Boxing / Alex Steedman / 01 December 2008 / Leave a comment

The Golden Boy enters the ring again this weekend and little man Manny Pacquaio is likely to feel the pain of stepping up the weight divisions, says Alex Steedman.

"Size doesn't matter."

The three words that no man ever wants to hear and the rarely heard whispers that only considerate partners and wee men use. But let me tell you my friends, in boxing, it almost always does.

Oscar De La Hoya found out as much against then Middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins in 2004, failing to hear the final bell for the only time in an illustrious career. And Manny Pacquiao will face the unavoidable truth when he finds himself caught in De La Hoya's poacher turned gamekeeper net this weekend.

Let's deal with the facts first.

'Pac Man' made his debut nearly 14 years ago as a flyweight (8st/112lbs), found comfort and success in beating three great Mexicans in Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Rafael Marquez at Superfeather (9st4/130lbs) and looked sensational in thumping overmatched facemat David Diaz on his Lightweight (9st9/135lbs) debut last time.

Though Pacquiao faces the 'Golden Boy' at 147lbs, De La Hoya has been fighting around 150lbs+ for years and will have close to 14lbs advantage at the opening bell. Weight is a consuming issue here and with it power and speed.

Pac Man has both but against smaller men, and De La Hoya has a great chin. So if the Philippine superstar is to win it will be with an ambush policy and a decision on points. But the truth is Pacquiao will always put himself in danger of being hit because he loves to fight and he's always been hittable.

Having gone to the wire with Floyd Mayweather Jr last year, it is unlikely that Oscar will be done for toe though Freddie Roach (who trained De La Hoya that night and looks after Pacquiao now) suggests that at 35, Oscar no longer has the legs for the long haul. He may not need them.

Losing to a smaller man is out of the question. Setting up a 2009 farewell fight at Wembley with a certain Richard Hatton is a priority and winning in style is a fight selling pre-requisite. All of which is bad news for the likable Pacquiao, particularly given De La Hoya's share of questionable decisions in Vegas over the years.

There's only one other discussion regarding size, how much to have on.

Verdict: De La Hoya to win
Method of victory: K/O
Total Rounds: 7-12