Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya made it official today that they're going to fight on December 6 in what will be by far the biggest boxing match of the year. And in a very good sign for the future of boxing, people are already talking about what the winner will do next, especially after De La Hoya's surprise comments today that he might not retire after this fight after all.
Here's my modest proposal: The winner needs to fight Floyd Mayweather.
Yes, Mayweather says he's retired, but I don't believe him. I believe that he'll be seduced by the $30 million or so that he'd likely make for fighting De La Hoya a second time, if De La Hoya wins. And if Pacquiao wins, Mayweather will be motivated by hearing everyone crown Pacquaio as the pound-for-pound king. (And although he wouldn't make as much money fighting Pacquiao than he would fighting De La Hoya, he'd still get an eight-figure payday out of that fight.)
De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao is a great fight on its own terms, but 2009 will have an even bigger one if Mayweather ends his retirement and fights the winner.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-28-2008 @ 6:58PM
todd said...
Why did De La Hoya not just fight any old cab driver? More of a challenge I guess? Hoya is 154lbs and Manny 120lbs. soaking wet?
Fight Margorita or Paul the punisher Williams you sissy!
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8-29-2008 @ 9:11AM
Unsilent Majority said...
Well, it's fun to speculate.
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8-30-2008 @ 8:15AM
mike said...
NOBODY WATS TO FIGHT MARGARITO, BECAUSE BY THE 6TH OR 7TH ROUND, FIGHTERS LIKE DEL AHOYA OR PRETTY BOY FLOYD WILL BE TIRED AND CONFUSED AND WILL LOOK FOR A WAY OUT BASICALLY BY NOT COMING OFF THEIR STOOL BY THE 10TH OR 11TH ROUND. MAYWEATHER WILL LOVE TO FIGHT PACMAN, BECAUSE HE CAN DANCE HIS WAY TO A CLOSE DECISION.
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8-31-2008 @ 9:21AM
simona said...
i have some thing to tell you . please replay
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9-01-2008 @ 10:23AM
JUNSOLUCIO said...
WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE SHOCKED BY THE EVENT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN PACMAN AND DELA HOYA?AS IF IF PACMAN IS THE SMALLEST FIGHTER ODHL EVER FACED.IF YOU REALLY CONSIDER YOURSELF A BOXING FAN THEN YOU WILL STILL REMEMBER A BOXER NAME PERNELL WHITAKER,WHO'S HEIGHT AND BUILD LOOKS THE SAME AS MANNY .HE STANDS TOE TO TOE WITH ODHL WHO'S CONSIDERED P4P AT THAT TIME, WHITAKER ALSO CAME FROM MUCH LOWER DIVISION GOING TO THAT WELTERWEIGHT MATCH.THAT HAPPENED A DECADE AGO WHILE ODHL WAS STILL INVINCIBLE AND AT HIS PRIME.I DONT SEE A MISMATCH HERE,AND IF THERE'S AN UNDER DOG IT WOULD BE DELA HOYA BECUASE HE IS A FADING BOXER.
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9-07-2008 @ 6:42PM
sharon said...
I just want to say i love Floyd Mayweather,i think he is a very mature and competitive boxer.I just hate to see that he has retired.He will be greatly missed.