Solon asks GAB to stop Pacquiao from fighting De la Hoya

MANILA, Philippines – The world's top pound-for-pound boxer Manny Pacquiao is "clearly mismatched" with Oscar de la Hoya. That's why Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez wants his license temporarily suspended by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB). "I don’t think that Manny can even shake Oscar," Rodriguez told GMANews.TV in a telephone interview on Wednesday. "But I’m afraid that Oscar can hurt Manny very badly." And if that happens the government will be put in a bad light. "Manny is a national treasure," he said. "If something bad happens to Manny in that fight, it's the government that would be blamed – and GAB." So Rodriguez is urging the GAB to act to stop the fight, which slated for December 6. Rodriquez said that during a budget hearing at the House of Representatives, GAB Chairman Eric Buhain admitted that the board has passed a resolution last July expressing their objection to the Pacquiao-Dela Hoya match. "I asked the GAB during the hearing what they think about the match and Buhain said they passed a resolution against the match," Rodriguez said. "So I asked Buhain to do something to stop the match to save Manny." The Dela Hoya–Pacquiao fight is clear mismatch, Rodriguez stressed, even if the camps of the both boxers had agreed on weigh limit at 147 lbs. "Some say Manny has the advantage in this fight because he will increase his weight while Oscar will have to reduce his weight," Rodriguez said. "But that is only on the day of the weigh-in which is a day before the fight. What will happen after that? Oscar can regain his original weight." Besides the weight issue, there's also the height difference, with De la Hoya four inches taller than Pacquiao, and a reach difference, with the Mexican American having an advantage of five inches. Rodriguez said GAB should inform the Nevada Commission that the Philippine government isn't sanctioning the Pacquiao–Dela Hoya fight. "This fight is not for glory but for money," Rodriguez said. "He is destined to be a great boxer like (Gabriel 'Flash') Elorde, so we should take care of him." According to some reports, Pacquiao might earn $15 million to $20 million in this match. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV