Pacquiao stops De la Hoya
Monday, 8 December 2008
Manny Pacquiao dominated Oscar de la Hoya from the start to win Saturday's welterweight super-fight in Las Vegas, reports BBC.
The Filipino gave his bigger, more famous opponent such a beating that De la Hoya declined to come out of his corner after the eighth round.
The technical knockout marked only the second time De la Hoya had been stopped in a fight in his 16-year pro career.
"He's just a great fighter," said De La Hoya. "I have nothing bad to say about him. He prepared like a true champion."
Defeat for the 35-year-old came at the hands of a fighter who fought at just 129lb months earlier.
"Speed was going to be the key to this fight," said the victorious Pacquiao, 29, who picked up an $11m (£7.5m) purse.
"I'm not surprised by the result, because I prepared well to control the fight from the beginning. I'm happy that I could give this victory to my country."
The Filipino gave his bigger, more famous opponent such a beating that De la Hoya declined to come out of his corner after the eighth round.
The technical knockout marked only the second time De la Hoya had been stopped in a fight in his 16-year pro career.
"He's just a great fighter," said De La Hoya. "I have nothing bad to say about him. He prepared like a true champion."
Defeat for the 35-year-old came at the hands of a fighter who fought at just 129lb months earlier.
"Speed was going to be the key to this fight," said the victorious Pacquiao, 29, who picked up an $11m (£7.5m) purse.
"I'm not surprised by the result, because I prepared well to control the fight from the beginning. I'm happy that I could give this victory to my country."