Manny Pacquiao batters, outclasses Oscar de la Hoya for TKO win

Manny Pacquiao scored a spectacular technical knockout victory over a heavily outboxed Oscar de la Hoya in their highly anticipated "Dream Match" Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Prior to the stoppage, referee Tony Weeks warned de la Hoya that he will stop the fight if the Golden Boy continues to receive heavy blows from Pacquiao.

But before the ninth round bell tolled, de la Hoya's corner stopped their fighter from continuing the bout, thus resulting in a TKO win.

In eight rounds, de la Hoya was obviously outfoxed by the faster and younger Pacquiao.

The Mexican American fighter was already sporting a puffy left eye by the end of the last round.

Fighthype.com's score cards had Pacquiao winning, 80-72, throughout eight rounds.

Prior the fight, boxing purists have labeled the bout a mismatch as they cited huge size discrepancy between the two fighters.

Pacquiao who stands 5’6 ½” gave away a four-inch disadvantage to de la Hoya’s 5’ 10 ½”. The Mexican-American also has a 73” reach, giving him a six-inch advantage over the Filipino’s 67”.

The Filipino stepped up two weight classes to meet de la Hoya in the 147-lb division. He last fought and won the WBC lightweight crown against David Diaz in Las Vegas in June this year.

De la Hoya last fought at 147 lbs when he lost by split decision to Shane Mosley on June 17, 2000. The following year, he won against Arturo Gatti at 146.

Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer earlier told Manila-based sports analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz that Pacquiao will get a guaranteed purse of $6 million while de la Hoya gets $20 million.

Dennis Gaviola, Aaron Magno