It's the Golden Boy Versus the Pacman!

It is now official, the December 6, 2008 final ring appearance of The Golden Boy, Oscar dela Hoya, will be "co-hosted" by the Philippines' Pacman, Manny Pacquiao. After weeks of negotiation this has finally come to a reality, with more than $100 million expected revenue, and a possible 63-37 profit sharing between the two parties.

The two icons will meet at 147 lbs., with dela Hoya to sliding down and Pacquiao climbing up. Pacquiao's camp is asking for a weigh-in on the match day plus more than $750,000 fine for every pound exceeding the agreed weight. This, by the way, is going to be the most important event in the Pacman's boxing career.

With the terms still under finalization different opinions both in favor and against the two flows in almost every direction of the boxing world, including its boxing fans. Some say dela Hoya will find it really hard to beat the Filipino fighter as he has come of age and has gone slower. Some say Pacquiao may lose this fight because the Golden Boy will be out to give a hard beating over the Pacman.

I believe the December 6 bout is going to be one hell of a boxing match between the two icons of boxing. With both hailed as the best pound-for-pound boxer in their own eras, the two will be out to throw each other with heavy bombs.

As this is going to be dela Hoya's last fight, he is expected to give everything he has got to prove that at his age, he can still be the wildest beast ever stepped in the ring. Dela Hoya also expressed weeks ago that he's going to train for four months to prepare for his final fight. This, I think, will give him the advantage to condition both his physical and mental health and even concentrate more on how to defeat his December 6 opponent. In addition, the Golden Boy's camp has the reason to teach Pacquiao and his trainer a lesson they won't forget for the rest of their careers, as dela Hoya believed that the two have disrespected the Golden Boy.

For the Pacman, he also carries the pressure that as the current number one (#1) pound-for-pound boxer of the world, he needs to prove that there is no one in the world who could defeat him in the ring. There have been doubts that as Pacquiao grow heavier, his quick stance may slow down; his punches will be detectable. The Pacman's celebrity trainer, Freddie Roach, mentioned that he had plans on how to keep Pacquiao's speed and power in order to beat dela Hoya. I think that with the kind of training Pacquiao is currently receiving from Roach, he can still be a well equipped fighter designed to beat a legend. The last best thing about Pacman that will make him the winner is that he is fighting for his country, the Philippines.

Whatever the result of this event will be, I strongly believe that both of these icons are winners in their own rights. Both will be out to give each and every member of the boxing community one of the best fights the world has ever watched.

As for the two icons, it is just a matter of who is better. It is a matter of nationality. It is just a matter of legacy.