Came across this on the ESPN Boxing boards and this was posted by someone who found the article from another MB. It was from a Vegas sportsbook insider.
Thought you guys might like this read. Not saying it was a fix or anything like that just found the article to be interesting.
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http://boards.espn.go.com/boards/mb/mb?sport=boxing&id=boxing&tid=3952282&lid=13
It always seems customary for the standard "fix" conspiracy theories to cultivate soon after big fights and for the most part there is absolutely no merit to any of these fantastic tales.
After watching Pac-man's lopsided victory against a seemingly washed up Goldenboy, even the most casual fans could feel something was not quite right. As someone whos worked in the Vegas Sportsbook industry for nearly 20 years, its not unusual to hear things before big sporting events, someones on the take, someones laying down, a ref here or there may be favoring a certain team. All these things we take with a grain of salt, though many times some invariably end up being true.
When this fight was first announced it was met with a whirlwind of responses, most of them negative. Was this a joke? Why would a larger Delahoya want to fight the much smaller Pacquiao? Was he looking for an easy way to cement his legacy before retiring, all the while cashing out in a big way? Was this Oscars last attempt at winning over Mexican fans who never forgave him for pelting their hero 10 years ago or for simply living a posh lifestyle? After all, Oscars size advantage, superior boxing technique, powerful left hook and big fight experience all seemingly swung in his favor. Even the most devout Pac fans, couldnt help but feel worried about how the fight would go. Filipinos, some of the most avid and enthusiastic gamblers were throwing action on Oscar in droves. Despite national bias, most had no problem seeing green and seeing value in taking Oscar. Consesus was Delahoya was going to win, Vegas agreed and set the odds appropriately.
Then the whispers began....
Every moment fight day moved closer, the whispers grew louder. There was something funny going on it seemed. Rumors ran rampant within certain circles here in Vegas. A backroom deal had been made. Someone was going to lay down. In late October, the rumors became more concrete as people linked pieces of the puzzle together. Pacquiao had been crowned the new forebearer for the sport. He certainly wasnt golden and he definitely lacked the hollywood good looks of his counterpart, but Oscar isnt stupid, in fact he is an incredibly brilliant businessman and promoter.. So why were certain people whispering that Oscar may be taking a fall against Pacquiao? He definitely didnt need the money. Was Oscar battling the downturned economy?
Was boxing battling the economy? Something much larger was at play...
Who would benefit from this? Bookies? Vegas? Offshore gambling? Sure there was money to be made, but this wasnt about money. This was about fighting to live, about a sport on the brink of death. Boxing greatest hero was now 35, Pretty Boy was retired and name association was stark with many of the countless names and belts that the sport was now home to. Americas youth was now hypnotized by the newest flavor of the month. Mixed Martial Arts and the UFC brand is on the rise and on the brink of relegating the sweet science to a minimal niche. Oscar was well aware. In fact Oscar had already been in negotiations with UFC rival Affliction for months about the possibility of co-promoting hybrid boxing/mma events. So why was Oscar taking a dive? it was simple and obvious. A Pacquiao loss, would essentially be the deathblow. The #1 pound for pound fighter needed a victory that would define him as just that. A Pacquiao victory was the only option for the sport of boxing. A Pacquiao victory sets up a Pretty Boy comeback. A Paquiao victory keeps one of the sports newest and biggest rivalries between Mexicans and Filipinos alive and well, in turn helping uplift and even allowing boxing to thrive once again. A Pacquiao victory opens our eyes to the possibilities and matchups that beating a household name and bigger Delahoya can bring. A Pacquiao victory would be the best possible thing that could ever happen to the sport of boxing and a business man like Delahoya.
Then fight night came. A Delahoya, only a year and 6 months removed from matching Pretty Boy Floyd suddenly looked old and washed up. He suddenly looked reluctant to engage. He suddenly looked fearful and expired. Pacquiao was fast, but when did Oscar become so slow? Looking at the faces of those around me in the arena last night, it was obvious something was wrong. Most deduced that his age and weght loss had taken a toll. Some postulated that Pacquiao was simply that great, but for some of us there, we knew exactly what was happening. The very thing we had been hearing for months was now manifesting itself into a onesided pouncing before millions. The torch was being passed. This was the first time wed seen someone quit on the stool. Ten years earlier Oscar had been passed that torch by an older Chavez in an eerily similar fashion and in doing so, reinvigorating the sport in a way that most never saw coming.
I happend again, although orchestrated, lets just hope Oscar was right and that his beloved sport of boxing will respond, but even hes smart enough to hedge his bets, which is why hes already making plans to plant his seed in MMA promotion already.
- Anonymous
Thought you guys might like this read. Not saying it was a fix or anything like that just found the article to be interesting.
============================================================
http://boards.espn.go.com/boards/mb/mb?sport=boxing&id=boxing&tid=3952282&lid=13
It always seems customary for the standard "fix" conspiracy theories to cultivate soon after big fights and for the most part there is absolutely no merit to any of these fantastic tales.
After watching Pac-man's lopsided victory against a seemingly washed up Goldenboy, even the most casual fans could feel something was not quite right. As someone whos worked in the Vegas Sportsbook industry for nearly 20 years, its not unusual to hear things before big sporting events, someones on the take, someones laying down, a ref here or there may be favoring a certain team. All these things we take with a grain of salt, though many times some invariably end up being true.
When this fight was first announced it was met with a whirlwind of responses, most of them negative. Was this a joke? Why would a larger Delahoya want to fight the much smaller Pacquiao? Was he looking for an easy way to cement his legacy before retiring, all the while cashing out in a big way? Was this Oscars last attempt at winning over Mexican fans who never forgave him for pelting their hero 10 years ago or for simply living a posh lifestyle? After all, Oscars size advantage, superior boxing technique, powerful left hook and big fight experience all seemingly swung in his favor. Even the most devout Pac fans, couldnt help but feel worried about how the fight would go. Filipinos, some of the most avid and enthusiastic gamblers were throwing action on Oscar in droves. Despite national bias, most had no problem seeing green and seeing value in taking Oscar. Consesus was Delahoya was going to win, Vegas agreed and set the odds appropriately.
Then the whispers began....
Every moment fight day moved closer, the whispers grew louder. There was something funny going on it seemed. Rumors ran rampant within certain circles here in Vegas. A backroom deal had been made. Someone was going to lay down. In late October, the rumors became more concrete as people linked pieces of the puzzle together. Pacquiao had been crowned the new forebearer for the sport. He certainly wasnt golden and he definitely lacked the hollywood good looks of his counterpart, but Oscar isnt stupid, in fact he is an incredibly brilliant businessman and promoter.. So why were certain people whispering that Oscar may be taking a fall against Pacquiao? He definitely didnt need the money. Was Oscar battling the downturned economy?
Was boxing battling the economy? Something much larger was at play...
Who would benefit from this? Bookies? Vegas? Offshore gambling? Sure there was money to be made, but this wasnt about money. This was about fighting to live, about a sport on the brink of death. Boxing greatest hero was now 35, Pretty Boy was retired and name association was stark with many of the countless names and belts that the sport was now home to. Americas youth was now hypnotized by the newest flavor of the month. Mixed Martial Arts and the UFC brand is on the rise and on the brink of relegating the sweet science to a minimal niche. Oscar was well aware. In fact Oscar had already been in negotiations with UFC rival Affliction for months about the possibility of co-promoting hybrid boxing/mma events. So why was Oscar taking a dive? it was simple and obvious. A Pacquiao loss, would essentially be the deathblow. The #1 pound for pound fighter needed a victory that would define him as just that. A Pacquiao victory was the only option for the sport of boxing. A Pacquiao victory sets up a Pretty Boy comeback. A Paquiao victory keeps one of the sports newest and biggest rivalries between Mexicans and Filipinos alive and well, in turn helping uplift and even allowing boxing to thrive once again. A Pacquiao victory opens our eyes to the possibilities and matchups that beating a household name and bigger Delahoya can bring. A Pacquiao victory would be the best possible thing that could ever happen to the sport of boxing and a business man like Delahoya.
Then fight night came. A Delahoya, only a year and 6 months removed from matching Pretty Boy Floyd suddenly looked old and washed up. He suddenly looked reluctant to engage. He suddenly looked fearful and expired. Pacquiao was fast, but when did Oscar become so slow? Looking at the faces of those around me in the arena last night, it was obvious something was wrong. Most deduced that his age and weght loss had taken a toll. Some postulated that Pacquiao was simply that great, but for some of us there, we knew exactly what was happening. The very thing we had been hearing for months was now manifesting itself into a onesided pouncing before millions. The torch was being passed. This was the first time wed seen someone quit on the stool. Ten years earlier Oscar had been passed that torch by an older Chavez in an eerily similar fashion and in doing so, reinvigorating the sport in a way that most never saw coming.
I happend again, although orchestrated, lets just hope Oscar was right and that his beloved sport of boxing will respond, but even hes smart enough to hedge his bets, which is why hes already making plans to plant his seed in MMA promotion already.
- Anonymous
arty:
