De La Hoya vs Pacquiao: Software Simulation Results

OK it's been a while. I got so busy having grabbed my dream career of being a software engineer. I am actually an ECE graduate from the University of the Philippines (UP). I used to work for Astec Emerson as an Electrcal (Electronics) Design Engineer. But my passion is really for software engineering. So I took a risk, accepted a low paying job as a Junior Programmer in late 2006. I moved up the ranks, bacame a (Regular) Programmer and was even given a task to become a Java Trainer. And currently I have been blessed to be a Software Engineer for Lawson Software. 

That being said. The "Dream Match" between 2 legends has revived my passion for writing about Philippine boxing (plus I now have extra time to do it again, after settling down to a new career). Mexican-American 6-weight division champ Oscar De La Hoya will be sluggin' it out with the Philippine's very own 5-weight division champ Manny Pacquiao (counting his Ring Featherweight Title) tomorrow morning (Manila time) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Since I am a software engineer, for me there is no better way to predict the outcome of the fight but through professional sports software simulation. I ran a test on a highly popular software for pro-boxing simulation and I'd like to share my results and interpretation.

Notes:

* Expect damage to be done on both sides of Manny's face. Manny came prepared for Oscar's big left hook. But Manny, with his "all-out" style of offense would still get hit by the hook. Manny will receive right straights a'plenty as well as his defensive effort is mostly for the left.

* Expect an almost shut if not totally bleeding right eye for Oscar. Manny's left straight will really hurt Oscar. If Steve Forbes can hurt Oscar's mug, Manny can destroy it. 

* Expect plenty of body shots from both fighters.

Results:

* Oscar will dominate the first 2 rounds, capitalizing on his height and reach advantage. Oscar should create enough damage on both sides of Manny's face to have people start affirming the" mismatch theory".

* Oscar will start to fade in the 3rd round. This should be due to his age and weight reduction. 3rd round should be a toss-up.

* Manny will start picking it up from the 4th. Oscar's punches would be read like a comic book from here on. 

* Manny will continue to pour it on until he catches Oscar with a big punch on the 6th that would put the Golden Boy down for the count.

* Manny would smell blood and finish things up on the 7th round with another big punch. 

* Manny would win via KO in the 7th.

Software Specifications:

* Simulator: Fight Night

* Version : 3.0

* Developer: EA Sports

Hardware Specifications:

* Unit: PSP Slim (Black)

* Firmware Version: 3.90 M33-2

* Manufacturer: Sony

Philippine Boxing's Pound For Pound (P4P) List (Q2-2007)

All right I owe it I've been so busy these fast few months, I was not able to update the blog for you latest boxing news. I even missed showing you my quarterly update on my own Pinoy P4P List.

Don't worry. I'll make it up to you. Here's my new list, with a couple of new guys. One guy is a veteran whom I've over looked for so many years, finally he had me convinced. The other guy is youngster, some one who should make it big in the international scene.

1. Manny "PacMan "Pacquiao (43-3-2, 35KOs) - Super Featherweight [1]
2. Gerry Penalosa (51-6-2, 34KOs) - Super Bantamweight [2]
3. Rey "Boom-Boom" Bautista (23-0-0, 17KOs) - Super Bantamweight [3]
4. Bert Batawang (50-6-0, 34KOs) - Flyweight [New]
5. Alex John "Bazooka" Banal (13-0-1, 10KOs) - Super Flyweight [New]
6. Randy "Fists of Stone" Suico (26-3-0, 22KOs) - Lightweight [5]
7. Z "The Dream" Gorres (26-2-1, 14KOs) - Super Flyweight [4]
8. Rodel "Magnum Force" Mayol (23-1-0, 18KOs) - Flyweight [6]
9. Diosdado "The Prince" Gabi (29-3-1, 21KOs) - Bantamweight [7]
10. Brian "Hawaiian Punch" Viloria (19-2-0, 12KOs) -Light Flyweight[8]

The World Awaits No More

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV, USA - Two Filipino young guns has proven themselves against world class opposition both via a very convincing Unanimous Decision..

On the first televised bout, Rey "Boom-Boom" Bautista won the WBO Super Bantamweight Title Eliminator match over erstwhile undefeated Argentinian Sergio Manuel "Rocky" Medina for the right to challenge WBO Sper Bantamweight champ Juan Ponce de Leon. The scores after 12 rounds goes - Dave Moretti 116-108, C.J. Ross 115-109 and Paul Smith 115-109 - all in favor of Bautista.

It was a very entertaining fight, which was won by Bautista through savage body punching in the earlier rounds and accurate head hunting in the late rounds. Medina was down on the canvas on th 6th and 11th rounds. Bautista though was counted for a KO in the 7th round when he went groggy after being hit by a right straight from Medina.

Bautista improved to 23-0 (17KOs) as Medina dropped to 28-1 (16KOs).

Meanwhile, on one of the non-televised bouts, Alex John "Bazooka" Banal defeated veteran Mexican Juan Alberto "The Monster" Rosas with the score of 78-73, 78-73, 76-75.

Banal improved to 13-0-1 (10KOs) as Rosas dropped to 23-3-0 (22KOs).

Robbery In Battle of Cebu

Cebu City Sports Complex, Cebu, Philippines - String of great victories happened for Filipino boxers against foreign guests but the party was spoiled by a robbery of unbelievable proportions.

The Dream Was Robbed
Z "The Dream" Gorres was robbed of the WBO Super Flyweight Crown in his own turf. Defending champ, Mexican Fernando "Cochulito" Montiel was awarded the fight on a silver platter by judges Raul Caiz (115-11) and Chuck Gampa (114-112). Referee Samuel Viruet contributed to the blatant crime by deducting points from Gorres for holding (a usual scene in boxing) without prior warnings. Only judge Danny Nelson saw it correctly by scoring it 111-115 for Gorres.

Gorres undeservedly fell to 26-2-1 (14 KOs) while Montiel improved to 33-2-1 (24 KOs).

"Boom-Boom" Makes Another Bang-Bang
Rey "Boom-Boom" Bautista destroyed Mexican Marino "Zaino" Gonzalez via a 3rd round KO, winning the Vacant WBO Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight Title and the Vacant WBO Youth Super Bantamweight Title.

Bautista improved to 22-0 (17 KOs), Gonzalez fell to 29-9 (15 KOs).

"The Executioner" Overwhelmes "The Terminator"
Jimrex "The Executioner" Jaca KO'ed Indonesian KO-artist Simson "The Terminator" Butar-Butar in the 7th round of their encounter for the latter's WBO Asia Pacific Super Featherweight Title. It was a weird ending, as Butar-Butar apparently fell down intentionally after suffering 6 rounds of beating.

Jaca was able to avenge fellow Filipino, Czar Amonsot, who fell victim to Butar-Butar 5 months ago.

Jaca is now 28-3-1 (13 KOs) while Butar-Burat is now 15-6-1 (11 KOs).

"Bazooka" Blasted Thai
Alex John "Bazooka" Banal scored a 1st round KO against Thai Komrit "3K Battery/Eveready Gym" Lukkuongmuekol. Banal dropped the Thai for good on the 2:11 mark of the initial round.

Banal now sports a 12-0-1 (10 KOs) record while Lukkuongmuekol drops to 15-3-0 (11Kos).

"Milenyo" Storms Through Cebu
Youngster minimumweight, Milan "Milenyo" Melindo kept his record unblemished by winning a Technical Decision over Alex "Maasin Bomber" Aroy in their 6-round encounter.

Melindo now has a clean 10-0-0 (2 KOs) record with Aroy dropping to a 12-4-1 (6 KOs) record.

Rout In The Philippine Summer Capital Of Baguio

Baguio Convention Center, Baguio City, Philippines - Heavy-fisted youngsters, Flyweight Draian "Little Espinosa" Francisco and Super Bantamweight Bernabe "The Real Deal" Concepcion, made quick work of their respective foes.

Francisco TKO'ed compatriot Edwin Tumbaga in the 0:55 mark of the 2nd round. Meanwhile, Concepcion finished off Korean visitor, Jae Chun Moon, in the 1:59 mark in the 4th round.

Francisco improved to 11-0, 8KOs (12-0) while Tumbaga drops to 2-5, 2KOs. Concepcion on the other hand now has a 20-1-1 (11KOs) record and Jae drops to a dismal 1-6-0 (1KO) record.

Gentle Giant Back On Winning Track

Archaic Hall, Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan - Rev "Gentle Giant" Santillan is back after a long hiatus, defeating Japanese Shana Kisaragi via a convincing Unanimous Decision (98-93, 97-93, 96-94). Santillan now eyes another crack at the OPBF crown.

Santillan improves to 23-3-1 (16 KOs) while Kisaragi now owns a dismal 5-4-3 (2 KOs) record.

"The Czar" Wins The WBO Asia Pacific Lightweight Title

Seoul, Korea - Caesar "The Czar" Amonsot took the Vacant WBO Asia Pacific Lightweight Title in enemy territory via a split decision. Amonsot defeated Daun Chung via a controversial split decision.

It was reportedly a one-sided fight but the Korean judge scored the bout 113-115. Filipino judge Salven Lagumbay scored it 119-109 and New Zealand's Bruce McTavish scored it 115-113 for the the Filipino.

Chang's nose was bleeding on the first round and his left eye was swollen all through out the fight.

Amonsot's record improved to 18-2-1 (10KOs), Chung dropped to 8-2 (3KOs).