De La Hoya es Muy Impotente

“When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur. When you improve conditioning a little each day, eventually you have a big improvement in conditioning. Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made. Don’t look for the big, quick improvement. Seek small improvements one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens and when it happens, it lasts.”

-`John Wooden

Oscar De La Hoya was one limp example of machismo Saturday night as he did his impersonation of a sacrificial lamb being offered up to slaughter at the hand of Manny Pacquiao. The only reason this shameful display is getting attention on my blog was some comments made by Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach and De La Hoya himself about his inability to react quickly enough to be effective. It had nothing to do with his age as suggested. The problem lies in his poor lifestyle in relation to his occupation as a professional fighter. Any skill that is left unhoned will diminish in time. He lives the life of a wealthy land owner and only exercises to burn calories and keeps his form slim. There is nothing done on a consistent basis to maintain his combative reaction or to stimulate his naturally low aggressiveness. The problem is that De La Hoya jogs and spends time on a elliptical trainer at a walk in the park pace. No training to maintain muscular balance, strength or aggressiveness. No work on making his feet quicker and improving his balance and movement ability being added to his daily fitness routine.

Oscar De La Hoya approached preparing his body for hand to hand combat with the same mindset that the general public approaches maintaining their healthand fitness. The bottom line is specific needs must be met to reach any physical state. The more complete the approach the more accomplished. Oscar’s fragmented, nominal effort at getting down to weight and making sure he could move and punch for 12 rounds was minimal at best. His timing and technique was that of a part timer. The general public puts in similar fragmented, compartmentalized approaches such as cutting trans fats and going to the gym 3 days a week. I need say no more.  The results of De La Hoya in the ring and the state of our collective health and fitness are clearly definitive of the effectiveness of their approaches.

More than likely De La Hoya would have lost against the better fighter, even if he had improved his mental and physical preparation. But, I can guarantee you he would not have performed in the shameful manner in which he did and would have felt that he earned his multi million dollar paycheck. Performance in the ring or performance in life takes an integrated management of your state of health, fitness and performance ability, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Manny Pacquiao walks the walk of a physical culturist and is an inspiration as a person and an athlete. His success and joy of life is well deserved and well earned. Your performance in life defines you. Is your performance in life all you can give?