I can officially say that I am surprised and humbled by the TKO victory for Manny Pacquiao over Oscar De La Hoya. Let's get this straight right now if you didn't see the fight: this wasn't a close, back and forth battle that eventually went to the younger lion. This was a complete and utter domination by the energetic, youthful, speedy and powerful Manny Pacquiao over the aged, slow and trigger-shy Oscar De La Hoya.

My original prediction was that Manny Pacquiao would win the first several rounds as De La Hoya adjusted to the unbridled speed of the smaller fighter. This proved to be true, but besides that, nothing from my prediction had any form of accuracy contained in it. For Manny Pacquiao proved to be a far superior fighter than Oscar De La Hoya, at least the 35 year old Oscar De La Hoya.

De La Hoya simply never had an answer to the speed and aggression of the Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao would easily wade in, moving side to side, and begin unleashing four and five punch combinations that pounded De La Hoya to the body and to the head. Oscar eventually ended up in the corners, desperately trying to cover up as Manny Pacquiao unleashed his fury.

This fight was viewed as a mismatch in the boxing community, and it turned out to be just that. However, the mismatch was in the opposite direction of what we predicted! Oscar De La Hoya simply did not seem to have anything left in the tank, and certainly not for such a powerful and effective offensive fighter as Manny Pacquiao.

Shockingly, Manny Pacquiao did not lose any speed or any power in his move up to welterweight from lightweight. This is a man who only fought once above 130 pounds prior to his fight with De La Hoya. He started his career at 106 pounds. Yet he was able to move comfortably up to welterweight and destroy a legend, who fought the likes of Felix Trinidad, Fernando Vargas, Ike Quartey and Bernard Hopkins. What does this mean for the current boxing landscape?

Among other things, this adds a stain to the resume of Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather, recognized as the pound for pound best fighter before his retirement, won a hard fought and relatively close decision over De La Hoya. Mayweather buckled De La Hoya once with a hard counter shot, but outside of that it was a relatively calm fight that was disputed only because of the lack of action. The fact that Manny Pacquiao could come up, only once having fought over 130 lbs, and destroy De La Hoya, lends serious doubts to the status and credibility of Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Sure, styles make fights, and triangle theories never work in boxing. If you're new to the sport what that boils down to is that if Fighter A beats Fighter B and Fighter C beats Fighter A, it doesn't guarantee Fighter C will beat Fighter B. Different styles have more effectiveness over different opponents, and you can say at this stage of Oscar De La Hoya's career that Manny Pacquiao's speed was purely too much for De La Hoya too handle. But the complete and shocking ease with which he disposed of the icon has to stand for something.

Will Mayweather come out of retirement to face Manny Pacquiao?

The fight that has to be made now, is not between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, but rather it is between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. The last two men to beat Oscar De La Hoya, and the last two pound for pound boxers on the planet, these two seem destined to meet in an epic showdown. The only question is if there is enough money on the table to lure Mayweather out of retirement. Knowing the competitive nature of Floyd Mayweather, I think he will feel the need to come out of his undefeated retirement and take on a new challenge, the power punching, dynamite fast, welterweight fighter named Manny Pacquiao.

I am lost for words in the ease that Pacquiao disposed of Oscar De La Hoya. And now I just hope that Pacquiao and Mayweather will meet in the ring and settle their dispute once and for all. The last two pound for pound kings in a battle to determine the best fighter of their generation, now that's a fight I would buy. Let's hope for it. Goodbye Oscar De La Hoya, you served your time in the spotlight, and you've ceded it now to Manny Pacquiao, who has earned it in every possible way.