HBO man torn between Manny, Floyd

MANILA, Philippines - Harold Lederman, the unofficial ringside scorer from HBO, is not in the business of picking a winner.

But Lederman, who earned his judging license in 1967, joined HBO in 1986 and was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997, can’t wait to get his pen and paper working for the highly anticipated Pacquiao vs Mayweather of March 2010.

The 69-year-old native of The Bronx spoke to The Examiner the other day, and gave his early thoughts on the big fight that’s coming up, saying that never in his life has he witnessed a fight “that people have wanted to see as much as this one.”

Lederman, who provides the unofficial score for the countless HBO surbscribers during the big fights, said that while Pacquiao continues to amaze him fight after fight, it’s as difficult to pick a winner than be the judge of the fight of the new century.

“I hate to pick a winner. In all honesty it’s hard to envision Manny Pacquiao changing. He gives you angles as a southpaw. He’s very good at keeping the fight off the ropes and in the center of the ring,” said Lederman.

“Really I think Floyd is going to fight his usually defensive style and he will try to win with his fast hands and blazing combinations. And that rapid left jab he throws will be important for him. I think Pacquiao is going to try to give him angles. I think Manny is going to take it to Floyd very early. I think if there is going to be an aggressor in this fight it’s going to be Pacquiao.”

Lederman said Pacquiao should avoid getting hammered on the ropes by Mayweather, such an incredible defensive fighter that sometimes it gets boring to watch him fight, avoiding toe-to-toe action, and just happy to win on points.

“Manny and (trainer) Freddie Roach have to figure out a way to get to Floyd Mayweather,” said Lederman, who rarely goes wrong, in case he ever did, with his scoring. He was there at ringside in Pacquiao’s biggest fights in recent years.

It seems Lederman still can’t get over Pacquiao’s sensational and historic win over the bigger, heavier and stronger Miguel Cotto last month.

“To tell you truth what I remember best about that night was surprisingly good Manny Pacquiao looked against a guy who everybody figured was much bigger and stronger,” said Lederman, a recipient of the “Good Guy Award” from American boxing writers in 1996.

“I mean Manny was moving up a division to 147 and he just took apart a full-sized welterweight, and a good welterweight at that. What surprised me was how easy he made it look. It was a great performance by Manny Pacquiao.”

Lederman sees the fight between two pound-for-pound champions as Leonard vs Hagler of 1987.

“I think it will be the biggest thing in boxing since Ray Leonard came out of retirement to fight Marvin Hagler. Nobody wants to see anything else. The entire sport is totally dominated by Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. People who don’t know a thing about boxing are talking about it. It’s become such an unbelievable happening that it is a fight that has to be made. It’s really amazing.”