"The Dream Match"

This weekend we've got the biggest boxing match since Oscar de la Hoya/Floyd Mayweather matchup. When the fight was first announced, many fans were skeptical because of the size difference between the two fighters. But now that the fight is almost here, there's a lot of excitement, assuredly a sold-out house and well over a million PPV buys.

As with most big sporting events, Brackchips and I have some action. He wouldn't have it any other way than to back the Asian dude, so he's got Pacman and I've got the Golden Boy. Certainly at current Vegas odds that's the smarter bet, just because of the size advantage he'll have. While Manny is a great fighter who has shown both power and a strong chin up to 135 lbs, he'll be facing a 160 lb guy for the first time (the fighters must weigh in at 147 lbs Friday, but Oscar will probably put on a dozen or so pounds overnight). While Manny does have a huge speed advantage, he's a guy that likes to fight. I don't see him using his quickness to stay on the outside for 12 rounds.

But I will be rooting for Manny, for two reasons. The first is that I can't stand de la Hoya. Does anybody come off as a bigger fake in interviews? He's got illegitimate children on his payroll just like every other boxer yet he presents himself as this family/business man. Dude, start acting like a boxer and not a CEO. The second reason is that if Manny wins it will set up a HUGE fight with Floyd Mayweather. And I've got to believe the Floyd will come out of retirement for a fight of that magnitude. And I want to see it. It would be the toughest fight of Floyd's career (right now I'd call his bout with Diego Corrales the biggest challenge he faced), and would go a long way towards defining his success in the context of the all-time greats. If Oscar wins, it's possible Floyd would fight him again but...he's already had that deal set up and backed out. Instead we'll probably get a craptastic de la Hoya-Hatton fight, which Oscar getting another huge payday to fight against a guy he'll outweigh by a wide margin. Oscar, how about you fight Antonio Margarito after he beats up your business partner Shane Mosley instead?

Anyway, I hope you guys find a way to get to watch the fight on PPV this Saturday....

-BRUECHIPS