Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao is On!

The wooing is over, the coy glances have stopped, the contractual bickering has been worked out and the most anticipated fight since Larry Merchant suggested it to ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael in October 2007 is on!

That same Dan Rafael reports that at a 2:00 p.m. press conference today Oscar De La Hoya will his December 6, 2008 opponent in what he claims will be his last fight. That adversary is expected to be the popular pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

There are so many stories, plots, and intrigues with this super fight. Most pressing to me is: will Larry Merchant get to work the HBO PPV fight he imagined or will the slick Gen X media starlet Max Kellerman get the nod?

OK, that’s not really our first thought. The basic string of early questions? What weight will the fight be fought at? Is it really going to be at welterweight? Will the Filipino have enough power in this incredible step up in weight class? Will Manny’s speed be too much for Oscar? Will Oscar’s power be too much for Manny? Did Oscar get his 70-30 pay split? Is this really going to be Oscar’s last fight. Where will a win by either fighter put them in boxing’s pantheon?

The basic point is that at this early stage De La Hoya – Pacquiao ranks a megafight. It’s one that has me looking forward to December, will mark and end to another terrific year of boxing, and might stand as a touchstone in a new classic era of pugilism