Pacquiao out to succeed De La Hoya as top draw

MANILA, Philippines – Oscar De La Hoya's retirement has lined up Manny Pacquiao to succeed the “Golden Boy" as boxing’s top attraction. Already the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, the Filipino icon is now being billed as the sport’s new superstar following his growing fan base and popularity heightened by his eighth round demolition of De La Hoya four months ago in their blockbuster welterweight showdown in Las Vegas, Nevada. That severe battering Pacquiao inflicted on De La Hoya eventually would convince the famed American Olympic gold medalist to finally hang up his gloves. De La Hoya announced his retirement Tuesday in Los Angeles. “We all knew the torch was passed when Manny beat Oscar," said Michael Koncz, a close adviser of the Filipino southpaw, as quoted by the L.A. Times. “He’d be the face of the sport now." Pacquiao’s December 6 fight with De La Hoya generated 1.25 million pay-per-view buys, easily one of the most watched non-heavyweight bouts in the long history of prize fighting. His May 2 title duel with Ricky Hatton for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) light-welterweight crown is likewise expected to be a big hit as many boxing experts consider it as the sports’ first mega-fight following De La Hoya’s retirement. “We’re strategically focused on the future and we want to identify and engage the next generation of boxing fans," said HBO Sports’ senior vice president of sports operation and pay-per-view Mark Taffet. “I believe the best to time do that is when you have your biggest events. With an event of the excitement and caliber of Pacquiao-Hatton, we think it allows us to put our best foot forward." HBO already began its marketing frenzy for the 12-round title fight with the premiere of the Pacquaiao-Hattton: 24/7 program last week, a four-part mini-series that follows both boxers in their training camp and eventually, culminating into the fight itself. The bout dubbed ‘East versus West’ will also be heavily advertised on television, top internet sites, mixed martial arts programming, the NBA playoffs and Major League baseball games. Large advertisements are likewise being put up in major U.S. dailies such as the New York Post, USA Today and the L.A. Times, while a big billboard of it had been put up in Madison Square Garden in New York City. Top Rank chairman Bob Arum who promotes Pacquiao said the fans’ curiosity on the General Santos City native is what makes him a big attraction, plus the fact that he had beaten top fighters such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and De La Hoya the past four years. “That’s why people are becoming fascinated with him," Arum said “Manny’s looked at as an exotic, and once people see him fight they are looking up information about him to help transcend the lefts and rights and jabs. It’s why CNN is out here today, why Time magazine has listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world." Pacquiao, 30, is well aware of his growing status as one of boxing’s all-time greats and now, the most recognizable fighter in the planet. He knows he doesn’t have De La Hoya’s good looks and charismatic appeal, but more than make up for it with his hard work in the gym. And that, he thinks, is what makes him click with boxing fans. “I try to focus only on training and fighting," he said. – GMANews.TV