While the majority of the boxing pundits predicted Oscar De La Hoya to win, here are some who saw with eyes unclouded that Manny Pacquiao will win:


Boxing Historian Bert Sugar Prediction:

I'm picking Pacquiao if for no other reason that everyone is picking Oscar...

Freddie Roach, he brings a lot to the table as a trainer. After all, he is the one that taught Manny that the human limit for the hands is two. Teaching Manny that you can use the right hand along with the left, which Manny has perfected to become a Howitzer of his own. I've always believed that trainers that stay with boxers a long time is a big advantage. You hear the same voice in the corner that you've always heard. Freddie is a major advantage for Manny with Oscar changing trainers more than I change socks. It's a new training core for Oscar. This being his first fight with them, I don't know what they can do with training a veteran who has already had 44 fights. In this case, Freddie is one of the advantages for Manny that most people don't see...

Manny Pacquiao has power, it just comes from Manny punches. But speed is always an equalizer in anything and it's speed that is the equalizer in Oscar's height, weight and reach advantages. The most interesting statistic in the ''Tale of the Tape'' is that Manny has a bigger fist. You get hit with fists and not height. Manny, in my mind's eye has an excellent chance if not knocking out Oscar, at least outhustling and outmuscling him, especially since Oscar has shown stamina problems coming down the stretch...

If Manny wins, I see him as the greatest Asian fighter of all time, passing Billa. But not in the top ten of all time. Nevertheless, what he can do with a win is match historically the feat Henry Armstrong, who back in the late 30s won the featherweight, then welterweight, then lightweight championships and fought for the middleweight title against Garcia and fought to a draw - which was a ''dumb deal''.

Robert Littal of Black Sports Online

5 Reasons Manny Pacquiao Defeats Oscar De La Hoya

1. Size Doesn't Matter - A good big man will always beat a good little man, but an over the hill big man will get beat by a great little man. Manny speed and quickness will neutralize De La Hoya's size and power.

2. The Spotlight - Simply put against fighters in their prime De La Hoya has lost be it Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins, Felix Trinidad or Floyd Mayweather. Pacman is in his prime so expect another L for the Golden Boy.

3. Floyd Mayweather Sr. - Regardless if you think Mayweather Sr. is the 2008 version of the "Predator" he is a damn good trainer. De La Hoya is better with him than without him and against a fighter like Manny he needs Mayweather Sr. in his corner. I don't have much faith in Nacho.

4. Father Time - Oscar De La Hoya hasn't been an elite fighter in years. He is the most bankable fight in boxing, but no longer elite. Manny is an elite fighter and that will come to the forefront on December 6th.

5. Hunger - De La Hoya is sitting on at least 300 million. Pacman has to help finance an entire country who do you think is hungrier?