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A preview on the Mano-a-Mano fight between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar Larios at the historic Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines, Sunday, July 2, 2006.

Oscar “Chololo” Larios

Tall and lanky, with brutal power in both hands, former WBC super bantamweight champion Oscar Larios now faces the daunting task of taking on Manny Pacquiao, the one boxer even the Mexican big three of Morales, Marquez and Barrera have to respect. Or respetc. Booyakasha.

What makes a man hungry? To want something so bad he can almost taste it, hold it, feel it.

Try losing a championship match because of a controversial decision in 2001 to Willie Jorrin in Sacramento.

Try a 3rd round loss because of a cut to your nemesis, Israel Vasquez, last December. Remember him? It wasn’t a decade ago, when you were 20-0, and this same guy floored you in the first round, and you were unable to continue the fight. Also because of a cut.

Try being mentioned as one of the top ten best fighters from Mexico - but never being mentioned in the same breath as the top three, Morales, Marquez and Barrera. But a Filipino is. The same Filipino who just happens to be your next opponent. And it’s for a title.

Will that make you hungry? Angry?

You’ve had your share of the glory and gold, to be sure. You’ve proven yourself a worthy boxer, and a fighting champion. Your fans are legion, and you know what victory tastes like. You remember it like it was your mother’s milk: it fed you, it made you strong. It made you want for more. You more than made up for the loss to Jorrin by beating him up and knocking him out in single round to win the WBC crown outright, no more doubters. Up until losing your title to Vasquez last December, you went undefeated through 17 fights. You even went on HBO for Oscar dela Hoya’s Boxeo de Oro series in 2003. You gutted out a broken jaw to win a 12-round decision against Shigeru Nakazato to defend your title that same year. You undercarded the Marco Antonio Barrera - Eric Morales fight in 2004, defending your title against highly favored Nedal Hussein.

Oscar Larios
Sex: Male
Nationality: Mexican
Alias: Chololo
Global ID: 014030
Federal ID: CA014482
Hometown: Guadalajara, JA, Mexico
Birthplace: Zapopán, JA, Mexico
Rated at: Super Bantamweight
World Rank: 2 / 734
Date of Birth: 1976-11-01
Age: 29
Reach: 67″
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5′ 8″
Trainer: Edison Reynoso
Manager: José Reynoso
56 (36 ko’s) - 4 - 1 (Total 61)

But you were the undercard. You’ve never been in a high-profile bout. You fought as well as anybody, and you won. But taking back seat to two of the three best fighters of Mexico has got to sting. Because the third one isn’t you. Marquez, the third on that top-three list (in no particular order), fought your next opponent, Manny Pacquiao, to a draw - even after being knocked down three times in the opening rounds. Many say you aren’t even close to Marquez. Pacquiao is using you as a tune-up fight for his real match against Marquez. As good as you are, as hard as you work, they don’t see you in the same level. You don’t get no respect. They don’t fear you. On July 2, you’re not even the undercard. You’re the warm up.

Hungry enough? Angry enough? Focused enough to win your sixth fight in nine tries against reigning or former world champions? Determined enough to put your “Road Warrior” street-cred to the ultimate test, battling a consensus top-three pound-for-pound fighter in his home court?

It’s your shot at immortality, and your fight to lose. You’d better be hungry.

Observations

Going up in weight may not be the best idea for Larios, with his swarm punching style, because of his lack of power. He doesn’t throw many power punches, but rather tries to overwhelm his opponent with volume punching. He usually is able to pull it off and maintain the intensity because Larios is always in good shape and trains well. Pacquiao’s conditioning and defense has improved since his early years, and has faced off against stronger opponents and won. Also, Larios likes to brawl too much, which plays in Pacquiao’s favor, because no one goes toe-to-toe with Manny and walks away intact. The quick and easy solution for Larios would be to box with Pacquiao; Manny’s had problems with counter punchers in the past, although he did beat Morales earlier this January.

Background

Coming tomorrow: Profile on Manny Pacquiao

technorati tags:Boxing, Paquiao, Larios, Sports

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