This July 2 Oscar Larios (56-4, 36 KO's) moves up in weight to take on Manny Pacquiao (41-3, 33 KO's) for the WBC Super Featherweight title. There are many fans and boxing observers that think Larios is just another opponent for Pacquiao, and many people think that the fight is a complete mismatch. There is an old saying in boxing that styles make fights, and this couldn't be more of a fact then when these two fighters step into the ring.

Larios is at somewhat of a disadvantage coming up in weight. Oscar is skipping Featherweight altogether, but is he really at a weight disparity? Manny Pacquiao made his pro debut at Light Flyweight, that's 105 lbs. Now Manny is fighting at 130 lbs. so who is really the smaller guy?

Everyone knows what Pacquiao brings to the fight, and the fight being in the Philippines is going to make Manny even stronger. The energy is going to be overwhelming for any challenger and the pro Pacquiao country is going to be behind him every second of the fight. Larios is going to be in one of the most hostile environments ever, I bet he's going to feel like George Foreman did over in Africa when he fought Muhammad Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle.

Manny is going to come out like a machine gun and try to clear out the jungle. Pacquiao is all about going full force. There are no secrets on how he fights, although he has been becoming a much better and well rounded fighter. Instead of throwing the very predictable right jab and left cross combo, Pacquiao has been mixing his attack up a bit to give him more depth as a fighter.

In his last two fights Pac has been using the right hook and been going to the body with both hands. Manny's balance has improved greatly but in all fairness he does need to work on it a bit more. Moving forward and throwing punches like a madman leaves Pacquiao on the balls of his feet and usually has him falling forward or off to the side from throwing such hard shots. He does know how to fight like that and his balance has been better, but there is still somewhat a flaw in that department.

Nonetheless, both these fighters never have a lazy fight. Both of these guys throw heaps of punches. Larios is the kind of guy that volume is his game as he is a punching machine. It isn't uncommon for Oscar to throw over a thousand punches in a fight. Manny is no slouch either, Manny likes to fight at a fast and steady pace. Pacquiao is all about throwing as many punches as he can fit into a round. I have seen Manny take a round off and slow things down a bit whereas I've never seen Larios take a round off. With all the activity, there is a flipside to that coin because throwing a punch leaves you open for getting caught. Oscar is a well timed puncher, but Manny's speed is going to make things real rough for Larios in the beginning, as it was for Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao can be timed and countered, so if Larios has done his homework he ought to be able to time Pacquiao coming in.

I like this fight and I think that it's a lot closer of a match up than people think or give any credit. I could be wrong and this fight could end up being over in the first round or it can be a Fight of the Year type fight. Either way you slice it, this fight is going to be exciting and something to watch. Whether you're betting on the fight or just a boxing fan, it's going to be a fight worth watching.