:19AM

jox gee said...

david and goliah - go GOD.

9-04-2008 @ 2:48AM

JOHN P. said...

just wait and see how pacman will minimize the body of golden
boy's by strong punches!

10-29-2008 @ 8:53PM

cheeseman said...

and why not the puerto rican guy that lost to margarito that would still be a better fight than oscar. Pac-man vs the Puerto Rican dude. Margarito vs MAyweather!!