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

Image details: Oscar De La Hoya v Steve Forbes served by picapp.com

Outside of the ring and in the business world Oscar De La Hoya is obnoxiously confident, he revels in the vicious venture capitalist role, he’s gleeful in his greed, and delighted by the power his money brings. While I’m watching HBO’s wonderful one-off documentary Countdown to Oscar De La Hoya/Steve Forbes and a pre-fight Oscar interview with boxing poet Larry Merchant I see a forthright De La Hoya who is proud of his conscienceless business kingpin role and enjoys its prominent display.

He giggles when he says “greed is good”, when he likens making money and gathering riches to an addiction, and when he announces his goal to be a billionaire. Oscar emits an air of general disingenuousness, a snake oil salesman banter. I don’t want to believe anything he says; I feel like he’s always suckering me into believing something that isn’t true. And just when you want to be repulsed by De La Hoya’s monetary ruthlessness and insincerity he flashes his wide smile, reminds you how he’s fought every good fighter and suddenly all is forgiven.

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