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Mailbag: Talking Oscar-Manny

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Al Bernstein, the highly regarded boxing analyst for Showtime, has created a boxing website that he hopes will evolve into a must-stop destination for the sport's fans on the Internet.

The Al Bernstein Boxing Channel is a joint production of Bernstein and IBN Sports and can be found at www.ibnsports.com.

The site just launched, but Bernstein plans to have highlights, commentary, interviews, features and a blog.

Al is a good guy and the site is a great idea, so check it out.

Now, it's time to get to your e-mails and my responses. Most of the feedback this week is on the upcoming Dec. 6 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya.

Surprisingly, I received few questions about Saturday's important lightweight fight in Houston between ex-champion Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis. I'll go with Diaz by unanimous decision in a spirited battle.

HALL OF FAMER?

I totally agree with your assessment of the Golden Boy. My question is, does he legitimately deserve to be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame? When he was young, he fought some big names, but they were at the end of their careers (Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker). In his prime, he lost all of his big bouts (Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, Felix Trinidad). And now in his twilight he chooses only to fight much smaller fighters (Floyd Mayweather, and now Manny Pacquiao).

Des Lovell
Los Angeles

I think absolutely he belongs in the Hall of Fame, Des, even though you make several good points. But for whatever his weaknesses, he did win world titles in six classes and that alone should quality him. He's also one of the great attractions in the sport's history and now has gone on to build one of its dominant promotional companies. I understand where you're coming from, but I think he deserves a spot in the Hall.

NOT SO BAD

Why is a De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight such a bad thing? Yes, this is not the best match that De La Hoya could have picked, but it's still a little interesting. Regardless of Pacquiao's size, you have to admit it is a little intriguing. So far, Manny has not shown that he can't bang with the best of them. Who, besides De La Hoya in the last decade or so, has fought some of the best there is, regardless of the weight? De La Hoya has not been one to avoid some of the best fighters in past, but now that he is fighting Pacquiao and not Margarito he is being criticized. Why?

G. Gallegos

I give Oscar much respect for what he's accomplished, but he's had all the better of it throughout. He's been able to either force fighters to move up in weight to fight him, or he's faced once-great fighters who were at the end of their careers. Remember this quote from a column I wrote on Oscar in May, from his opponent, Steve Forbes: "Honestly, I'm a boxing historian and I don't think he's beaten anyone in their prime while he was in his prime." That's a telling quote, and a lot of people in the sport feel the same way. As for fighters who have taken on the best repeatedly, look no further than his two partners, Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley. Finally, I wouldn't have as much of a problem with this fight if Manny had been fighting regularly at 140. Then, Oscar would be coming down a class (and I still have very significant doubts that he'll make 147, which he hasn't done since 2001) and Manny would be going up one. But Oscar's been a 154-pounder since 2001 and Manny only became a 135-pounder in 2008. Doesn't that seem like a significant size difference to you? That's where the criticism stems.

ILLOGICAL RANT

Your assertion that Oscar is taking the money may be true. Your stance that he should always fight the best is nonsense and, at best, uninformed. At worst, it is insulting and condescending to Oscar. At his best, Oscar De La Hoya ducked no one. Clearly, he's not in his prime bow. He is competing in a dangerous sport, where bravado might be the folly that dictates the rest of your life (see Muhammad Ali). I was ringside for Gerald McClellan-Nigel Benn. Oscar knows at this point in his career, he can't handle Antonio Margarito. I know it. You know it. Why would he then pick that fight, with a fighter who doesn't know what a jab is and throws bombs for 12 solid rounds? Did you see what he did to Miguel Cotto? This is Oscar's farewell tour, his last hurrah. For all he has done for us, all the thrills, the spills, the highlights and the comedowns, he deserves a little respect.

Philly

I agree, Philly, that he's fighting in a dangerous sport and I have been an outspoken advocate on behalf of boxing safety. But, if you're going to demand purses of $30 million or more, you need to fight the biggest challenges there are. If not, don't fight. I will reiterate that I have great respect for Oscar and what he's accomplished, but he's trying to pull a fast one here.

NO MISMATCH

You apparently have forgotten that De La Hoya used to fight at Manny's weight class. And there are height and reach differences in every match. I think it is your sheer dislike for De La Hoya that is the cause of your critique. By discrediting a win he may get against an opponent who can knock him out, you cut Manny short (no pun intended). How many broken ribs, bones, and noses do you think Manny has under his belt? Oh, wait, shorter peoples' bones break easier. Give me a break. What are you going to write when Pacquiao knocks him out?

Bigsby

My opinion on this fight has nothing to do with Manny's capabilities. I've voted for him as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. But if there are height and weight differences in every match, why not take on Wladimir Klitschko for the heavyweight title? I'm sure Oscar would make even more for that fight than he is for fighting Manny. As for what I'll write when or if Manny knocks him out? Simple: Oscar was completely and totally shot.

OSCAR IS NO CHAVEZ

Kevin, thank you for the right words that really described the true intentions on Oscar's decision to fight the smaller fighter Manny. Oscar's decision is a disgrace for the Mexican fans. When I look back on Oscar's career, the first thing that comes to my mind is when Julio Cesar Chavez accepted the fight against Oscar in 1996. Chavez knew he was already at the end of his career and was fighting this young kid in his prime, but he still stood toe-to-toe in a memorable fight. This is why Julio Cesar Chavez was and still is considered a true legend for us Mexican fans. I don't remember Julio Cesar Chavez backing down on any challenge. They even had a rematch. My point is that I truly believe that when Oscar De La Hoya fought Julio Cesar Chavez and beat him twice, in my opinion Oscar was considered the next legendary Mexican fighter. Oscar should give us the fans the opportunity to see the real fight everybody wants to see: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Antonio Margarito.

Pablo Davila
El Paso, Texas

A prime Chavez would have done to Oscar what Oscar did to him when they fought in 1996. Oscar was a good fighter in his career, but Chavez is one of the greats and would have torn a prime De La Hoya to shreds.

I AGREE

I just want to say I agree with your column about De La Hoya 100 percent. De La Hoya should stick to promoting and let the real fighters put on a show in the ring. I consider myself a true fan of the sport and these types of fights are horrible for boxing. But as you said, De La Hoya would never in a million years have fought Margarito. He wants to save his pretty face. I hope more people see this fight for what it really is, a sideshow to make money, not a fight. Oscar will try to woo Mexican boxing fans by calling this a redemption fight. This Mexican boxing fan has no respect for his actions in the sport of boxing. He's not trying to redeem anything.

Armando
Cudahy, Calif.

Oscar's long had a love/hate relationship with the Mexican fans. I suspect ducking Margarito isn't going to help him much in that regard.

HE'S AN ACTOR

His first name is Oscar for a reason: He has done a great job of acting like a championship boxer. He swore as a promoter that he would bring back respectability to boxing. Well, we are still waiting. Don King is bad, but this is ridiculous. "Oscar winner," take notes from your stablemate, Bernard Hopkins, and fight in respectable matches. Or here's an even better one, let us in on the joke because us true boxing fans don't get it.

Al
Jackson, Tenn.

Be nice, now. I don't like this fight, either, but give credit where credit is due. He's got a string of impressive wins on his resume (Rafael Ruelas, Ike Quartey, Pernell Whitaker, Fernando Vargas, among others).

SUPER BOWL OF BOXING

Regarding your Aug. 22 rankings article , "How to improve sanctioning bodies," don't you think the governing bodies would benefit greatly if they would match their champions against each other in a regularly scheduled championship week or weekend? Like the World Series, Super Bowl, March Madness, etc., such an extravaganza would draw considerable media attention.

David Blair
Bremerton, Wash.

David, it's a good idea, but it has one flaw: The sanctioning bodies aren't licensed promoters and thus can't put on the fights. I think it would be a huge benefit if boxing could have something akin to WrestleMania every year, where promoters would get together and put on an extravaganza of boxing. It's probably never going to happen, though, unfortunately. There is too much politics and too many competing interests in the way.