Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao

I know Boxing is an old man's sport, but I'm really looking forward to the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao fight.

Even though it's a huge mismatch.

Personally, I feel it's a no-win-situation for Oscar De La Hoya.

To be completely honest, as a boxing fan, I think it's kind of pathetic that De La Hoya is fighting the much smaller Manny Pacquiao.

To me it feels like a desperate attempt by him to gain the support of a Mexican audience he's never had. To most boxing insiders, it looks like he's fighting Pacquiao simply because he's famous for defeating Mexico's best fighters, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.

I like a good fight as much as anyone, but De La Hoya is FOUR inches taller than Pacquiao and has a SIX inch reach advantage over him. Not to mention that Pacquiao is going to move up TWO weight classes to fight De La Hoya.

Can you realistically script a more lopsided fight?

To me the physical mismatch is equivalent to the difference De La Hoya had against Bernard Hopkins in their fight.

We all know how that ended.

I do believe that Pacquiao has a better shot than De La Hoya did though. He's faster and quicker than Oscar. Pacquiao has a good shot if he boxes with De La Hoya and tries to win by decision. I also think it was a good move by Pacquiao to take the fight. Besides the money, it gives him more visibility and international fame in the sport. It's a win-win situation for Manny.

Don't get me wrong, I still hope that Manny wins and I'd love to see him knock De La Hoya out.

But let's be realistic. Pacquiao is going in as big underdog. It would be a huge upset if he won.

Last week during the Ricky Hatton match, the HBO announcers said that even if Pacquiao loses the match to De La Hoya, he'll still be considered the pound for pound champ because of the big jump in weight class he's making.

I agree.

But I'll still be watching on December 6, because I love Pacquiao and I'm hoping for the epic upset.

But if Oscar wins as expected, I hope he steps up and tries to fight someone his own size. Maybe someone like Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto.

Those two would dish out a beating on Oscar he won't soon forget.

I think the Golden Boy wouldn't be so Golden anymore.

The Slide of Life

Note from Ray: This is a legacy post from my personal archives (pre-2024). For my latest Movie Reviews and Highlight Reels, click here.

When I saw this picture of my children on our backyard slide, the first thought I had... after... of course how cute they looked, was what a fascinating story that my wife captured with this photo.

For some...the slide of life is fun, for others...not so much...especially when you're not the one in control.

Glory Days

I was recently doing some SEO research on me and my site and I stumbled upon some reviews of my theatre performances in college.

It looks like the Los Angeles Times has released a batch of archived reviews.

Without spending too much time researching and reminiscing....cause that would be kind of pathetic...I found three reviews.

Apparently...judging from these reviews... I might have been pretty good.

Here's an excerpt from a review of my performance in Macbeth.

"Raymund Manukay’s Macbeth, without delving too much into detail and subtext, is a forthright and honestly confused political parvenu. He doesn’t understand his failures, thinking he’s totally right to begin with, and especially in his “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” speech on hearing of Lady Macbeth’s death, Manukay has a reserve and a distracted air that is effective." - October 20, 1998

Then some more kudos in the play Cloud Nine.

"All the actors deftly carve portraits of characters making the uncomfortable transition between eras. Raymond Manukay is exceptional as the boy in servitude to the African raj and as the career-conscious Martin in Act 2."
- October 16, 1997

And yet another review from the play Ah, Wilderness.

Raymund Manukay stands out for his naturalism and reserve as the crafty salesman who lures Belle away from a tiddly Richard."
- March 26, 1998

And finally another review from the play Equus.

"As the stable owner who hires Alan and furthers his passion for horses, Raymond Manukay is solid and strong." - October 25, 1999.

So what do I take away from all this?

Obviously...it's that I'm fucking awesome....and I'm heading to Broadway. I suggest everyone start kissing my ass...now... so I can mention you in my Oscar acceptance speech.