ayhmie’s thoughts’

From a business standpoint, Oscar De La Hoya has sealed a great deal in making the fight with Manny Pacquiao. In terms of De La Hoya’s boxing legacy, though, the fight leaves something to be desired.

Looking at the fight from the businessman’s perspective, De La Hoya and his company, Golden Boy Promotions, couldn’t have done better.

The risk-reward ratio is perfect. This, clearly, is a fight that De La Hoya is expected to win. He will have huge physical advantages, simply towering over Pacquiao.

The clash with Pacquiao isn’t just a welterweight against a lightweight. De La Hoya is a big welterweight at a tad under 5-foot-11, some five inches taller than Pacquiao. Also, the Mexican-American has been a champion at junior middleweight and even held a 160-pound belt. Pacquiao has only just moved up to 135 pounds (his fight in June against David Diaz was his first at that high a weight class).

People are likely to gasp when they see the size difference.

So, De La Hoya is in a highly advantageous position when it comes down to the simple matter of winning or losing.

Financially, the fight is sure to be a blockbuster. There will be an enormous curiosity appeal.

Pacquiao has been a whirlwind storming through the weight classes from 112 to 135 pounds while De La Hoya did not look particularly dynamic in his last fight, emerging with his handsome features somewhat scuffed and his nose a bit bloodied after outpointing Steve Forbes.

Many will be wondering if Pacquiao, with his speed and his high-energy style, just might be able to pull off the upset.

And, look, Pacquiao isn’t in a bad situation here. He gets his biggest purse. If he loses, as is generally expected, he will lose no prestige whatsoever, but an upset win will send Pacquiao’s earning power and all-time status soaring into the stratosphere.

HBO analyst Larry Merchant has likened the fight to a David and Goliath battle, and even those who doubt that Pacquiao can be the David to Oscar’s Goliath will want to see him try.

Make no mistake, this is going to be an event — a mega money-spinner.

From the historical angle, this sort of thing has been done before.

We had middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel challenging heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, of course.

Mickey Walker, the tenacious Toy Bulldog who was a welterweight champion in the 1920s, not only challenged Harry Greb for the middleweight title but fought light heavyweights and even heavyweights, famously battling to a 15-round draw with Jack Sharkey in 1931 while conceding 29 pounds.