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2009-05-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

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2009-04-26T01:15:00.000-07:00

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2009-04-20T05:41:00.000-07:00

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2009-04-20T05:32:00.000-07:00

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2009-02-01T21:36:00.000-08:00

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Coming soon: Pacman and Rocky

2009-01-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

By Abac Cordero Updated January 13, 2009 12:00 AM

Pacquiao and Stallone

Manny Pacquiao is going to Hollywood – not to train at the Wild Card Gym but to do a movie with Sylvester Stallone.

Pacquiao’s business manager Erik Pineda yesterday said the boxing superstar met with Stallone, the Hollywood action star, last Jan. 6 at the latter’s Los Angeles office.

They talked about the movie being planned by Stallone, who captured the world’s imagination with his role as boxer Rocky Balboa in a string of “Rocky” movies that spanned three decades.

According to Pineda, Pacquiao even brought his sons, Michael and Jimwell, to the meeting. Stallone gifted the young Pacquiaos with a pair of boxing gloves.

The gloves had the signature of former world light-heavyweight champion Tony Tarver, who played a major role in the last of six Rocky movies (aired in 2006).

“Everything is in the planning stage but what’s certain is that Sylvester Stallone wants Manny Pacquiao in the movie as one of the co-stars,” said Pineda.

“It’s not a boxing movie but something like ‘Rush Hour’ (a Jacky Chan-Chris Tucker hit),” said Pineda, who welcomed Pacquiao at the airport yesterday morning.

Pacquiao arrived from Los Angeles where he spent Christmas with his family and at the same time stayed close to his wife Jinkee who delivered their fourth child last Dec. 30.

Jinkee and the baby girl, named Queen Elizabeth, would stay in the US until Jan. 16 to make sure that it’s safe for them to take the grueling 15-hour flight to Manila.

Upon his arrival at around 5 a.m., Pacquiao stayed at the airport and took the first flight out to his hometown in General Santos City at 7 in the morning.

Pacquiao, according to Pineda, didn’t want to spend time in Manila because he wanted to catch up on his studies at Notre Dame where he’s finishing a business course.

Pacquiao was also excited to suit up for his basketball team that is entered in an upcoming tournament.

The boxer, however, may not be in the country for long. He wants to be at ringside when Antonio Margarito, whom he might face in the future, fights Shane Mosley on Jan. 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Pacquiao is set to face Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas, and will soon launch the press tour that will take both fighters to England and key cities in the United States. He begins training on March 1.

Meanwhile, one of Pacquiao’s buddies in LA, Greg Asuncion, has reportedly filed an “unlimited” civil case against trainer Freddie Roach for an incident that took place last October at the Wild Card Gym.

Asuncion claimed that Roach hit him from behind after he was asked to step out of the gym while Pacquiao trained. But there are claims, too, that no hitting ever took place.

Three Pacman bouts lined up in 2009

2009-01-03T05:12:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao, his promoter Bob Arum hinted, is open to three fights this year.

The Filipino superstar is locked on to face Britain’s Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas, and is hoping to land an even bigger fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. later on.

But Arum said if Mayweather, who retired last June as the undefeated pound-for-pound champion, doesn’t come out in the open, Pacquiao might consider two more fights.

Pacquiao said he wants to retire this year, and Arum, the legendary Top Rank chief, wants to make sure that boxing’s biggest draw today makes the most of his chances.

“If Floyd Mayweather is not available after we fight Hatton, then we can fight Edwin Valero,” said Arum, close to finalizing the deal with the Hatton people for the May 2 bout.

“There are a number of people out there although the fight may not be as big as Mayweather,” he added after dropping the name of the Venezuelan knockout artist.

Among the other worthy contenders are Joan Guzman or Zab Judah and, of course, Juan Manuel Marquez, the only fighter who really came close to beating Pacquiao in nearly three years.

Again, none of these fights can match the attention a fight with Mayweather would draw, considering that it will be a fight between two pound-for-pound champions of the same era.

“If Mayweather is not there, we can fight two more fights to make up for it. Manny can fight three times this year,” said Arum over the telephone.

But Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach wants Pacquiao going up against Hatton, and then Mayweather.

“In a perfect world, I would like to see him fight Ricky Hatton and then Floyd Mayweather Jr. and then I would like to see Manny retire, and become President of the Philippines,” he told fighthype.com.

Going back to things on hand, the matchmaking genius said Pacquiao stands to earn a lot, even more than what he earned against Oscar dela Hoya, for facing Hatton.

“There’s a good chance that Manny will earn more in this fight,” said Arum of Pacquiao, who got no less than $10 million despite the smaller 32 percent take against Dela Hoya’s 68 percent.

Arum said there’d be no such disparity in the Pacquiao-Hatton pie.

“Manny may get more but not much, much more because Ricky Hatton brings more to the table than anybody else Manny could fight at the moment,” he said.

“But we are not getting the smaller share if you know what I mean. A tremendous percentage of the money will come from England,” he added in recognizing Hatton’s pay-per-view draw back home. - By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Can Pacman Nation Destroy the Hatton Cult?

2008-12-26T05:28:00.000-08:00

DIAMOND BOXING

Pacquiao's supports (above) cheer him on against De La Hoya.

BY: Robert Epstein

With victories over Marquez, Diaz and De La Hoya and the title of current pound for pound champion all accomplished in the twenty ninth stanza of his life. Pacquiao now looks ahead to his thirties and the final stages of his boxing career. Not to leave doubt in any ones mind that Pacquiao deserves to be listed as one of The Greatest Boxers of all Time he will now take on Ricky Hatton. Forget about any rumors of bouts with Kendall Holt or Zab Judah these make no sense or no money and will do Pacquiao no justice. A pound for pound champ wants to fight the best and the best name out there right now is Ricky Hatton. A Hatton – Pacquiao bout if held in the U.K. will break all of the boxing attendance records. However, as negations enter the final stages it appears that the bout will take place in Las Vegas in order to achieve the best economic results.

While Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton will due their battling inside the ring some time in May 2009, the fans of these two boxing warriors have already begun to square off outside the ring. The message boards the rebuttals, the polls have already started to heat up. The pre fight hype is on and the fan comradery alone will be a battle in it’s self.

Pacquiao with his aggressive boxing style, his offensive approach, always on the attack mentality makes him fan friendly and his recent destruction of De La Hoya has added believers to The Pacman Nation. If you add in Pacquiao’s kind hearted good deeds along with his generosity it becomes very difficult not to be a fan. Pacman has his country of 91 million strong behind him and with the additional support around the globe growing by leaps and bounds Pacman Nation is at its peak stronger than ever. Pacman Nation is ready to take on the Hatton Cult.

Hatton (above) greets thousands of his fans at the MGM in Vegas before the Malginaggi bout.

Hatton by far is the leading box office draw, without a doubt if this bout was held at Wembly Stadium 100,000 strong will come and maybe the stadium attendance record of 126,047 could be challenged. When Hatton fights no matter if its home in England or in his second home Vegas the cult comes out. In his last two Vegas bouts against Mayweather and Malignaggi the Hatton following hit the Vegas desert in droves, by the tens of thousands. The pre-fight weigh-in-in is an event in it’s self with over 6,000 Hattonnites strong. Oh yes Hatton has his own Elvis and lets not forget his brass band.

The interest in this bout has already reached a fever pitch, the bout has not been officially announced and the entire boxing world is buzzing with Pacquiao – Hatton thoughts. Pacquiao who has been installed as the 2 to 5 betting favorite to win the bout will also be the global fan favorite. However with his traveling army Hatton for sure will still have the larger on-site fan support.

De La Hoya 9above) slumped in the corner at the end of the eighth round

As Pacman journeys to another era in his career one has to reflect back on the amazing past year Pacquiao had, fresh in the minds of all is Pacquiao's destruction of the Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya. Yes it was destruction from the opening bell to the lasting image of De La Hoya slumped on his stool in the corner at the end of the eighth round. That image will play in my mind for a long time as it wasn't the end of De La Hoya's career that I am thinking about but the beginning of Manny's. I know Pacquiao has been boxing for over thirteen years, I know he has 48 victories and only 3 losses, I know he beat the likes of Barrera, Marquez and Morales all who may have been better boxers than De La Hoya. However, it's the De La Hoya conquering that catapulted Manny as one of The Greatest Boxers of all Time.

Now Hatton must go face to face with the career ending giant Paquiao, if Pacquiao can achieve the same results and crush Hatton in De La Hoya like fashion Hatton’s cult will also be retired.

Sergeant Pacquiao gets Legion of Honor

2008-12-23T05:26:00.000-08:00

By James Mananghaya Updated December 23, 2008 12:00 AM

Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao (center), wearing the uniform of a reserve Army master sergeant, salutes together with other awardees at the 73rd anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo. WILLY PEREZ

For bringing honor to the country in the field of sports, Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao was among yesterday’s top awardees during the 73rd anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo.

Clad in military dress uniform, Pacquiao, who holds the rank of master sergeant in the Army reserve force, was conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Officer by President Arroyo.

“For winning four world titles in different weight divisions and for being the best fighter in the world in his time, the Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Officer is awarded to Master Sgt. Emmanuel Pacquiao, Philippine Army reserve,” the citation read.

Pacquiao, a friend of AFP chief Gen. Alexander Yano, flew to Manila from his hometown of General Santos City to attend the awarding ceremony. He was greeted by senior military officers, foreign dignitaries and wounded soldiers from V. Luna Hospital, who were also present during the affair.

Pacquiao’s latest conquest was the Dec. 6 bout with Mexican Oscar “Golden Boy” de la Hoya in Las Vegas.

The same award Pacquiao received was conferred on AFP deputy chief Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, who, as chief of the military’s Northern Luzon Command, was responsible for the dismantling of seven communist New People’s Army guerilla fronts and the neutralization of 150 rebel personalities in his area of responsibility.

AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna was conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor with rank of Commander for heading Joint Task Force Mindanao at the height of pursuit operations against Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels who pillaged communities in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.

Brig. Gen. Rommel Gomez, chief of the army’s 703rd Infantry Brigade who was instrumental in the dismantling of five NPA guerilla fronts in Central Luzon, was awarded the Distinguished Service Star (DSS).

The same award was given to Capt. Edgar Abogado, chief of the Naval Task Force 21, for the apprehension of 77 watercraft used to transport smuggled goods and seven ships used by poachers.

Col. Richard Siga-an of the Air Force 505th Search and Rescue group was given the DSS for assisting 39 victims of lahar flows in Bacolor, Pampanga during the onslaught of typhoon “Dodong”.

Manila Bulletin publisher Don Emilio Yap was also conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor with the First Anahaw Leaf for his contributions to the scholarship fund for dependents of soldiers killed in battle.

Army Lt. Kenneth Gutleng, who was slain in an encounter with MILF rebels in Datu Piang, Maguindanao last Sept. 29, was posthumously awarded the Gold Cross Medal for gallantry in action. Marine Sgt. Ricky Villar of the Marine force recon battalion was also given the GCM for gallantry during an encounter with joint Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah members in Sulu.

The Outstanding Achievement Medal was awarded to Lt. Col. Rizaldo Limoso, chief of the AFP Educational Benefits System, and Technical Sgt. Hercules Regis, who wrote a children’s book of poems.

The Distinguished Aviation Cross was awarded to Lt. Jonathan Ibañez, a combat pilot who conducted air strikes against the MILF rebels at the height of operations a few months ago.

Lt. Victor Ramos, chief of the Navy seal team that conducted search and rescue operations for trapped miners in Itogon, Benguet recently, was awarded the Bronze Cross Medal.

Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit militiaman Nonito Cabarles, who single-handedly repelled about 100 NPA rebels who were planning to abduct him and a retired soldier in San Jorge, Samar, was awarded the Kagitingan sa Barangay Award with the rank of Datu.

Technical Sgt. Antonio Domingo was named AFP Enlisted Personnel of the Year, while Drs. Luz Quintana and Marie Antonnette Castanos were awarded AFP Civilian Supervisor and Employee, respectively.

Cadet Majors Farvy de la Cruz and Josephil Nestor were hailed as AFP ROTC cadets of the year.

The AFP also honored Metrobank Foundation and Mindanao Tulong Bakwet as AFP Civil Military Operations Non-Government Organizations Awardees.

Hatton: Manny is mine Floyd

2008-12-14T21:04:00.001-08:00

By ALI MARTIN

RICKY HATTON is adamant he is next in line to take on Manny Pacquiao.
The Hitman believes he has earned the right to face the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer following his victories over Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi
But lurking in the shadows is Floyd Mayweather Jr, with rumours circulating about the undefeated welterweight’s return from retirement.
Hatton, 31, would not be impressed, however, should the man he lost to a year ago jump the queue.
He said: “Now he’s beaten Oscar De La Hoya, I’d love Manny Pacquiao to come down and fight me.
“He’s the best in the world right now and I’m unbelievably confident a showdown can be arranged.
“I’m not surprised Floyd is considering a return — but I’d be disappointed if he got in ahead of me.
“I’ve put the hard work in and would like to get the chance to take on Manny.
“If I win that fight, then I could strike a deal for a rematch with Mayweather. But that’s some way down the line.”

Ricky Hatton told to quit booze if he's to fight Manny Pacquiao

2008-12-09T17:32:00.000-08:00

By David Anderson 9/12/2008

Ricky Hatton has been warned his boozy lifestyle will cost him if he fights Manny Pacquiao.

The Hitman is being lined up to face the Pac Man after the Filipino destroyed Oscar De La Hoya to end his hopes of a £40million showdown with the Mancunian at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in May.

And Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach claims Hatton must stop drinking if he is going to have any chance of avoiding De La Hoya's fate.

Roach's own promising career went off the rails and the American feels Hatton's antics will cut short his time in the ring.

"Hatton-Pacquiao for me would be a great fight and I know Manny is itching to fight him," said Los Angelesbased Roach, who also trains Amir Khan. "Hatton seems a nice guy, but I can't agree with his drinking. How long is it before living in the fast lane has an effect on fighters?

"I was 27-1 and thought I was a pretty good fighter when I broke my hand. Then it was easy to blame my hand on my career going the other way, but I now know it was because I was chasing girls and drinking."

Pacquiao's adviser Joe Ramos claims the May showdown will be spectacular.

"It would be an amazing fight at 140lbs," he said. "If not in the UK, then let's go to the Philippines."

Carl Froch is also looking at a huge fight in 2009 and the newly-crowned WBC super-middleweight king is eyeing up the former undisputed middleweight champion Jermaine Taylor.

But promoter Mick Hennessy warned: "He's Carl's mandatory challenger, but it already looks like he's heading for the exit signs."

Report: Kin says retired champ Mayweather wants Pacquiao

2008-12-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - A retired, undefeated fighter has reportedly expressed interest to fight Manny Pacquiao.

The name of Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of two high-profile fighters being groomed to take on Manny Pacquiao, has cropped up after a Michigan-based web site reported Mayweather Jr. informing a cousin that he "wanted to fight Pacquiao".

Floyd Mayweather Sr. talked to Michigan-based web site MLive.com and admitted that his son allegedly opened up to Bernice Mayweather, one Floyd Jr.'s cousins.

"My niece said my son told her he wanted to fight Pacquiao next, and that he wants me to train him for the fight," Mayweather Sr. said.

A Pacquiao-Mayweather Jr. bout will ignite interest in the boxing community. Mayweather Jr. retired in June as the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter, a distinction Pacquiao assumed afterward.

Mayweather Jr. finished his career undefeated in 39 matches. His last bout was against Ricky Hatton in December 2007.

In May 2007, Mayweather Jr. won a split decision over Oscar de la Hoya.

Pacquiao, who had an easier time dealing with de la Hoya, is also being considered to fight the power-punching Hatton.

Mayweather Jr. appeared to have been keenly watching the Pacquiao-de la Hoya contest in the weekend, another cousin Latisha Starling revealed.

"Right after the fight ended and I hung up, Janelle said her phone rang again and she thought it was me. But it was little Floyd saying he wanted to fight Pacquiao and he had to get in touch with his father," Starling said.

Mayweather Sr., a former professional boxer, worked as his son's trainer until 2001 when he parted ways with his son. - GMANews.TV

De la Hoya called Pacquiao 'the best fighter in the world'

2008-12-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - There was no question about who Oscar de la Hoya thought deserved to take his throne as boxing's best.

It was the same guy who virtually sent him to retirement.

Manny Pacquiao revealed to Filipino sportswriters on Monday (Sunday, US time) in Las Vegas a compliment de la Hoya made that sent Pacquiao goose bumps.

"Well, he told me I was the best fighter in the whole world."

Right after de la Hoya surrendered and the two fighters were still on top of the ring, Pacquiao and de la Hoya actually exchanged compliments.

Pacquiao told a battered de la Hoya, "You're still my idol." De la Hoya deferred, pointing back to his conqueror, "No, you're my idol."

That was one of a dozen props - whether coming from boxing journalists, celebrities, trainers or former world champions - Pacquiao has been receiving after his masterful eight-round stoppage of The Golden Boy.

Mike Tyson, the former undisputed world heavyweight champion, was awed by Pacquiao's win.

"Nobody thought he was going to win but he was the guy with the speed and the power and Oscar wasn't able to do anything about it," Tyson, who even visited Pacquiao on his final day of training, said.

"No matter what Oscar did, Pacquiao just had all the answers."

Another boxing legend, Thomas Hearns, said he was surprised with the result.

"I thought it was a very interesting fight, but I feel the fight was a little different from what I expected to be," Hearns, the Hall of Fame boxer who became the first four-division world champion, said.

"(Pacquiao) just did what was needed to win the fight."

Pacquiao also revealed to sports scribes that he got a call from David Diaz, the man Pacquiao dethroned as the world lightweight champion last June.

"I think David liked what just happened. He was asking me, 'Who are you? You're too fast. You're unbelievable. Are you human?'" Pacquiao narrated.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao admitted that he didn't expect de la Hoya to throw in the towel.

Just before the ninth round started, he already saw de la Hoya walk across from his corner toward him. Taking it as a "let's get it on" gesture, Pacquiao got up on his feet and was ready to begin the next round.

"Oscar was already standing up so I stood up and I thought the fight was on. But I was surprised Oscar's corner was already making a signal. They were throwing in the towel," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao dealt de la Hoya his most savage beating and by making him surrender, his most embarrassing loss in an otherwise stellar career.

"Oscar was just wilting at the end of the eighth round. So Freddie (Roach) just told me to finish him off. If Oscar hadn't surrendered, I would've stopped Oscar in the ninth anyway," Pacquiao recalled.

Pacquiao pounded de la Hoya with head shots that caused de la Hoya's face to swell. De la Hoya wasn't the only won who was left a mark by the jabs, though. The frequency of Pacquiao's connections also caused his right hand to swell.

A day after his victory, Pacquiao continued to be upbeat, narrating to people whom he came across the experience of fighting de la Hoya.

"What we did inside the ring, that's exactly what we've been practicing," Pacquiao said. "Body, then head movement. Keep the head active so you take away his jab." – GMANews.TV

Is De La Hoya done?

2008-12-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

Lopsided loss could mean end of line for legend

Steve Marcus

Oscar De La Hoya sits in his corner during a welterweight fight against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

By Brett Okamoto

Sun, Dec 7, 2008 (2 a.m.)

Steve Marcus

Manny Pacquiao connects with Oscar De La Hoya their 'Dream Match' at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night. Pacquiao won with an eighth-round TKO.

Steve Marcus

Oscar De La Hoya comes out of his corner for the eighth round during his welterweight fight against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. After losing the round and taking increasing punishment, De La Hoya's corner stopped the fight giving Pacquiao a TKO victory.

De La Hoya-Pacquiao

Dream Comes True for Pacquiao

After a 16-year career that placed boxer Oscar De La Hoya at the forefront of the sport, the 10-time champ may have seen his final minutes in a ring through a badly swollen left eye Saturday night.

De La Hoya, who was taken straight to a local hospital for precautionary reasons after his eighth-round TKO at the hands of pound-for-pound champ Manny Pacquiao, didn’t make much of a case that he should step into the ring again as the faster Pacquiao defeated him convincingly in front of 15,001 highly-entertained fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The 35-year-old boxer admitted as much afterwards.

“Freddie, you’re right,” he told Freddie Roach, his former trainer and Pacquiao’s current trainer, after being stopped for just the second time in his career. “I just don’t have it anymore.”

It’s a hard thing for a sport to admit that its Golden Boy may be through. But while De La Hoya can obviously still generate money in the sport — he’s provided more than a half-billion dollars of revenue from his previous 18 pay-per-view matches — his sluggish performance Saturday night might have suggested he can no longer compete in it.

Boxing fans at the MGM Grand begged for signs from De La Hoya that he still had fight left in the tank, erupting at even the puniest of punches landed. But the fact was De La Hoya never once had control over a fight he was favored to win by a 2-to-1 margin.

De La Hoya, who landed only 83 punches compared to Pacquiao’s 224, won just one round on one judges scorecard. The other two judges awarded Pacquaio every round.

“I wish Oscar the best, he’s had a great career,” said Roach, who De La Hoya fired after his 2007 loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. “But I’d like to see him retire because I think it’s over. I knew we hurt him at the end of the seventh and I told Manny, be careful, he’s going to try to knock you out in the first minute because that’s the only chance he has left. After that take it to him. It’s your job to knock him out, so do it. And he did.”

It was a somewhat foreign situation for the only boxer to have won world titles in six different weight classes. Even during his lackluster loss to Mayweather Jr., De La Hoya was never the fighter trying to survive the round, and it’s a feeling many doubt he’ll put himself in position to feel again.

When asked about retirement immediately after the fight De La Hoya responded, “Obviously, we'll see what happens. But (Saturday) wasn't a good night.

"I worked hard and trained really hard to get ready for this fight, but its a lot different story when you're training than when you are actually in the ring. I just felt flat, like I didn't have it."

Whether the 1992 Gold medalist still has anything left in him is a question answered another day, he said.

"My heart still wants to fight, but when you physically don't respond, you have to be smart," De La Hoya said.

Golden Boy Promotions teammate and boxer Bernard Hopkins couldn’t help but talk about his good friend’s career as if it were over.

“Oscar, as everyone here knows, has had a hell of a career,” said the 43-year-old Hopkins, who recently upset Kelly Pavlik in October. “The Golden Boy has had more to be happy about in his career than be disappointed for. Fighters know when to retire. I can’t be the one who says another man should. It has to be his choice.”

Legendary trainer Angelo Dundee who assisted De La Hoya’s trainer, Nacho Beristain, for this fight and has worked with Hall of Famers Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Sugar Ray Leonard, said he was saddened to see an all too familiar scene.

“It happens to everyone,” Dundee said. “I thought Oscar had what it takes to beat Pacquiao, but you have to credit the other fighter, he's a great fighter.

"It was his night and you have to live with it. I don't think there was any harm done. I'm grateful to De La Hoya and what he did for boxing."

If De La Hoya does decide to hang up his gloves, he will certainly get such respect — even from fighters he’s never faced.

“I think he’s going to leave and I’m bummed about it,” said former light middleweight champion Ronald ‘Winky’ Wright. “I was hoping I would get to fight him before he ended his career so I could say I fought the best fighter of my era.”

When asked what it would feel like to be the last fighter to ever see De La Hoya in the ring, Pacquiao said it was an honor just to fight against a boxer he has always looked up to.

“It’s been my honor to fight Oscar,” Pacquiao said. “I told him tonight he’s my idol, he’s still my idol, and I will respect him whether he chooses to retire or continue fighting.”

As the cameras and tape recorders clicked off at the end of the post-fight press conference, Bob Arum, one of the sport’s premier promoters felt compelled to move forward and say one final thing to end the night.

“If Oscar does retire,” Arum said. “What a shining light he was for the sport. If he retires, God bless him and thanks for all he did for the sport of boxing.”

PACQUIAO DEFIES THE ODDS, BEATS THE GOLDEN BOY

2008-12-07T00:09:00.000-08:00

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com

Las Vegas, Nevada:- On a cold clear night at this glitzy Sin City, Filipino spitfire Manny Pacquiao, outlasted the famed Golden Boy, Oscar de la Hoya, and cemented his legacy as the best pound4pound boxer of the current generation.

Pacquiao scored an 8th round TKO when Nacho Beristain indicated to the referee, Tony Weeks, that De La Hoya is done fighting for the night.

Forget the alphabet titles and the sparkling belts that come with them. This one is for all the marbles and the glory (and the money) that can only come with fights of this magnitude.

A whole plethora of so called “experts” said it cannot be done. Many insisted it should not be done.

Others said it was simply insane to put up a smaller guy who has never fought over the 135 lb. limit against a bigger fellow who had done it in as far as the 160 lbs division.

Still others said that the Golden Boy will simply vaporize the smaller Pacquiao. In fact, even the experienced bookies at Vegas did not believe in Pacquiao’s chances for an upset setting him one time as an underdog at about 10 to 7.

Jose Sulaiman, the President (for life?) of the WBC even branded the bout as “a fight between a pachyderm and a hobbit horse”. (until the Pacquiao allegedly agreed to “pay” sanction fees that effectively shut the mouth of the old man from Mexico.)

Lance Pugmire, the respected Los Angeles Times sportswriter indicated that Pacquiao will lose because “de la Hoya is too big and that Pacquiao took the fight only for the money ($11 million)."

They were all wrong, very wrong!

The fight that was supposed to be a total joke turned out to be a good scuffle.
But what made it a cut above was not only because the little guy won, but how he won! In fact he irrefutably validated the words printed on a t-shirt of a supporter that said, “Si Se Puede, Pacquiao!”

Pacquiao may have been disadvantaged in terms of height, reach, body mass and overall natural weight. But what he lacked, he made up with pure “Filipino blood and guts”, a huge heart and most specially, a blinding speed that shamed the best there is in the sweet science. “They forgot to measure his mindset, heart and soul”, a blogger wrote.

Plus, he had the support of more than 80+ million souls in the Philippines and countless others abroad, praying and hoping that he comes out victorious.
And, that is not to mention the myriad of boxing fans from all over the world who appreciates the sweet science and the Mexican-born boxing fans that crowded the MGM Events Center in support of Pacquiao simply because they really did not care for de la Hoya. They said ODLH does not have the “Mexican style”, whatever that is, that Pacquiao carries to the ring. (But, I suspect it’s really because de la Hoya beat their idol, Julio Cesar Chavez).

During the whole 8 rounds, Pacquiao’s defense was solid and almost invincible. The game plan and technique developed by Freddie Roach and his team of assistants, Buboy Fernandez, Alex Ariza and Nonoy Neri were wholly effective and entirely supreme.

All the training overseen by the celebrated Mexican coach Nacho Beristain and the tons of experience and power Oscar de la Hoya had, did not matter at all. Even the expert advices from Angelo Dundee did not carry any weight. Indeed, Dundee’s presence as an “adviser” amounted to nothing more than a nice PR stunt tailored to what HBO needed to drive up the PPV.

Pacquiao’s victory patently shut up Bernard Hopkin’s big mouth who at the media room of the MGM last Wednesday and at the weigh-in yesterday, loudly predicted that his buddy de la Hoya will KO Pacquiao between the eight and ninth round.
Team Pacquiao had an answer for every iota of stuff the Team Golden Boy brought to the ring and more.

Roach, the wily trainer from the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood was right all along. Oscar de la Hoya was very good. But that was in the past. Tonight, he simply did not have enough to pull the proverbial “trigger” anymore. The “gas left on his tank” was barely enough to carry him and the results were glaringly displayed on top of the ring at the MGM Grand Events Center.

Simply put, he Golden Boy lost his luster as the fight progressed.

The relentless punching machine that was Pacquiao, did what many others have not done in the past. He turned de la Hoya’s pretty face into a mess that would take sometime to heal, and God forbid, for a plastic surgeon to fix.

This is one fight the Golden Boy will never forget for he fell downright short of the revenge he craved so much to attain.

To him it was “personal”. He wanted to punish Pacquiao and show the Filipino “National Fist” that it was a bad idea that he rejected him in favor of Top Rank.
On top of that, he lost a fight to a smaller fighter many thought would be a cakewalk.

But it was far from that.

It was more of an ambush from a little guy. A David slaying the big bad Goliath!
And the loss will undoubtedly put a dent on the glimmering credentials de la Hoya would take to the Boxing Hall of Fame.

More so because he simply quit!

Certainly it will place a damper to his week-old gleaming life-sized statue installed at the Staples Center in Los Angeles alongside Magic Johnson and Wayne Gretzky. As Freddie Roach insinuated, it will be more than what the pigeons will do with their droppings.

However, as we all look back at the whole event, de la Hoya may have lost on top of the ring. But the insane amount of money he made from all the sponsors, the PPV, the live gate and the merchandize sales made him a winner in many ways. He may be black and blue and hurting tonight, but come Monday, he will be walking hand in hand with his business partner, Richard Schaefer laughing all the way to the bank.

So are Pacquiao and his astute promoter, Bob Arum.

It’s no small wonder they called the darn thing the “Dream Match”.

Top photo: Filipino spitfire Manny Pacquiao celebrates after dismantling Oscar de la Hoya Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega / PhilBoxing.com.

MANNY PACQUIAO WON!

2008-12-06T20:52:00.000-08:00

MANNY PACQUIAO DEFEATED OSCAR DELA HOYA ON THE 8th ROUND! CONGRATULATIONS!! PINOY PRIDE!

'DREAM MATCH' FIRST BOUT: Robert Marroquin TKO 1 Isaac Hidalgo

2008-12-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Dec 2008

RINGSIDE AT MGM GRAND -- Robert Marroquin of the United States stopped Isaac Hidalgo, also of the United States, in the first round in the night's curtain raiser.
Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega.

LATEST UPDATE FROM VEGAS

2008-12-06T17:03:00.000-08:00

By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Dec 2008

LAS VEGAS--In the night's second bout, a very promising young kid by the name of Adrien Broner mauled Scott Furney for an impressive stoppage right in the opening round.

The first bout between Roberto Marroquin and Isaac Hidalgo has now started. After hard shots to the Hidalgo's body, Marroquin was declared the winner by KO in the opening round.

(Update) US pay-per-view buys for Pacquiao-De la Hoya looking good, report says

2008-12-06T09:16:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines - Pay-per-view buys less than 24 hours before The Dream Match between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar de la Hoya showed promising figures, a USA Today online report said on Saturday (Friday, US time).

The report was based on DirecTV and Dish Network cable companies which were monitoring the PPV purchases.

Match promoters were looking to break the PPV record of 2.4 million buys until a global economic crisis dampened their outlook.

Recently, Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc. said getting "at least" 1.6 million buys would be realistic.

"We know based on those early numbers and based on experience the event will perform extremely well," Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, said on USA Today. "If I had to guess, anywhere between 1.6 million and two million homes ... is a home run."

How well the Pacquiao-de la Hoya match does in PPV sales is crucial to each fighter's earnings. De la Hoya has a 60-percent cut in the sales, while Pacquiao has a 30-percent stake. - GMANews.TV

THE PREDICTION PAGE

2008-12-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

Oscar weighed 145, while Manny weighed 142. What do those numbers say to you, TSS Universe?

By Michael Woods

This may not be THE year of the upset in the sweet science, but it has been a year of upsets. Margarito over Cotto, Hopkins over Pavlik, Calzaghe over Jones, Dawson over Tarver, Quintana over Williams, Williams over Quintana, Mora over Forrest, Forrest over Mora, Phillips over Spinks, Clottey over Judah, Bradley over Witter, Caballero over Molitor, Ruiz over Bautista, Prescott over Khan, Latimore over Powell, Vera over Lee…the favorite has been dumped arse over teakettle repeatedly this year, making for some entertaining climaxes, and decent buzz for a sport that hasn’t grown more than a smattering of new fans in a decade.

On Saturday night, if l’il Manny Pacquaio, who will be outweighed by a good dozen pounds when the bell rings at the MGM Grand, manages to take out Oscar De La Hoya, his upset win would surpass all others in the Boxing Year 2008. Is this likely? Pundits, and vocal share of derisive fight fans, think Oscar will win handily. Too big, too strong, too much reach and height for The Golden Boy. TSS has been surprised at the vehemence of fans writing in, wondering why this “Dream” match has been made, or more accurately, skewering the bout as nothing more than a cynical cash grab by the promoters and participants. They see it as a novelty pairing, something along the lines of an Evil Knievel bus jump.

But what if Pacquaio (47-3-2, 35 KOs, enjoying an eight fight win streak) manages to make Oscar (39-5, 30 KOs, 3-3 in his last six outings, 2-3 if you give Sturm the nod in their 2004 tussle) look every hour of his 35 ¾ years, and uses his handspeed edge to do the unthinkable?

What if that weight disparity is erased by a motivation edge? Manny does after all have a nation of 90 million at his back, lifting him up, serving as a catalyst to endure when the larger man’s left hooks are banging off his skull, rattling him, and making him yearn for the relative comfort of the lightweight division.

What if his southpaw stance throws Oscar off his game; that’s not a spectacular reach, since the last time ODLH met a lefty in a real scrap was back in 1997 (Hector Camacho).

Here’s how Team TSS sees the Saturday beef playing out.

RON BORGES I predict De La Hoya TKO 7. Pacquiao's speed will be a problem early and there will be moments when it looks like he is in command of the fight. But each round De La Hoya will close the gap on him until and Pacquiao will not be able to resist the temptation to throw down. When he does it one time to many, he’ll go down.

BERNARD FERNANDEZ Oscar's resume is full of victories over very good but smaller fighters who have come up a weight class for the big payday that he always represents. As terrific as Manny is, he's coming up two weight classes -- and maybe even three, if you think about it. Oscar by late-round stoppage.

RALPH GONZALEZ Oscar will win by decision in twelve rounds with Manny winning three of those rounds. Both men will have their moments and end up pretty lumped up. Oscar has definitely faded but the weight difference will prove too much. Any way you look at it, it's a silly fight for Pac Maniacs and hard core Oscar De La Hoya fans.

RONAN KEENAN Judging by recent workouts, Pacquiao seems to be carrying the additional weight well, looking strong yet lean. Conversely, De La Hoya may be struggling to get to 147, and judging by his lackluster performance versus Steve Forbes, shedding those extra pounds could damage him. If Forbes can crack Oscar's cheekbone then Manny should be able to bust him up too, but I expect De La Hoya to use his reach and catch Pacquiao with enough power shots to take a competitive decision.

MIKE LYNCH Count me among the group that considered this bout a farce when it was first announced. The idea of Pacquiao jumping up 2 (or 3) weight classes to challenge an aging man that hadn't seen 147 pounds on the scale in 7 years did not particularly appeal to me. But as the fight approaches, I can't help but be intrigued. Part of what actually makes this fight work (in the build-up at least) is that the 147 lbs issue makes for a great debate. Which fighter is more negatively impacted? I'm banking on the older man, Oscar, having a more difficult time adapting. It's easy to imagine De La Hoya cruising to an easy win over the smaller Pacquiao and 147 isn't too radically different from 150. However, I'd prefer to imagine the younger, hungrier, more aggressive Pacquiao showing up stronger than ever and pulling off the upset. Give me Pacman by any means necessary. And give me a rebate if DLH wins a snoozer.

RAYMOND MARKARIAN This fight will go one of two ways, a De la Hoya win by knockout or a Pacquiao victory by decision. Do not believe the hype, De la Hoya will not get stopped by the smaller man. Even though the Golden Boy is long on the tooth, he has still taken a much stronger punch than Pacquiao will throw at him on Saturday night. For instance, De la Hoya withstood the punches of Shane Mosley and Tito Trinidad at 147 when the Golden Boy was much more hungry, younger, and faster than he is today. The problem for Oscar is that he has trouble with the smaller quick guys, like Whitaker and Mayweather; therefore I think Pacquiao will have the edge. In retrospect, since the Ike Quartey fight, De la Hoya has only won one big fight and that was against Fernando Vargas in 2002, a slow methodical type of boxer. Pacquiao is fierce and relentless. Nothing against Oscar De la Hoya, I’d hate to see him retire, but it is just Manny Pacquiao’s time. Manny Pacquiao by close decision.

JOHN NGUYEN Those who think this will be a mismatch are wrong. Manny's speed and aggressiveness will definitely bother Oscar. If little Stevie Forbes could mark him up, Manny will do damage. However, this will ultimately come down to styles. Oscar has never really had problems with fighters who come straight at him. He's always been bothered by slick, clever technicians (Hopkins, Mosley, Mayweather), descriptions that have never been applied to always forward-rushing Pacquiao. On the other hand, Manny has been proven vulnerable against boxer/punchers who know how to manage the pace of a fight (see first fight with Morales and both fights against Marquez). Factor in the bad style matchup with the size advantage, and the edge has to go to Oscar. I love Manny, but I have to lean toward De La Hoya by late-stoppage or close, unanimous decision in an exciting, competitive fight.

MICHAEL WOODS Got to go with the pack here. Oscar will be much bigger than PacMan on Saturday. The only thing I wonder is, how much energy will ODLH have in Vegas after paring down that weight, and keeping at around 150? He’s a tall man, and wasn’t able to eat more than 2400 calories a day, so it’s possible Manny pulls off a mad upset on a depleted Golden Boy. Possible, I say, not close to probable. I foresee Manny being effective early, in the first two rounds, and after Oscar feels his power--or lack thereof--he will advance on the Filipino with impunity, and start to crack him with hooks. ODLH will be eating straight rights, sharp ones that will impress the crowd, and they will puff his face up some. Oscar will bang with the jab, and be frustrated that he gets countered with that straight right. He will get PO’d, and swarm on Pacquiao, rough him up, use his bulk advantage. Oscar’s face will look the worse for wear at the end of the night, but he will take the decision, and I see Manny hitting the deck once enroute. The difficulty ODLH has with the smaller man will have pundits like yours truly wondering if he should even bother gloving up anymore.

PHIL WOOLEVER Getting PacMan at 2-1 odds isn't the worst bet you could make, especially after Oscar's uninspiring performance versus Forbes, possible weight loss issues, and how good Manny looked moving up versus Diaz. Still, I've learned to trust casino handicappers. If Oscar the businessman is thinking big buck legacy and Hatton in a soccer stadium, think De la Hoya - Gatti, but it will most likely be the Golden Boy by 5 or 6 points.

OK, the writers have had their say. Now it’s your time, TSS Universe. How will it go down in Vegas? Will David slay Goliath? Or will we see a gruesome mismatch? Weigh in!

PACQUIAO GUARANTEED $6M; DE LA HOYA $20M

2008-12-06T05:13:00.000-08:00

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 06 Dec 2008

The disparity in the guaranteed purse of Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya is even wider than the height and reach disparity between the two fighters.

Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer has informed www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that according to the bout contracts filed with the NSAC, Pacquiao will get a guaranteed purse of $6 million while Del La Hoya’s guaranteed purse is $20 million.

However, the overall split from revenues which would include pay-per-view and other ancillary rights as agreed upon would be 32 percent for Pacquiao and 68 percent for De La Hoya.

There was no indication that Pacquiao’s income from the Philippine TV and theater rights under his contract with Solar Sports is part of the revenue split under the agreement since Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has insisted that Philippine TV rights belong to Pacquiao and Solar Sports.

Pacquiao is believed to earn around $1.2 million from the Philippine rights.

As Kizer told us several weeks ago, the referee for the Pacquiao-De La Hoya “Dream Match” will be Tony Weeks while the judges are Stanley Christodoulu of South Africa and Adalaide Byrd and Dave Moretti who are both from Nevada .

Weeks refereed only one Pacquiao fight so far and that was the rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera in which Pacquiao scored a lopsided twelve round decision.
Weeks has had his share of problems in the past. He was the referee in the September 17, 2005 lightweight title fight where champion Leavander Johnson took a bad beating from Jesus Chavez and lost by an 11th round stoppage in a fight where Weeks was criticized by some for not stopping the fight earlier although Johnson who died five days later himself protested the stoppage.

The tragedy had an emotional impact on Weeks who was quoted by the Arizona Republic as saying “when something traumatic like that happens, it can’t help but affect you.”

While Weeks said the death of Johnson after brain surgery didn’t change his desire to be a referee he conceded it “heightened my awareness.”

Weeks also came under criticism for his handling og the 10th round TKO suffered by Jose Luis Castillo at the hands of D iego Corrales in what was regarded as one of the bloodiest battles of all time. In fact it was Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who ripped Weeks saying he allowed Corrales to spit out his mouthpiece twice after he was knocked down and had it washed, which gave him time to recover.

Moretti was one of the judges in Pacquiao’s first two fights against Erik “El Terrible” Morales while he also served as a judge in De La Hoya’s fights against Bernard Hopkins, Arturo Gatti, the “Redemption” rematch against Sugar Shane Mosley and the controversial victory over Felix Sturm where all three judges scored it 115-113 for De La Hoya.

Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao waves to the crowd during Friday afternoon's weighin at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega / PhilBoxing.com.

DE LA HOYA 145 LBS, PACQUIAO 142 LBS

2008-12-06T03:12:00.000-08:00

By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com

LAS VEGAS--Oscar De la Hoya came in at 145 lbs, while Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao checked in at 142 lbs during official weigh-in held minutes ago at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

In front of some 7,000 fans, both fighters came up the scales both looking ripped and ready for tomorrow's 12-round welterweight showdown.

Legendary ring announcer and actor George Lopez hosted the final weigh-in.

WBO superbantam champ Juan Manuel Lopez came in at 122 lbs, while Argentinian challenger Sergio Medina also tipped the beam at 122 lbs.

Victor Ortiz was at 140 lbs, as well as opponent Jeffrey Resto.

Top photo: Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya (L) and Pound for Pound king Manny Pacquiao pose after this afternoon's weighin at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Oscar de la Hoya flexes his muscles after making weight during this afternoon's weighin at the Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao flexes his muscles after making weight during this afternoon's weighin at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Some of the Filipino supporters from a jam packed Grand Garden arena who came to support Manny Pacquiao.

De La Hoya's Mexican supporters.

PHOTOS BY DR. ED DE LA VEGA / PHILBOXING.COM.

'DREAM MATCH' COMPLETE WEIGHIN RESULTS

2008-12-06T01:11:00.001-08:00

PhilBoxing.com

MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
'DREAM MATCH' COMPLETE WEIGHIN RESULTS

MAIN EVENT - WELTERWEIGHTS - 12 ROUNDS
Oscar DE LA HOYA -- 145 lbs vs. Manny PACQUIAO -- 142 lbs

NABO JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT TITLE - 12 ROUNDS
Victor ORTIZ -- 140 lbs vs. Jeffrey RESTO -- 140 lbs

WBO JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE - 12 ROUNDS
Juan Manuel LOPEZ -- 122 lbs vs. Sergio MEDINA -- 122 lbs

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS - 8 ROUNDS
Daniel JACOBS -- 162 lbs vs. Victor LARES -- 165 lbs

SWING BOUT - JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHTS - 6/8 ROUNDS
Richie MEPRANUM -- 113 lbs vs. Cesar LOPEZ -- 114 lbs.

WELTERWEIGHTS - 8 ROUNDS
Danny Oscar GARCIA -- 142 lbs vs. Luis Alfredo LUGO -- 138 lbs

JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS - 8 ROUNDS
Jesus ROJAS -- 123 lbs vs. Jose Angel BERANZA -- 122 lbs

LIGHTWEIGHTS - 6 ROUNDS
Adrien BRONER -- 131 lbs vs. Scott FURNEY -- 131 lbs

JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS - 6 ROUNDS
Roberto MARROQUIN -- 122 lbs vs. Isaac HIDALGO -- 121 lbs

PACQUIAO - DELA HOYA WEIGH IN PHOTOS

2008-12-06T01:00:00.000-08:00

'DREAM MATCH' FINAL PRESSCON PHOTOS

2008-12-04T01:26:00.000-08:00

PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 04 Dec 2008

Las Vegas, Nevada -- (L-R) The 'Golden Boy' Oscar De La Hoya,East Los Angeles and four-time world champion Manny Pacquiao, General Santos,Philippines pose during the final press conference for their upcoming world welterweight rumble 'Dream Match' on Saturday,December 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Golden Boy and Top Rank present De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao which will available on HBO Pay Per View. -- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank

Six division world champion Oscar de la Hoya (L) speaks to the media as his opponent for Saturday's 'Dream Match', four division world champion Manny Pacquiao (R) listens during today's press conference at Hollywood Theatre, MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Photo Credit: Dong Secuya / Philboxing.com.

Four division world champion Manny Pacquiao (R) speaks to the media as his opponent for Saturday's 'Dream Match', six division world champion Oscar de la Hoya (L) listens during today's press conference at Hollywood Theatre, MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Photo Credit: Dong Secuya / Philboxing.com.

Four-time world champion Manny Pacquiao, General Santos, Philippines speaks to reporters during the final press conference for his upcoming world welterweight rumble 'Dream Match' against the 'Golden Boy' Oscar De La Hoya,East Los Angeles on Saturday,December 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Golden Boy and Top Rank present De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao which will available on HBO Pay Per View. --- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank.

Manny Pacquiao takes the podium during today's press conference at Hollywood Theatre, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for this Saturday's 'Dream Match' between Pacquiao and Oscar de la Hoya. Photo Credit: Dong Secuya / PhilBoxing.com.

MAINIT NA TAG-LAMIG

2008-12-03T23:24:00.000-08:00

"Kumbinasyon" By Manny Pacquiao
PhilBoxing.com

LAS VEGAS — Kumusta po kayong lahat. Sana ay nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan saan mang panig ng mundo kayo naroroon.

Opo, dumating na kami sa Las Vegas at ang pinakaaabangang laban ng taon ay halos ilang tulog na lang. Excited na po ako. Noong Lunes, kasama ang aking pamilya, kaibigan at ang buong kasapi ng Team Pacquiao, lumarga kami mula Los Angeles papunta rito sa siyudad ng Las Vegas upang makapagpahinga na at masanay sa klima ng lugar.

Sa Disyembre 6, sa magarang MGM Grand Arena, paiinitin namin ni Oscar "Golden Boy" Dela Hoya ang mala-winter na panahon dito dahil kailangan na naming wakasan ang "Dream Match." Sa laban na ito, maaaring mabigyan na ng tuldok ang kanyang career at magpapalaki sa akin bilang bagong hari ng pay-per-view, kaya pinag-iigihan ko pa rin ang ensayo.

Parang kailan lang, noong una akong pumunta ng Las Vegas mga pitong taon na ang nakalilipas, wala pang nakakakilala sa akin. Mangilan-ngilan lang ang bumabati sa akin sa lansangan dahil gumagawa pa lang ako ng pangalan sa larangan ng boxing. Noong una akong lumaban dito, nasa undercard lang ako ng laban ni Dela Hoya dahil pamalit lang ako sa isang injured fighter na siya dapat lalaban sa kinatatakutang si Lehlo Ledwaba ng Africa.

Hindi po siguro aksidente ang laban na iyon na sa MGM Grand din ginanap, dahil talaga namang pinaghusayan ko na manalo dahil alam ko, minsan lang ako mabibigyan ng ganoong tsansa. Dala na rin ng kahirapan at ang matinding hangad kong manalo at maiangat ang antas ng aking buhay, talagang nag-train ako ng puspusan at sa awa ng Panginoon, naipanalo ko ang ikalawang world title ko. Tatlo pang major belts ang aking nakuha mula noon. Opo, parang kailan lang ang lahat ng mga pangyayaring ito at parang mahirap paniwalaan.

Dati, wala pang malaking grupo ng mga tao ang sumasama sa akin, kahit na noong manalo ako kay Marco Antonio Barrera. Ngayon, malaki na ang pinagbago ng lahat.
Sa pagpunta pa lang naming lahat sa Las Vegas, sakay-sakay na kami ng isang malaking bus na may malaking pinta ng larawan ko. Sa mga daan papunta sa Las Vegas, maraming mga billboard ang nakakalat at kapag binuksan mo ang telebisyon, nandoon ako at si Ginoong Dela Hoya, nag-iimbita upang manood ang lahat sa aming laban. Sa labas ng MGM Grand, isang dambuhalang neon screen ang nagpapakita sa aming mga larawan at mga natapos na laban.

Halos lahat ng mga major na TV stations at diyaryo, mga wire services at mga internet websites ay nagsusulat at nag-uulat sa lahat, at inilalathala ang bawat naming kilos at galaw.

Pero hindi po ako nasisilaw sa lahat ng iyan—tagumpay, kayamanan, katanyagan. Alam ko, marami pa akong dapat gawin at kaya naman, ginagawa ko lahat ang aking makakaya upang lalong matupad ko ang aking mga ibang pangarap na ngayon pa lang namumukadkad.

Sana, kasabay ko kayo sa pag-asinta sa malaking tsansa na talunin ang Golden Boy. Sana, ipagpatuloy pa rin ninyo ang pananalangin at magka-ugnay-ugnay tayong lahat sa pagpapanalo ng labang ito.

Hanggang sa muling Kumbinasyon. God Bless Us All.

OSCAR HAS AX TO GRIND; MANNY HAS OBLIGATION TO 91 MILLION FILIPINOS

2008-12-03T21:23:00.000-08:00

By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Hell hath no fury like a promotional management scorned.
As repeatedly emphasized by Golden Boy Promotion CEO Richard Schaefer, Oscar De La Hoya wants to punish Manny Pacquiao on December 6 "because he was very disappointed in Manny."

De La Hoya (39-5, 30 KOs), according to Schaefer, is still fuming mad because he thought Pacquiao had given them a ride when the Filipino ring jewel did not sign up with De La Hoya's promotional outfit, which, incidentally, is Top Rank's co-promoter of the 12-round "Dream Match".

Schaefer went on that "De La Hoya wanted Pacquiao to pay" saying the 29-year-old lefty "has the ability to attract chaos."

Unknown to Schaefer and probably De La Hoya, Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) has always told the Philippine press he has no hard feelings towards De La Hoya and those who don't give him a china man's chance to score a big upset in boxing history when he goes up against the 35-year-old 10-time world champion at the MGM Grand here on Saturday.

Pacquiao even reminded the press and the HBO, which have been following his training at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood, that more than his biggest fight against De La Hoya, he has obligation to 91 Filipino people rooting for him in in the Philippines and abroad.

"I want to make the people happy that's why I always give my best everytime I have a fight," Pacquiao mused. "Only God knows who will win (between him and De La Hoya) but I will not disappoint the nation."

Pacquiao's most potent weapon, he admitted, is "serious training."

"When I train, I focused my mind. I'm always positive," said the five feet and six inches best boxer in the world pound-for-pound. Pacquiao also prays a lot--in the morning when he wakes up and in the evening after dinner.

In his suite at the Mandalay Bay and Resort where he and his team are billeted, he prays the rosary together with wife Jinkee and selected members of the family.
Oddsmakers, meanwhile, continued to install De La Hoya a solid pick to beat the Filipino national hero on account of his reach and height advantage. He has 73 inches in reach as against Pacquiao's 68.

They will rumble in the 147 lbs., a welterweight division, where De La Hoya once reigned as world champion.

Big fight has weighty issue

2008-12-03T19:19:00.000-08:00


Enlarge	By Reed Saxon, AP

By J. Michael Falgoust, USA TODAY

Oscar De La Hoya's upcoming bout with Manny Pacquiao might seem at first glance to be more Barnum & Bailey than boxing.

Who would've thought that De La Hoya, an accomplished former welterweight champion who has campaigned as high as middleweight (160 pounds), would be fighting an opponent who began his career at 106?

Although immensely talented, Pacquiao is making an unprecedented leap in weight, bypassing the 140-pound division to challenge the sport's biggest pay-per-view attraction.

"You don't put somebody in a fight that you believe he can't win just for money," said Bob Arum, head of Top Rank Inc., Pacquiao's promoter, when asked in a conference call this week about his fighter's chances. "You don't do that."

There's plenty of buzz in the Philippines about Pacquiao's chances. Politicians are concerned, and, according to Arum, the legislature won't have a quorum because representatives are traveling to Las Vegas' MGM Grand Arena for Saturday's welterweight bout (HBO Pay-Per-View, 9 p.m. ET, $54.95).

"It comes with a lot of tremendous responsibilities, because an entire nation of 90 million people is focusing on his every move. Anything that happens to him is followed," said Arum, who began his career in the sport in 1966 by promoting a Muhammad Ali heavyweight title match.

While Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) is regarded as the sport's top fighter pound-for-pound, he has never fought above 135. In fact he has only had one bout at lightweight, and that was a ninth-round TKO of David Diaz in June.

Diaz is neither as accomplished nor as skilled as De La Hoya (39-5, 30 KOs), who began his career in 1992 as a lightweight.

Although Pacquiao is one of the harder punchers in the smaller weight classes, De La Hoya has withstood the pounding from a who's who of heavy hitters in the higher weights, such as Ike Quartey, Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas.

The only one from the lot to score a knockdown of De La Hoya was Quartey, but The Golden Boy dropped him twice and went on to win a decision.

Pacquiao, who had a reputation for a shaky chin early in his career, has been KO'd twice, in 1996 and '99 as a flyweight.

De La Hoya has been KO'd once, but that occurred at middleweight, 13 pounds above his best fighting weight and against an all-time great in Bernard Hopkins via body shot.

Like Pacquiao, De La Hoya faced questions early in his career about his chin and toughness.

At lightweight, he was knocked down twice by journeymen. As he rose in class, however, he showed a world-class chin. He doesn't expect Pacquiao to have that problem, either.

"There's a lot of fighters who move up in weight class. If they don't have the chin, or heart, they get knocked out," De La Hoya said. "The fact that he can take the hard punch and has the will to win … he's going to come at me. It's not going to be easy."

PACQUIAO WATCH: SLAY him Manny

2008-12-03T02:38:00.000-08:00

News

By Edwin G. Espejo
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Dec 2008

This will probably be my last piece before I will again pound the keyboard of my still serviceable desktop for the result of the Dream Match between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar dela Hoya.

Like my friend eminent photojournalist Bobby Timonera, working on the desktop is still the most relaxing, stimulating and trusted piece of equipment ever invented for anyone who likes to churn out stories – real or fantasy.

Laptops are handy but it makes your neck stiff and your back ache pounding the not so friendly keyboard.

So what brought the desktop and laptops in this piece about Manny and his date with destiny?

It is the keyboards, stupid.

And there are several keys for Manny to score a monumental upset against the bigger, taller and stronger Oscar dela Hoya.

Pound the S key. Speed, stamina and strength. It is crucial for Manny to maintain his frenetic pace even when not engaging Oscar in close combat. Let Oscar earn every million he will take home by boxing 3/1 (three full minutes every round). Oscar may still pack a punch but his reflexes and stamina are now suspect. Manny's advantage over Oscar is his speed and stamina. No fighter, all weight categories considered, can keep up with Manny's pace. And his being a southpaw has created fits against all comers who have thought they could handle Manny's quickness.

The L key. The Lefts. Both guys are lefties but Oscar is a converted southpaw. His jabs still carry so much strength and had kept opponents at bay during his heydays. Take away those left jab and Manny will only have only the left hooks to contend with. Occasionally, Oscar will throw his right leads but this is only to set up his lefts. Manny of course packs so much power with his left but it is dangerous for him to throw his left lead straights against a taller dela Hoya. Manny should use his right crosses and hooks more often, preferably to the body of Oscar to take away those left jabs. Add luck, of course. Manny will need plenty of them.

The A factor. Manny has to adapt to what Oscar will offer on the table during fight night. Both camps have devised their own strategies to offset each other's advantages. Oscar will press for the kill in the early going. So it is crucial for Manny not to even consider testing Oscar's strength in the early rounds as he is wont to do in the past. Manny has to be active and keep away from Oscar's bullying tactics. In all his fights against top caliber opponents in the mold of Tito Trinidad, Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather Jr., Oscar showed tendencies to jumpstart his offense only to fade in the latter rounds. That would be one crucial thing to remember.

The Y key. Youth is on the side of Manny. Younger fighters have the ability to recuperate and recover faster. They are also easily coachable. Should Manny gets tag early on, he should not panic and pay attention instead to what Freddie Coach will tell him in between rounds.

Of course, this corner's take is that this is an unsolicited advice. Manny is better off doing what he does best atop the ring.

For whatever this is worth, however, how about the SLAY slogan come fight night?

HBO looking for De La Hoya 'megafight'

2008-12-03T01:32:00.000-08:00

Charging $54.95 for pay-per-view bout

By Anthony Crupi, Mediaweek

HBO believes that Dec.6 Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao pay-per-view event still has all the makings of a "megafight," KO'd economy be damned.

The pay channel will charge $54.95 for the welterweight bout, a not-insignificant fee given the state of consumer confidence. With that in mind, HBO is hedging its bets, joining forces with two sponsors who will effectively underwrite the event, offering $20 rebates that can be applied to a subscriber's cable bill.

First into the ring is Heineken USA import Cerveza Tecate, which has a relationship with De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. Consumers who purchase a 12-pack of Tecate in one of 4,500 participating retail outlets are eligible for the rebate.

"This fight creates a great opportunity for us to reinforce our prominence within the sport," said Carlos Boughton, Tecate's brand director.

Also lacing up the gloves is Coca-Cola's Full Throttle energy drink, popular among Hispanic males. As with the Tecate promotion, Coke will foot the bill for the rebates.

"This was done because Golden Boy is keenly aware of the state of the economy right now, and they wanted to provide an incentive to younger fans," said Mark Taffet, HBO senior vp sports operations and PPV.

As De La Hoya put it during a Nov. 17 conference call, "If you buy every single product, you're going to watch the fight for free."

Taffet predicted that the fight will be the biggest PPV event of 2008.

"In 18 PPV fights, Oscar has brought in $626 million, on 12.8 million buys," he said. "This could be up there with the Mayweather fight."

If so, HBO could get an early Christmas present. The De La Hoya-Mayweather tilt in May 2007 notched a record 2.4 million buys and $134.4 million.

PACQUIAO ARRIVES IN VEGAS; ROACH CONFIDENT

2008-12-02T22:30:00.000-08:00

By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Dec 2008

LAS VEGAS--The world's best fighter pound-for-pound Manny Pacquiao arrived here tonight on board his Navigator followed by the custom-painted Pacman bus carrying supporters, media and friends, and immediately proceeded to the Mandalay Bay Resorts and Casino here.

Pacquiao took the bus for a few miles starting in Los Angeles, and happily announced to the passengers to stay relaxed, enjoy the ride, and even joked they can wash their clothes inside the luxurious bus.

Trainer Freddie Roach was on board his new Mercedes Benz sedan going to Sin City, while other team members took different SUV's and sleek cars going to Las Vegas.

"Wag na kayong kabahan, kayo naman. Suntukan lang naman ito. Ako nga di kinakabahan eh," (Dont be too nervous. This is just a fist fight. I'm not even nervous), said the iconic Pacman, dapper in his long-sleeved polo and jeans following a four-round final sparring session at the Wild Card Gym late in the morning.

Pacquiao took on chief sparmate Rashad Holloway for four rounds, and looked spectacular this time in his final sparring after which he gave Holloway a big hug, thanking the latter for the job well done, along with the other sparmates.

Among those who witnessed the last sparring session was veteran fight analyst Larry Merchant, the man who first broached the De la Hoya versus Pacquiao idea to the world.

Also present at the gym was Cebu sportsman Rex 'Wakee' Salud and former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson, who came with his bodyguards and some friends.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao was visibly delighted to see giant billboards featuring him and De la Hoya upon entering the state of Nevada.

"Dagkoa sa billboard oy. Grabe ka dagko. This is the first time in history nga ang nawong sa Pinoy ga-bansiwag jud sa Las Vegas. Kaniadto si David Copperfield, Celine Dion og Lance Burton. Karon hasta Pacman naman!" (The billboards are so huge. This is the first time in history that a Pinoy is featured on those billboards. Before only Copperfield, Celine Dion and Lance Burton. Now it's Pacman's time), said Cebu boxing promoter Rex 'Wakee' Salud.

Pacquiao is set to run tomorrow morning at the UNLV campus, and then do light workout in the afternoon.

Top photo: Manny Pacquiao talks to wife Jinkee (L) and members of Team Pacquiao during dinner after his arrival at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Monday evening.

Freddie Roach (L) answers questions to an interviewer upon his arrival at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

HBO Commentator Larry Merchant (R) answers questions from the Philippine mediamen at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles before Team Pacquiao's departure for Las Vegas.

The author (L) poses with the bus driver.

Photos by Salven Lagumbay.

"HEADING TO LAS VEGAS"

2008-12-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Dec 2008

12/1/08,Los Angeles,Calif. -- Four-time world champion Manny Pacquiao,General Santos,Philippines takes a look at his custom Team Pacquiao bus which is heading to Las Vegas for his upcoming world welterweight rumble 'Dream Match' against the 'Golden Boy' Oscar De La Hoya,East Los Angeles on Saturday,December 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas,Nevada. Golden Boy and Top Rank present De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao which will available on HBO Pay Per View. --- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank copyright 2008.

Moguls Schaefer, Arum Put Sunny Side Up In Rainy, Cloudy Weather!

2008-12-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

Michael Marley
12/2/2008

(Editor's Note: Give the promoters credit for whistling while they work. While they were spinning on their call, the market took another beating, with the Dow falling 679.95 points for a 7.70 percentage loss. When it rains, it pours.)

Co-promoters Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer visited both the sunny and rainy sides of the boxing street in their international media conference call Monday. The Top Rank top honcho and the head man at Golden Boy Promotions were optimistic about the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya being dramatic in the ring and doing respectable numbers in the PPV TV market.

At the same time, both businessmen said that boxing will have to weather some rough water moving forward economically.

Arum, Hall Of Fame promoter with four decades of big bouts under his belt, injected some humor into the call by asking for “prayers” for a PPV buy rate anywhere close to the record 2.4 million ($134 million gross) achieved by Oscar and Floyd Mayweather in 2007.

“You don’t know,” Arum said. “It’s like an election in that you don’t know until the ballots are counted. If you go by a church and throw in a few Ave Marias, we invite all your prayers.”

It's not every Fight Week you have a Jewish fight promoter asking for Catholic prayers.

Arum said he thinks the bad blood between Oscar and Manny and Oscar and Pacman trainer Freddie Roach may lead to a compelling bout.

“I think it can become a true classic like Ali-Frazier III, like Leonard-Hagler and like Hagler-Hearns,” Arum said. “I think it can be a fight that will go down in history like that.”

Schaefer said the aggressive styles will all but guarantee more action than Oscar and Mayweather produced.

“It’s not Dancing With the Stars this time,” Schaefer said. “It’s going to be a fight, an exciting fight.”

In response to a question about an amateur turning pro and why he’s not been signed, Schaefer said young boxers must be realistic.

“Some of these fighters think we are living back in 2007,” Schaefer said. “They think they can get sign on bonuses and big purses right away. That is not a reality any more.”

The Golden shotcaller also said fight sponsors and their rebates will pump up the oscar-Manny PPV market.

“That is something that can give us a big leg up on the Mayweather fight. We did not have sponsors doing that back in 2007.”

Schaefer did not bother to add what everyone knows.

In the fiscal sunshine of May, 2007, sponsors did not need to give anything back to the consumer.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Two more Boxing matches added to Oscar De La Hoya vs Manny Pacquiao

2008-12-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

By Media Report on Doghouse Boxing

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 21, 2008) – Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank announced the addition of two 12-round title fights to the December 6 pay-per-view undercard of “The Dream Match,” headlined by the 12-round welterweight collision between two of boxing’s biggest attractions OSCAR DE LA HOYA and MANNY PACQUIAO.

NABO junior welterweight champion and Top-Five contender “Vicious” VICTOR ORTIZ defends his title against JEFFREY RESTO and WBO junior featherweight champion JUAN MANUEL “Juanma” LOPEZ defends his crownagainst Top-10 contender and Argentinian National super bantamweight champion SERGIO “Rocky” MEDINA. Combined, these four warriors have a sterling record of 100-4-1 (69 KOs ) – a winning percentage of 95% and a victory by knockout ratio of 69%.

Ortiz ( 22-1-1 , 17 KOs ), from Oxnard , Calif. , a former amateur standout, is currently riding a two-year, 16-bout unbeaten streak, including 12 knockout victories. He captured the vacant NABO title in his last fight, a fifth-round stoppage of Roberto Arrieta in September. Recent knockout victories of former world champion Carlos Maussa and contender Emmanuel Clottey have raised his world rating to a career-high, No, 5 in both the WBO and the WBA. Resto (22-2, 13 KOs ) is enjoying a four-year winning streak. This year, the Bronx native of both Mexican and Puerto Rican descent scored decision wins over Humberto Tapia and Hector Altorre, who had a combined record of 27-8-1 when he fought them. Resto is currently rated No. 7 by the NABO.

Lopez (23-0, 21 KOs ), from Caguas , Puerto Rico , will be making his second world title defense on December 6. The 2004 Puerto Rican Olympian has not had an opponent go the distance with him in over two years. He captured the world title in June, knocking out defending champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in the first round. He retained the title in his first defense in October against Cesar Figueroa, again by first-round knockout. Medina (33-1, 18 KOs), from Salta, Argentina, enters the fight riding a five-bout winning streak, while collecting the WBO-Inter-Continental, the Argentina National and the WBA Latin American junior featherweight titles en route to a top-10 world rating.

Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank, Inc., presented by Tequila Cazadores and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, DeWalt Tools, Full Throttle Energy Drink and Southwest Airlines. De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao, a 12-round welterweight battle, will take place Saturday, Dec. 6 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. The fight will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

MGM Grand will host closed circuit viewing in conjunction with the upcoming “Dream Match” between the ‘Golden Boy’ Oscar De La Hoya and Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao. Tickets for the closed circuit telecast are priced at $100 (preferred viewing) and $60, not including handling fees. All seats are general admission and are now on sale at the MGM Grand ticket office outlets at the Concierge desk and the KÀ Theatre box office. Tickets also will be available by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 702-474-4000. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Additional MGM MIRAGE properties will host closed circuit viewing and tickets will go on sale at a later date

HBO’s all-access reality series “De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7” presents the series finale Thursday, Dec. 4 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. All four episodes of “De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7” will be shown in a two-hour block consecutively on Friday, Dec. 5 at 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10:00 a.m. on HBO. All times are ET/PT.

An additional pay-per-view bout and a complete undercard will be announced shortly.

Five Reasons Why De La Hoya Will Beat Pacquiao Posted by Ramon Aranda on 12.01.2008

2008-12-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

In this Part 1 of a 2 part column, I look into five reasons why Oscar will beat Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night.

Photo by Laura De La Torre / 411mania.com

Though Oscar De La Hoya is currently only a 2 to 1 favorite, the consensus seems to be that De La Hoya ‘should' win. Whether he will or not is something we'll have to wait to find out but today, let's look at five reasons why Oscar should be victorious on December 6th.

1. Oscar is simply too big. - Let's face it, although they'll be meeting at 147 pounds, it's safe to assume that come fight night, Oscar will likely have another 10 pounds or so on Manny Pacquiao. You couple that with the fact that Oscar is 5'10 ½" and has a 73-inch reach, over Manny's 5'6½" frame and 67-inch wingspan and you've got yourself quite an advantage for the Golden Boy. With Oscar's exceptional jab, this could be an easy fight should he stay on the outside and pepper Manny with that hard left. As the old saying goes, a good big man, always beats a good little man rings true and this one should be no different.

2. De La Hoya's power is key. - We know Oscar can punch, specifically with that left hook of his. We also know that Manny can take a punch. However, Manny has two knockout losses in his career against guys much lighter, and we've seen him get rocked a couple of times by guys like Juan Manuel Marquez and Oscar Larios. I assure you, Oscar punches much harder than both of those guys. Against smaller opposition, Oscar thrives on landing bombs from the outside and if Marquez stunned him in both of their fights, how do we expect him to take one flush on the chin by a guy who's fought as high as 160 pounds? De La Hoya wants the knockout, and he may very well get it.

3. Oscar can take Manny's punch. - Given that he's the naturally bigger guy and given that only Bernard Hopkins with his sledgehammer left hook to the body was able to stop De La Hoya, it's safe to say that he should be able to take Manny's punch. Being that he'll likely have no problems with Manny's power, we can expect Oscar to be willing to take a punch to give one back. This should make for a more aggressive Oscar which is bad news for the Pac-Man.

4. So much motivation. - Oscar De La Hoya is in the twilight of his career and getting yet another opportunity to unseat the current pound for pound king (he's fought Hopkins, Mayweather and Whitaker as p4p champs) is a great way to end or be close to finishing his career. He doesn't want to end his career on a bad note and although he's mentioned the possibility of fighting beyond 2008 if he wins, should he retire, he'd love to have the distinction of knocking off Manny Pacquiao, something that seems as difficult a thing to do as any. Though Erik Morales has one win over Pacquiao, Manny has put a hurting on Morales, Barrera and to an extent Marquez, giving De La Hoya another reason to want to hurt Pacquiao. Pride. Sure he's not born in Mexico like those other three, but Oscar is of Mexican decent and what better thing for him and his Mexican and Mexican-Americans fans than to derail the Pac-Express. Come hell or high water, Oscar won't leave that ring until he ends Pacquiao's reign as p4p king.

5. Oscar is much too smart. - Oscar is a student of the game and I'm pretty sure he saw Manny's two bouts against Juan Manuel Marquez; the one guy who's given Manny problems. Oscar is a bigger and more refined version of Marquez and you can bet that he's studied those fights. All he has to do really is follow the blue print and a win should be more than attainable.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Five Reasons Why Pacquiao Will Beat De La Hoya!

Well-Rested or Battle-Tested? The Riddle of Oscar-Pacquiao

2008-12-02T10:23:00.000-08:00

By Thomas Gerbasi (Dec 2, 2008) Photo © HBO-PPV

Let’s get this out of the way at the start – Oscar De La Hoya is in the best shape of his life, he’s got the fire back, and he’s coming out to make a statement in his bout against Manny Pacquiao on December 6th.

Okay, now that the usual pre-fight bluster from ‘The Golden Boy’ has been covered, we can get down to business and look at this Saturday’s bout, the latest “Super Fight” involving this era’s biggest box office attraction.

But is it as super as the promoters of the event would have you believe? Sure, there have been 8,000 teleconferences, 9,000 press releases, and 10,000 words of hyperbole, but that just means that the PR staffs are doing their jobs. When it comes to that all-important buzz, there’s not that “butterflies in the stomach” feeling for this one.

Maybe it’s because it looks like De La Hoya is taking on a much smaller opponent in Pacquiao just to make another huge payday with the least amount of risk.

Maybe it’s because the best trash talk of the entire promotion has come from Freddie Roach (via PR ace Fred Sternburg).

Maybe it’s because De La Hoya hasn’t won a significant fight since he stopped Fernando Vargas in 2002.

Or maybe it’s because no matter what happens this weekend, the boxing world will remain the same. There are no championships at stake, no future bouts riding on the outcome of this one. Win or lose, De La Hoya will almost certainly make another cash grab – this one in the UK against Ricky Hatton next year. Win or lose, Pacquiao will still reside in the number one spot most have him in on the pound for pound list, and he will then go back down in weight to engage in meaningful fights once again.

So why bother? Why spend your hard-earned cash in a recession on what may turn out to be a blowout victory for the bigger, stronger De La Hoya?

For the Pac-Man.

Already a national icon in the Philippines, Pacquiao now has the opportunity to not only achieve some of that same popularity here in the States, but he can do so by overturning all the odds against him. It’s a position he has rarely been in over the last few years while battling the likes of Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Juan Manuel Marquez. In each of those fights, Pacquiao’s speed and explosiveness bought him a measure of respect that ensured at the very least that the fight would be competitive.

But now, he’s the sacrificial lamb in the eyes of most observers. Sure, he’ll get paid well, but it’s expected that when De La Hoya closes in and starts pounding him with his left hook, the Philippine hero will be earning every penny of his paycheck. Of course, Team De La Hoya has pulled out all the stops in trying to portray this as an even fight, down to the recruitment of Nacho Beristain and Angelo Dundee as the only strategic masterminds he could bring in to figure out the Rubik’s Cube of Pacquiao. De La Hoya is also in the best shape of his life, he’s got the fire back, and he’s looking to make a statement – oops, we covered this already. But beyond the soundbites and introspective 24/7 moments, you can’t help but look at De La Hoya as a guy who knows that a fighter whose first championship came at 112 pounds can’t possibly beat him.

But he can.

I was slow to get on the Pacquiao bandwagon, but as the years have gone on, he’s grown on me. Not only for his ability to send an electric jolt down his opponents’ spine with a left hand down the middle, but for his heart and his humble demeanor. He could do other things – and he has – but when it comes down to it, he’s a fighter. I don’t know if you can classify Oscar as that anymore.

Sure, De La Hoya’s got the skill, chin, and stones to stand in and be competitive with anybody, but since his last big win – over Vargas – in 2002, he’s only gone 4-3. The wins coming over Ricardo Mayorga, Steve Forbes, Yory Boy Campas, and Felix Sturm, with many believing that he shouldn’t have gotten the nod over Sturm in 2004. That’s seven fights in six years.

On the other side of the ring, Pacquiao has gone 13-1-1 over the last six years. His only loss was to Morales, a defeat he avenged twice; and the only draw came against Marquez, another blemish ultimately avenged. Also on Pacquiao’s hit list were Barrera (twice), Oscar Larios, Jorge Solis, and David Diaz.

Yes, size does matter and it may be a key factor in determining the final result on Saturday night, but if you had your choice, would you rather be battle-tested and smaller, or bigger and well-rested? If you’re battle-tested – like Pacquiao is – your muscle memory is tuned to a high level, your face has been hardened by the blows you have taken, and when the bell rings for round seven, you don’t sigh; you simply take a deep breath and get back to work.

De La Hoya doesn’t have any of that anymore. His face was bruised up pretty bad by the light-hitting Forbes in May, his late round stamina has been questionable for years, and hey, Roach said it himself that ‘The Golden Boy’ can’t pull the trigger like he used to, and it’s hard to disagree, especially since he couldn’t dent the chin of Forbes, couldn’t get any respect from Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Sturm, or Shane Mosley, and was only able to finish the hittable Mayorga, his only stoppage win in the last five years.

Add in Pacquiao’s relentless pressure and assumed edge in speed, and you’ve got an exciting fight with the potential for a major upset all of a sudden.

And if he does shock the world, Pacquiao may very well be boxing’s Obama, ringing in change for a sport in dire need of it. There will be no more ducking of legitimate fighters, no more business transactions masquerading as super fights. Boxing can get back to the business of matching the best against the best, and a new era can begin. And somewhere, in a little gym in the middle of nowhere, a young boy with a dream will pick up boxing gloves and say ‘Yes I can! Yes I can!’

Okay HBO, you’ve got my $54.95. Who would have thought that a few weeks of 24/7 and a stuffed email box would get me to buy a fight between a blown-up flyweight and a multi-millionaire who is 4-3 in his last seven bouts?

Hagler-Hearns or Ali-Frazier it isn’t. I guess boxing truly is a sickness.

Is it Personal for Pacquiao?

2008-12-02T10:20:00.000-08:00

By Steve Kim

Well, it's finally here, as Oscar De La Hoya faces the diminutive Manny Pacquiao this Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in what will be the most anticipated event (note, I didn't say fight) of 2008. And in listening to some of the comments of 'The Golden Boy' and GBP CEO Richard Schaefer, it's clear that this matchup is personal.

Remember, it wasn't that long ago when Manny was being whisked away from airports to steakhouses, lured to signing a contract with Golden Boy Promotions as he had a working deal with Top Rank. Soon, the tug-of-war for his services turned into a full-blown cold war between the two promotional titans that saw fighting everywhere between the two companies - except in the actual boxing ring.

Finally, as a settlement was brokered last summer, Pacquiao would basically state his preference to fight for Top Rank, with Golden Boy as a secondary partner in his promotions. To Oscar and his company it was the ultimate act of betrayal to choose Bob Arum's company. They just don't give money to anyone in a suitcase.

De La Hoya, who can be as genial and vanilla in his pre-fight rhetoric as any marquee fighter in the history of the sport, has made it quite clear that he'd like to make 'the Pac Man' pay for his indiscretion. For him, this isn't just another fight, but an ongoing battle for the control of boxing and its chess board versus their arch-rival Top Rank (just listen to Bernard Hopkins' statement after his victory over Kelly Pavlik). And oh yeah, they want to punish Manny. This has become quite personal.

"That's his beliefs, I respect that, but for me, it's nothing personal," he would say a couple of weeks back as he finished up his roadwork at Griffith Park near Hollywood. "I'm going to go in the ring and fight like a man and to give a good fight to make people happy."

When asked if he had any bitter feelings, Pacquiao would tell Maxboxing, "I know he's angry at me, disappointed, but I don't want to bring that business to the fight on December 6th. I want to focus on my fight and don't want to be distracted in the ring."

Which is fair enough. After all, he's got a pretty steep mountain to climb in facing De La Hoya, who long ago made the move up to 147 pounds and has fought as high as middleweight in the past. Pacquiao, who won his first world title as a flyweight, just recently made the move up to 135-pounds this past June when he bludgeoned David Diaz.

"I feel very comfortable and I feel happy, I never expected to fight at this weight," he would say. "I'm very happy because I have a chance to fight at 147 pounds."

The key is simple - to move up while retaining his trademark speed and explosiveness.

"I feel I still have the speed and power and that's what we're focused on in training, speed, because the speed will be the key in this fight," he states. But the question is, just how well with Pacquiao take a good hard shot from De La Hoya, who can still kick with his left hook. He says during his sparring sessions against the likes of Rashad Holloway, "I feel them harder but I can handle their power because I'm big too. So I believe that I can handle Oscar's power."

You don't have to be Chappie Blackburn - or even Angelo Dundee - to figure out that Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach (who has some issues with De La Hoya himself) have worked extensively on neutralizing Oscar's left hook.

"During our training we always focus on Oscar's left hook, his left hand and that's what we're studying everyday. So we're ready on that. We applied a lot of techniques for this fight," he admits. But you go back to that size difference. The reality is that while De La Hoya can get touched up a bit and still win the fight handily, the whirlwind southpaw will have to pitch not just a no-hitter, but perhaps a perfect game.

But he insists, "The size is not bothering me and I think the speed will be my advantage. The speed will be the key in this fight. And of the difference in stature, "Well, he's not that much bigger than me but a lot of people say Oscar is too big for me. But I don't think so."

So two guys that were once friends and business partners now duke it out in boxing's latest un-civil war.

"I know both of us, there's pressure on each other. Especially for me, it's a big pressure because a lot of people are saying I'm small and I took this fight because of money. But I want to show the people that I accepted this fight because I have a big chance to win and I want to show the people - especially the Filipino people - that I'll win in this fight and bring honor to the country."

A NIGHTMARE

As you felt the buzz and electricity on Saturday night at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California after Chris Arreola had dusted himself off the canvas to stop Travis Walker in three exciting frames, everybody got the sense that they have something in Arreola.

An exciting, hard-nosed vato that is fun to watch.

There's no doubt that he's also on the verge of being a bona-fide ticket seller locally. The announced attendance was around 5,400, and there's no question in my mind that those who were there and those who watched on HBO will fork over their hard-earned dollars to see this guy the next time out.

He certainly is a lot of things to many people in the boxing business.

But realistically, he's not a guy anywhere near ready to face either Klitschko (as his bout with Walker was an IBF eliminator). Bottom line, it's a bad style matchup for him and until he gets down to 240, he's just a slow moving target for Wladimir Klitschko. Guys who aren't gifted with great athleticism don't have the luxury of coming out of shape at the world class level. At 250-pounds plus, he looks like he has a piano on his back.

What would I do if I was running Arreola's career in a perfect world? I'd sit on the ranking through all of 2009 and just keep building the fan-base at the CBBA and take on the likes of Sam Peter, Tye Fields, Lamon Brewster and Oleg Maskaev. Keep him active and out there, and keep him in the gym, as he works his way down to 240.

But then, this is far from a perfect world, isn't it?

FINAL FLURRIES

So what's the name of Pacquiao's little Jack Russell Terrier? 'Pac Man', of course....Are the New York Giants actually better than they were last year?......Jesus Soto-Karass did what he was supposed to in blowing out Hicklet Lau in two rounds....Paul Williams is an absolute windmill in the ring....Remember when USC-Notre Dame was a rivalry?.....

MANNY AND TEAM PACQUIAO RECEIVE BLESSINGS

2008-12-02T10:09:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Allan Recto
PhilBoxing.com

Los Angeles, CA (12-1-’08) - On Sunday, Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao attended the morning mass to receive a blessing from Pastor Rev. Antonio Cacciapuoti at the Christ the King church located at 624 N. Rossmore Avenue, before departing today to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he will fight the golden boy Oscar De la Hoya at the MGM Grand Garden Arena next Saturday December 6.

During the mass, Manny sat in one of the last rows, prayed and sang along with the rest of the congregation, accompanied by his pregnant wife Jinkee, friends and members of the Team Pacquiao, who woke up early to be present and also receive the blessing. Among those present include Buboy and Claire Fernandez, Bobby Pacquiao, Wakee Salud, Dr. Nasser Cruz, Jojo Sta. Teresa, Joaquin Hagedorn, Jinkee Jamora’s siblings Haydee, Janet, Russell & Don-Don.

During the mass, Manny and Jinkee did the offertory. The priest said he hoped Manny would win the fight as he usually does. He said he could not take sides and he wished nobody would get hurt. At the end of the mass, most of the congregation was waiting for the champion of the people to greet him, take pictures and have their souvenirs signed, which as always were granted by Manny. The champ then proceeded to his Palazzo apartment for a sumptuous breakfast. At night, before retiring to bed, Pacquiao led the rosary with a select group praying for his upcoming Dec. 6 match with De La Hoya.

TEAM PACQUIAO - MUCH “LIGHTER” and “RICHER” TEAM

After two weeks of dedication and effort, Team Pacquiao lost more than 350 pounds and is now “in shape” for Christmas and “The Dream Match.”.

Two weeks ago, Manny decided that his team was out of shape and heavy, so he agreed to put everybody on exercise and diet regimen, and whoever lose 10 pounds would receive a $2,000 dollars bonus, if any body would lose 15 pounds or more, they would receive an additional thousand dollars compensation.

Manny Pacquiao had to pay more than $70 thousand dollars in bonuses to the team, who made a great job losing weight. 29 members participated in the effort, 16 of them lost more than 15 pounds, 8 more than 10 lbs., 5 declined and interestingly, one-gained 3 pounds, a certain guy nicknamed “Udoy.”

Conditioning coach Alex Ariza was the biggest loser, after dropping 20 pounds, for which he got recognized. He showed in the scheduled weigh-in minutes before the 4 pm deadline and beat the scale. He also received an extra bonus of 10 thousand dollars for being the top weight loser.

Buboy Fernandez, Manny’s Filipino Trainer lost a total of 16 pounds and was heavily cheered. His wife Claire was jumping for joy. Manny explained to all that he did this because he wanted Team Pacquiao to understand what a big sacrifice it is to be a boxer. “The two weeks you have passed with a diet and trying to lose weight, we the boxers have to do it every time we’re preparing for a fight,” he said. “Like the fight, it’s not easy,” he added. Although Manny lost some money, he was very pleased for the Team Pacquiao.

Notes: HBO crew were present to record the event and this becomes a segment in their last episode of the 24/7 to be aired this coming Thursday, Dec. 4. Filipino journalists Nick Giongco (Manila Bulletin), Abac Cordero (Philippine Star), Francis Ochoa (Phil. Daily Inquirer) and Gerry Ramos (People’s Journal) covered the event. Manny jokingly labeled the dropouts “Tamad” (Lazy). Jake Joson helped me supervise the weigh-in. Rob Peters said he could have done 15 lbs. but he didn’t want to be greedy. Winchell Campos said had he known there was a prize for being the biggest loser; he would have lost more weight. Joe Ramos was right on the money at 10 lbs. Noel Lautengco, who made the 15 lbs., said he wanted to be the first to be weighed because he could not take being dehydrated and hungry anymore. Miguel Salazar lost exactly 15 lbs. Jovy Halog made 13 lbs. on his first attempt then went to the sauna. After an hour, he lost 1 lb. when weigh-in with his birthday suit. He decided not to shoot for another pound as he found it was a very difficult task to do.

Top photo: Pastor Cacciapuotti (L) including congregation pray over The PacMan (c) with Jinkee & Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez (R).

Claire Fernandez (c) gives a bonus kiss to husband Buboy who made weight to the delight of the Team Pacquiao group.

Manny Pacquiao (L) praises Alex Ariza (R) who received additional prize for being the top weight loser.

DE LA HOYA STATUE AT STAPLES PHOTOS

2008-12-02T01:40:00.000-08:00

PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Dec 2008

Six Division and Ten-Time World Champion Oscar de la Hoya poses next to a bronze statue in his likeness at STAPLES Center Star Plaza Walk Of Fame in Los Angeles on December 1, 2008 at the statue’s unveiling where De La Hoya joined NBA superstar Magic Johnson and NHL legend Wayne Gretzky as the only athletes who have received such an honor from AEG and STAPLES Center. Immediately following the unveiling, De La Hoya departed for Las Vegas, Nevada where he will fight Ring Magazine Number One Ranked Pound-For-Pound Fighter Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, December 6, 2008 in a bout which will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Six Division and Ten-Time World Champion Oscar de la Hoya signs autographs for fans at the ceremony to celebrate the unveiling of a bronze statue in his likeness at STAPLES Center Star Plaza Walk Of Fame in Los Angeles on December 1, 2008 where De La Hoya joined NBA superstar Magic Johnson and NHL legend Wayne Gretzky as the only athletes who have received such an honor from AEG and STAPLES Center. Immediately following the unveiling, De La Hoya departed for Las Vegas, Nevada where he will fight Ring Magazine Number One Ranked Pound-For-Pound Fighter Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, December 6, 2008 in a bout which will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Six Division and Ten-Time World Champion Oscar de la Hoya (center) reacts along with AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke (left) and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer (right) to the unveiling of a bronze statue in his likeness at STAPLES Center Star Plaza Walk Of Fame in Los Angeles on December 1, 2008 where De La Hoya joined NBA superstar Magic Johnson and NHL legend Wayne Gretzky as the only athletes who have received such an honor from AEG and STAPLES Center. Immediately following the unveiling, De La Hoya departed for Las Vegas, Nevada where he will fight Ring Magazine Number One Ranked Pound-For-Pound Fighter Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, December 6, 2008 in a bout which will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Photos by Gene Blevins - Hoganphotos.

DE LA HOYA TAKES THE CAKE!

2008-11-30T12:15:00.000-08:00

PhilBoxing.com

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (November 26, 2008) -- Six-division world champion OSCAR DE LA HOYA reportedly beat up ... A CARNEGIE DELI CHEESECAKE!

Reports are sketchy, but it appears that an irate De La Hoya committed Pastrycide on the 11.25-pound, 12-inch chocolate cheesecake sent as a Thanksgiving gift to him at his training camp in Big Bear Lake, Calif. from his opponent MANNY PACQUIAO.

"I'm not too surprised Oscar was able to whip the cheesecake, look at what he did to that French pastry Patrick Charpentier back in 1998. That's his specialty," said Pacquiao's trainer World-Famous Freddie Roach. "However, he's going to find out that it's going to take more than dieting down to a Twiggy-like 145 pounds to beat Manny. Manny is no cream puff and he is looking forward to serving Oscar his just desserts at the MGM Grand on December 6."

PACQUIAO NOW AT 141 LBS

2008-11-29T12:14:00.000-08:00

By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com

LOS ANGELES--Pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao yesterday came in at a very fit 141 lbs after an intense workout at the Wild Card Gym here as he continues preparation for his December 6 showdown with Oscar De la Hoya in the welterweight limit of 147 lbs.

Pacquiao went into the scale supervised by trainer Freddie Roach and Filipino trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, with an HBO crew filming the 24/7 series also taking footages of the mock weigh-in.

After Pacquiao had weighed in, participants of Pacman's weight reduction program also followed suit, intent on the purpose of earning 2,000 dollars if they lose 10 lbs within two weeks or 3,000 if they lose 15 lbs in the same period.

Freddie Roach, in an interview with this writer, did not seem bothered by Pacquiao's current weight which is some six pounds below the contract weight.

"He's fine. We will still come in at 147 lbs come fight night," said Roach, who also supervised yesterday's 10-round sparring session.

So far, the Pacman has already logged in a total of 130 rounds of sparring, said trainer Buboy Fernandez.

According to nutritionist and trainer Nonoy Neri, Pacquiao did 1,020 sit-ups yesterday morning, and did 770 situps in the afternoon.

Pacquiao was visibly ecstatic yesterday as NBA star David West of the New Orleans Hornets came to see him train, saying he was a big fan of the Pacman.

In fact, Pacquiao showed West his dribbling skills and high-flying capabilities inside the ring, to West's amusement.

Meanwhile, feeling bad that Oscar has been starving himself in training camp to make weight, and even admitting that he would have to forego Thanksgiving dinner, Team Pacquiao has arranged for an 11.25-pound, 12-inch chocolate (rich in antioxidants) cheesecake from the world-famous Carnegie Deli in New York to be delivered to him today at Summit Camp in Big Bear Lake, Calif., where De la Hoya is training.

Team Pacquiao included the following card: “Oscar — Looking forward to serving you your just desserts on December 6. Happy Thanksgiving. From, Team Pacquiao.”

News PACMAN IN NON-STOP WORKOUT AT WILD CARD! News PACMAN IN NON-STOP WORKOUT AT WILD CARD!

2008-11-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com

LOS ANGELES--World boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao continues to dazzle and puzzle even those closest to him as he seems to get stronger by the day with just less than two weeks left before he wages battle with the legendary Oscar De la Hoya on December 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao was apparently fired up after reading a report that he continues to be the underdog in the upcoming 12-round duel.

The MGM Sportsbook, when visited the other day, indicated that De la Hoya is pegged as a minus 185 favorite to frustrate Pacquiao, while the fire-breathing Filipino fighter is at plus 155 to defeat the Golden Boy of boxing.

Yesterday, those figures seemed to have ignited the fire in Pacquiao's belly, as he did an eye-popping 33 rounds of workout under trainer Freddie Roach and Filipino trainers Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri.

The Pacman hit the mitts for 15 rounds, shadow-boxed for 4 rounds, hit the speed ball for 3 rounds, another 3 rounds with the double-end ball, skipped ropes for 3 rounds, and capped it with another 5 rounds of shadow-boxing.

"The stamina is just endless. People are just amazed where he got all those energies," said a source when contacted by this writer.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao stated that he had watched the recent Ricky Hatton-Paulie Malignaggi fight, and expressed interest in fighting Hatton although he is focused on the task ahead against De la Hoya.

"I watched the fight between Hatton and Malignaggi," Pacquiao told boxing.fanhouse.com yesterday. "I'm ready to fight Hatton but right now I'm just focused on my next fight and I don't want to do something that would affect my training for my next fight."

Pacquiao’s secret, Hoya’s skills

2008-11-28T18:40:00.001-08:00

By Recah Trinidad
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—What would Angelo Dundee do if he were in Freddie Roach’s place preparing Manny Pacquiao for the biggest fight of his career?

It would be too late by the time we’d be able to buttonhole Mr. Dundee.

This chance, we hope, should come during the final press conference at the Las Vegas MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theater on Wednesday.

Our credentials to the Dream Match have been cleared by Magna Media International, we broke the wife’s piggy bank and should be headed in the direction of the glittering Strip (from LA where we’ve reportedly been banned) early next week.

* * *

Last time we saw Mr. Dundee was in 1975 yet, moments after Muhammad Ali beat Joe Frazier in a brutal, bloody bout that has become an all-time classic.

The trainer of great champions, youngish with a full shock of hair, was outside the red gate of the Araneta Coliseum.

Dundee appeared in a great rush and I next heard him tell broadcaster Ronnie Nathnielsz, who sidelined as a prime liaison for the “Thrilla in Manila,” that he needed a ride to catch his connecting flight to Hong Kong.

* * *

Of course, Mr. Dundee will remember the gregarious Mr. Nathanielsz, whom Ali had invited to join his team.

No, I will no longer ask him who was with Nathanielsz then once I corner Mr. Dundee in Vegas.

But I’ve already prepared my questions.

Topping my list is this one about the wisdom of pumping up Pacquiao in order to, more or less, even up with Oscar De La Hoya in poundage, if not in reach and height.

* * *

I expect Dundee to retort with a routine gem:

“In the first place, size won’t matter in this fight.”

Why?

“Skills, it’s Oscar’s edge in talent, that will beat Manny Pacquiao.”

But this promises to be very tough.

“Oscar has fought tough guys all his life.”

So what will be the ultimate factor?

“What will determine the fight instead is who’s the better fighter overall, not necessarily who’s bigger, faster.”

* * *

OK, those were imaginary questions, which I hope to pose again once I’m favored with a close encounter with Mr. Dundee next week.

Of course, the answers were anything but fictional or imaginary.

I lifted these from a fresh interview with Dundee conducted by www.sportinglife.com of London and posted by www.philboxing.com Wednesday.

It’s like this. Out there at Roach’s Wild Card Gym, which I can’t hope to visit again, the owner-trainer has been insisting they have a new secret weapon which they will spring inside the ring come Dec. 6 at MGM Grand.

Surprised? Remember the infamous Manila Ice, which melted and vanished without any explanation inside the ring in a Pacquiao fight.

Was it against Marquez or Morales?

* * *

Regardless. At least, Dundee is not one to talk about any hidden agenda, and no sordid secrets, please.

“I know Oscar has talent he doesn’t know he has. He’s sure to bring this out on fight night,” Dundee says.

Care to elaborate, sir?

“Oscar will win not because he’s bigger, he will make it because he’s the better fighter.”

Well, lest you got carried away, it’s Nacho Beristain, not Dundee, who’ll be working the corner for De La Hoya.

Now a final word from the Golden Boy before they pack up at Big Bear.

“We’ve created a style that’s unbeatable. Nacho Beristain came into my life at a perfect time, at a perfect moment.”

That’s all for now. Uncle Bob Arum awaits you in Vegas.

LET HIM EAT CAKE!TEAM PACQUIAO BAKES UP THANKSGIVING SURPRISE FOR OSCAR DE LA HOYA

2008-11-27T23:11:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (November 25, 2008) – Team Pacquiao has baked up a Thanksgiving surprise for six-time world champion OSCAR DE LA HOYA. De La Hoya has been claiming he’s been walking around the past two weeks at a Twiggy-like 145 pounds (curiously the recent segment of “24/7” showed him weighing 155 pounds), as he prepares for his 12-round welterweight super fight against boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter MANNY PACQUIAO.

Feeling bad that Oscar has been starving himself in training camp to make weight, and even admitting that he would have to forego Thanksgiving dinner, Team Pacquiao has arranged for an 11.25-pound, 12-inch chocolate (rich in antioxidants) cheesecake from the world-famous Carnegie Deli in New York to be delivered to him today at Summit Camp in Big Bear Lake, Calif., where he is training. Hey, he can do curls with it before he eats it!

Team Pacquiao included the following card: “Oscar — Looking forward to serving you your just desserts on December 6. Happy Thanksgiving. From, Team Pacquiao.”

*************************************************

NOTE: The cheesecake, which was FedExed from the Carnegie Deli’s bakery in New Jersey yesterday, arrived at the FedEx Rialto, California facility at 9:09 a.m. PST this morning where it is now on a truck headed to Oscar’s training camp for delivery later today.

This link will take you to the Carnegie Deli’s authentic world famous cheesecake recipe. http://www.carnegiedeli.com/recipe.html

************************************

HBO’s Emmy-Award-winning all-access franchise “24/7” returns with Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao in starring roles. The four-episode series “De La Hoya/Pacquiao 24/7” continues with a new episode This Sunday! November 30, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. Episodes one and two are available on HBO ON DEMAND.

“The Dream Match,” the 12-round welterweight collision between two of boxing’s biggest attractions, De La Hoya and Pacquiao, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 6 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, the bout will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. It is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank, Inc., presented by Tequila Cazadores and sponsored by Ceverza Tecate, DeWalt Tools, Full Throttle Energy Drink, and Southwest Airlines, the fight sold out in hours, making it the second largest grossing gate in boxing history.

The De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao pay-per-view telecast will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

MGM Grand will host closed circuit viewing in conjunction with the upcoming “Dream Match” between the ‘Golden Boy’ Oscar De La Hoya and Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao. Tickets for the closed circuit telecast are priced at $100 (preferred viewing) and $60, not including handling fees. All seats are general admission and are now on sale at the MGM Grand ticket office outlets at the Concierge desk and the KÀ Theatre box office. Tickets also will be available by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 702-474-4000. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Additional MGM MIRAGE properties will host closed circuit viewing and tickets will go on sale at a later date

Trainer aims jabs at new, if familiar, foe

2008-11-27T12:07:00.000-08:00

De La Hoya too slow to stop Pacquiao, says man who once worked in opposite corner

Trainers Buboy Fernandez, left, and Freddie Roach unwrap Manny Pacquiao’s hands after a workout at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., where Pacquiao is preparing for his Dec. 6 welterweight fight against Oscar De La Hoya.

By Jeff Haney

Thu, Nov 27, 2008 (2 a.m.)

Manny Pacquiao timelapse

HOLLYWOOD — When Freddie Roach verbally levels someone, he does it with precision.

There’s no bluster, no hyperbole.

It’s as cold and clean and decimating as a straight right hand that connects with the tip of the jawbone.

In the gym last week at his Wild Card Boxing Club, where he is training Manny Pacquiao for his Dec. 6 welterweight fight against Oscar De La Hoya, Roach laid out his analysis of the match.

It included biting criticism of De La Hoya’s mental state, his training routine, his trainer, his right hand, his ability to deal with left-handers in the ring, his age and his stamina.

Whew.

The classic diatribe culminated in Roach describing De La Hoya as weak of mind and weak of body.

He did it in typical Roach fashion, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone, with his signature quiet but simmering intensity that always leaves you thinking Nick Nolte should play him in the biopic.

The temptation is to dismiss some of the commentary as mere motivational fodder designed to inspire his fighter. The sport’s consensus pound-for-pound champion, Pacquiao will fight the most important bout of his career against the man who wields more clout than anyone in boxing.

But if Freddie Roach was acting, he deserves one of those stars on the sidewalk a few blocks north of the world-renowned Wild Card.

In recounting a major reason he agreed to train Pacquiao to face De La Hoya, for instance, Roach thought back to the specific details of an incident in the early stages of De La Hoya’s camp preceding his 2007 fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Roach, who was training De La Hoya at the time, brought in left-hander Ivan Calderon, then a 105-pound world champion.

“I wanted Oscar to spar with Calderon for the first week, just to get his feet wet,” Roach said. “And Oscar just couldn’t hit this guy, no matter how hard he tried. This little southpaw was too quick for him.

“I remember it very well, because I got very mad and said, ‘Oscar, go hit this guy once and show him who the boss is.’ He just couldn’t do it. That’s why I know Pacquiao can use his speed to outmaneuver Oscar. He’s just too fast for Oscar, I believe.”

De La Hoya disputes this particular account of l’affaire de Calderon. But in Roach’s mind it was enough to persuade him to back Pacquiao, a reigning lightweight champ who built his fearsome reputation by winning world titles at 112, 122 and 130 pounds.

De La Hoya returns to welterweight in the Dec. 6 bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena after fighting at 154 pounds or higher for the past seven years.

“Size doesn’t win fights,” Roach said. “Speed and strategy win fights. Manny’s stronger and faster. He’s just not taller.”

Roach also relishes the opportunity to face off with an old nemesis, De La Hoya’s new trainer, Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain.

Bad blood between the two men can be traced to an episode in which Roach attempted to put his arm around Beristain’s shoulders for a photographer. Beristain rebuffed him, uttering a vulgar phrase in Spanish that essentially questioned Roach’s manhood. Roach became livid when he later found out how the words translated.

“I never liked Nacho,” Roach said. “The guy disrespected me.”

Under Beristain, a slimmed-down De La Hoya has opted to train at or slightly below the 147-pound welterweight limit. Roach, however, sees that tactic as favoring his fighter.

“Oscar might be at weight, but he’s killing himself to make it,” Roach said. “I think he’s going to be weak going into the fight. I believe they’re taking us lightly.”

Roach has clashed with De La Hoya on whether the fighter abandoned their blueprint in the middle rounds of his loss to Mayweather. He predicted Pacquiao, with his quickness and lateral movement, will throw De La Hoya off his game plan once the men enter the ring.

“Oscar loses focus in there,” Roach said. “His mind wanders. I know his habits pretty well. There’s some tension between us, but it’s nothing personal with me. It’s just that mentally he loses sight of the game plan at times. He blamed me for the loss to Mayweather, and hopefully he’ll be blaming me for losing this one too.

“Some people are weak-minded, like Oscar. Some people are strong-minded, like Manny.”

For his part, Pacquiao would not touch that one. The most popular public figure in his native Philippines, Pacquiao plays it down the middle in interviews. His pleasant, low-key personality is one reason. Another is the fact that English is not his first language.

“For me, it’s all about doing my job in the ring, winning the fight,” Pacquiao said.

He and Roach mesh well, Pacquiao said. He loves running in the hills above Hollywood, and he thrives in the gritty urban atmosphere around the gym, which presents a stark contrast to the pastoral environs of De La Hoya’s camp in Big Bear Lake, Calif., 100 miles to the east.

Sure, he naturally feels some pressure, but no more than De La Hoya does. De La Hoya is 39-5 with 30 knockouts but just 3-3 in his past six fights; Pacquiao is 47-3-2 with 35 knockouts.

De La Hoya will be the most skilled opponent he has faced, not just the biggest, Pacquiao said. He’s prepared to slug it out with De La Hoya toe-to-toe or fight a more tactical match, and he’s ready to make such an adjustment on the fly.

A victory by knockout or by decision would be equally sweet.

“Every fighter believes in his power, and me, too,” Pacquiao said. “I believe in my power. So the knockout would be a bonus.”

Pacquiao has been training at 151 pounds, with 6 percent body fat. His well-muscled physique came from plyometrics (loading then contracting muscles in rapid sequence) and a high-protein diet rather than weightlifting, Roach said. He expects Pacquiao to officially weigh in at 147 pounds and step into the ring weighing 150.

Under Roach’s direction, Pacquiao has sparred with up-and-coming professionals such as Rashad Holloway, Marvin Cordova and Amir Khan. Roach placed a $1,000 cash bonus on the table for any sparring partner who knocks Pacquiao down during a session. No one has collected.

“I can take (De La Hoya’s) punches,” Pacquiao said. “I spar against bigger guys and I can handle their power.”

Just as impressive, Roach said, is Pacquiao’s willingness to learn, to adapt. Roach called it an about-face from his experience with De La Hoya, who tends to pay attention to just one man: Oscar De La Hoya.

“Oscar is Oscar,” Roach said. “He’s had a lot of success, and he’s not going to change. At this point he doesn’t listen to anybody but himself.”

Jeff Haney can be reached at 259-4041 or at haney@lasvegassun.com.

PACQUIAO WATCH: The beauty of guaranteed purse

2008-11-26T23:08:00.000-08:00

By Edwin G. Espejo
PhilBoxing.com

BOTH Golden Boy Promotion and Top Rank top executives are now downsizing and downplaying their earlier huge forecast on pay per view (PPV) buys for the December 6 (December 7 Philippine time) fight between Oscar dela Hoya and Manny Pacquiao.

From a high estimate of topping or equaling the 2.15 million buys generated by the Dela Hoya-Mayweather Jr. ticket last year, the promoters of the Dream Match are now saying 1.5 million PPV buys would already be a 'smash hit' given the recession that is hitting the US economy.

Scalpers who anticipated to make a killing earlier cornered the live ticket sales are now reportedly having a hard time moving tickets valued at $1,500 where before these could command a pricey tag of up to $35,000 each.

That is why this corner has always prodded Pacquiao lawyer Jeng Gacal, a fellow 1977 graduate of the Marist Notre Dame school system in General Santos, to always include in the fight contract proviso of Manny a guaranteed purse clause.

For the Dela Hoya tiff, a $10 million dollar guaranteed pay slip plus substantial share on the upside of the PPV and other sales (live and close circuit television tickets and cable and free TV proceeds) were broached.

After all, it was money above all that made Team Pacquiao decide to take on Dela Hoya's offer aside from a shot at boxing immortality.

Dela Hoya's initial offer to Manny was a flat out 70-30 split on PPV buys that was promptly rejected by Team Pacquiao and which turned out to be a good decision.

Given the confidentiality of fight contracts of Pacquiao in the past, we can only assume Jeng did his homework well especially during these times when credit crunches are hitting every economy tied to the 'free market' mode of production that is capitalism.

So, those freeloaders and 'free-lunchers' lurking when Manny comes home after his date with dela Hoya better brace themselves for disappointment.

At the max, Manny will earn a gross of $15 million, half of that will go to the taxman in the US and to his trainer and other members of the Team Pacquiao, which includes Jeng of course.

Before their eyes roll down the $ sign, these freeloaders should realize that the world economic crisis is here to stay – at least for the next 18 months.

Those who are looking at the anticipated Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton square-off and/or a Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fantasy match next year should not expect these will fatten their bank accounts and feed their insatiable greed.

The dela Hoya bonanza could be the last of the big ticket fights and PPV events in the many years to come.

That is why it is a must for Manny to win convincingly or lose gallantly to keep his lofty ranking afloat.

That way, he could always command at least half of what Oscar is now guaranteeing him.

Freddie Roach: Manny Pacquiao's Sparring Partners Get $1,000 if They Knock Him Down

2008-11-26T01:10:00.000-08:00

by Michael David Smith

As the great boxing trainer Freddie Roach gets Manny Pacquiao prepared for his fight on December 6 against Oscar De La Hoya, he has an interesting incentive for Pacquiao's sparring partners: Knock him down and get some cold, hard cash.

"I don't hire sparring partners, I hire real fighters -- contenders who can really push Manny," Roach said on HBO's 24/7 show. "Sparring in my gym is not play. ... It's pretty much a fight, the only rule is if you hurt somebody you don't finish them. ... Sparring partners have a job to do, and the thing is, if they knock Manny down, they get a $1,000 bonus."

Roach says his biggest concern heading into the fight is De La Hoya's jab, so that's what the sparring partners are working. So far, none of Pacquiao's sparring partners (including Amir Khan) have been able to collect that $1,000 bonus. But with cash on the line, you can bet they're trying.

Pacquiao eyes career-defining win vs. De La Hoya

2008-11-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

By David Leon Moore, USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES — At the end of Manny Pacquiao's long workout at the Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood, after the 100 or so lucky fans who have been waiting outside in the parking lot have been let in to see their hero, Team Pacquiao calls for a moment of silence.

Then Pacquiao walks to one corner of the ring, bows his head into the ropes, and the noisy gym becomes respectfully silent.

A minute or so later, Pacquiao raises his head and walks across the ring, smiling at the admiring crowd.

"Amen," some of the fans say.

Pacquiao, the 29-year-old Filipino lightweight champion who is considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, repeats this routine daily as he prepares for his much-anticipated showdown in Las Vegas on Dec. 6 against Oscar De La Hoya.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Las Vegas | God | Hollywood | Philippines | Oscar De La Hoya | Filipino | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Ricky Hatton | Manny Pacquiao | Freddie | Roach

The ring prayer represents half of what Pacquiao says makes him such a great fighter, a fierce competitor who started as a 106-pound teenager and has held world titles at 112, 122, 130 and 135 pounds.

The other half is what he has just done in the two hours before his prayer — a grueling, non-stop workout focusing on speed, strength, strategy and endurance.

"What I have done in my career," he says, "is because of my hard work and my belief in God."

It's a career that would take a quantum leap if he can take down De La Hoya at 147 pounds, the welterweight limit. Pacquiao has never before fought in a division higher than lightweight, where the limit is 135 pounds. De La Hoya will presumably have an advantage in power, as well as in height and reach. So it is De La Hoya, though he is six years older, who is considered the favorite.

That's precisely why Team Pacquiao believes a victory will be a turning point for the feisty southpaw who is a national hero in his native Philippines.

"Twenty years from now, 30, 40 years, I want my name to be at the top level of boxing history," Pacquiao says. "That's why it's really important for me to win this fight. It's the biggest fight of my career.

"The point of this fight is to do something that people will never forget."

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's longtime trainer, says a victory "would elevate Manny to superstar status. He's not quite there yet. This is definitely a turning point."

Their strategy to pull off the upset is partly obvious and partly a secret Roach says he learned when he trained De La Hoya in a losing effort against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"It's no secret Manny has to take the jab away from Oscar, get inside the jab, fight at short range," Roach says. "Oscar is a distance fighter. He has long arms. I don't think it's a huge problem. But it is our biggest problem.

"And it's no secret we're going to attack the body first and break him down."

So what is the secret?

"All the techniques we apply right now, we don't tell to anybody," Pacquiao says. "Just me and Freddie only."

Roach says this much: "I know why Oscar's jab in the Mayweather fight stopped working. Mayweather didn't make an adjustment. Oscar forgot to do something."

What?

"You'll see," Roach says. "That's part of our game plan, of course. It will happen in the fight."

The much-discussed jump in weight is really much ado about nothing, Pacquiao says.

"My regular weight when I'm not training is 155," he says. "Right now I'm about 150 and I think I'm in better shape than I've ever been. I'm ready to fight."

As for a game plan if Pacquiao wins, Roach says he'd like Pacquiao to fight twice more.

"I'd like to see him fight Ricky Hatton (the 140-pound champ) and beat Hatton, which I think we can," the trainer says. "I think Floyd Mayweather will come back. I'd like to see Manny fight Floyd and beat him, and then call it a day. He'd have nothing else to prove.

"He'd be considered one of the greatest fighters of all time. He'd be a champion in five weight divisions."

How does that sound to Pacquiao?

"He said that?" Pacquiao says. "Two more? OK. That's fine. That's enough."

PACMAN TO SPEND $500K FOR FREELOADERS, AND STILL COUNTING By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com

2008-11-25T01:19:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES -- In tickets alone, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao revealed yesterday that he has already spent about $550,000 (roughly P27,500,000) to be given away to friends who will be flying in to watch his December 6 "Dream Match" against Oscar De la Hoya.

In an interview with this writer yesterday at his Palazzo residence here, Pacquiao informed that these friends include politicians, celebrities and others whose ticket he will be shouldering once they come for the fight.

"Yan ang current expenses ko sa ticket lang. Kasali na dyan mga politicians, artista at sila lahat. Mga kaibigan ko lahat," Pacquiao stated, adding that the figure can still balloon once more friends show up at the fight.

Pacquiao also added that the figure does not include the tickets that he has purchased for himself, although he did not cite the exact amount.

The Visayan Daily Star has quoted Pacquiao's personal secretary Bren Evangelio as saying that the boxing icon had shouldered in the past Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia’s travel expenses, ticket for the fight and hotel accommodation, except for his pocket money.

The clarification, according to the report, was made after a Commission on Audit report distributed to the media by some quarters recently, stated that in 2005 alone, the city government spent P262,273,00.84 for payment/reimbursement of traveling expenses.

PACMAN, JINKEE IN A CLASS ALL THEIR OWN

2008-11-24T01:18:00.000-08:00

Manny and Jinkee.

LOS ANGELES--For RMN-DyHP/SunStar Superbalita mediaman Edward Ligas, who is in the US for the first time to cover Manny Pacquiao's December 6 fight, Pacman and his wife Jinkee are a class all their own.

This is an observation shared by Philboxing.com editor Salven Lagumbay and founder Dong Secuya, who accompanied Ligas for his first American coverage.

"Manny is a truly caring and heroic individual. He is an icon of our times, someone who comes to our midst only one in every hundred years," opines Ligas, who got the surprise of his life when, upon his first time to set foot at the Wild Card Gym, he was warmly greeted by Pacquiao when the Filipino icon saw him inside Freddie Roach's sweatshop.

Personally, I think Pacquiao has grown from being a mere world champion into an icon of epic proportion, and somebody who is very capable of becoming the greatest boxer of all times. If that sounds sacrilegeous, especially to those who love Muhammad Ali to death, then let that be. I, too, am a lifetime Ali fan, and will forever cherish what he has done to the sport and to humanity. But Pacquiao is probably the only living fighter who has a reasonable chance at beating Ali to the finish line.

If Pacquiao successfully defeats the legendary Oscar De la Hoya on December 6, a task that will be all too Herculean, Pacquiao steps within striking distance to that "Greatest" title. The task ahead won't be easy though, as Pacquiao himself concedes. De la Hoya is a true living legend, a fighter in the strictest sense of the word. However, Pacman has made sure he does his every share of the preparation, and come what may, don't shed a tear for the Pacman. He'll go into the fight at peace with himself, knowing that he has done his share of the hard work, and only God knows what's in store for him inside that ring.

Pacquiao is a true peoples' champion.

When Philboxing.com visited him at the Wild Card Gym on Wednesday, Pacquiao has remained our friend, despite several months of not seeing us. We were just one of the faces in the crowd, but Pacquiao went out of his way to greet us.

"Kanus-a mo naabot? Kumusta?" (When did you arrive? How are you?), Pacquiao would greet us, while at the same time hitting those speed bags inside Wild Card Gym.

Of course, that was the complete opposite of several of our experience in the past, where we would go out of our way to visit a fighter in a gym located in a foreign land, and once we step into the gym, still dazed by the jetlag, we don't even get a simple 'hi' or a handshake. We don't need to be pampered, but we know how it feels to be treated like you belong.

Today, during Pacquiao's sparring at the Wild Card gym, wife Jinkee came in accompanied by his sister Janet and two male companions. Jinkee, who is due to give birth in December to their fourth child, is just as warm and nice as the Pacman.

She would address us by our first name, and would ask us how we are. She would also ask us where we are staying, genuinely concerned knowing we are not from this place. And of course, she's always there to chat us up into feeling like we belong, while at the same time making sure she keeps herself to the sidelines.

To Manny and Jinkee, you're a class all your own. May you continue to be blessed as you are, and here's wishing you the best come December 6.

"OSCAR WILL BE CARRYING A SUITCASE FULL OF BLUES WHEN HE ENTERS HIS GOLDEN YEARS OF RETIREMENT AS A FIGHTER ON DECEMBER 6."

2008-11-23T01:17:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. -- Seer, soothsayer and two-time BWAA Trainer of the Year, World-Famous Freddie Roach, made another bold prediction at his Hollywood-based Wild Card Boxing Club, where he is training five-division world champion and No. 1 Pound-for-Pound fighter MANNY PACQUIAO for his 12-round welterweight super fight against "The Golden Boy" OSCAR DE LA HOYA.

"Oscar stated in his media conference call that training to fight Manny has put the fire back in his belly. If he thinks he has a fire in his belly now, wait until Manny starts landing right and left hooks there. Oscar's belly will be a raging inferno," Roach cooly stated. "I have never seen Manny look better. He is as close to a complete fighter as he has ever been. His speed, footwork and stamina are supreme. But it's his power that has surpassed anything I could have hoped for. Manny is ready to fight a full three minutes of every round for as many rounds this fight goes. Oscar may look the part of a welterweight fighter by dieting down to a Twggy 145 pounds, but that doesn't mean he can pull the trigger at his age and act the part of a welterweight fighter. Not against a Manny Pacquiao. Oscar will be carrying a suitcase full of blues when he enters his golden years of retirement as a fighter on December 6. But at least he'll look fit and trim in his designer business suits."

PACQUIAO VS DE LA HOYA: "HE WHO BREATHES BETTER SHALL WIN"

2008-11-22T01:16:00.000-08:00

By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 21 Nov 2008

Dr. Wilk.
LOS ANGELES -- The upcoming clash between two superstars Oscar De la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao will be decided on who between the two fighter "out-breathes" the other better.

This was the opinion made by Dr. Wilhelm Wilk in an interview with Philboxing.com yesterday here. Wilk visited the Wild Card Gym yesterday to see old pal Rob Peters, and at the same time watch the Filipino boxing icon in training.

Wilk, who is based in Torrence and Van Nuys, had previously fitted mouthguards for Tommy Hearns and Oscar De la Hoya.

"You have to understand that the most important muscle for a boxer is the diaphragm, and the boxer who most efficiently breathes will have a huge advantage over his opponent," said Wilk.

Mexican champions rooting for Manny Pacquiao?

2008-11-21T01:14:00.000-08:00

Oscar De La Hoya had a conference call earlier this week to talk about his Dec. 6 fight against Manny Pacquiao on HBO PPV. One interesting item came up. Apparently Oscar, a Mexican-American, has invited a bunch of Mexican legends to the fight. Some of them, though, may not be rooting for Oscar. Here are some of the exchanges from the call's transcript:

Q: You invited roughly around 10 to 15 ex-world champions from Mexico to the fight how did that go and what fighters are confirmed?

A: I had the pleasure of going down to Mexico in my last visit about a couple of months ago before I started training camp for some business. And it so happened that there were about 20 champions, past champions, the greats from Mexico, who were there at the press conference and I invited all of them to the fight. And they all accepted and so we're very glad. I feel very fortunate to have these great legends, talking about the fight and the Chiquita Gonzalezes and Pipino Cuevases of this world, the greats from Mexico who will be supporting me 100%.

Q: You said about 20 of the Mexican champions are going to accept an invitation to the fight. Does that include Julio Cesar Chavez?

A: Well, I believe Chavez is going to be on Pacquiao's side. I heard Chavez and (Antonio) Margarito are going to be on Pacquiao's side.

Q: Does that bother you at all that Mexico's greatest champion is going to be on the other side?

A: Oh, no, not at all because the one fighter that I looked up to the most or the fighters from Mexico that I looked up to the most will be on my side, which is Ruben Olivares, Pipino Cuevas, Chiquita Gonzalez, and Finito Lopez. So those types of fighters are the fighters that I really admired growing up.

If Chavez and Margarito are rooting for Pac Man, the reasons are pretty obvious. Oscar beat Chavez twice and has refused -- along with just about everyone else -- to fight Margarito.

Will Oscar De La Hoya Really Be Bigger Than Manny Pacquiao on December 6?

2008-11-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

by Michael David Smith

When I spoke today to Freddie Roach, the trainer for Manny Pacquiao, he told me he isn't worried about the size advantage that Oscar De La Hoya will have when they fight on December 6.

But what if it turns out that De La Hoya doesn't have any size advantage at all?

After talking to Roach -- who told me Pacquiao weighs 151 pounds right now -- I talked to De La Hoya's trainer, Nacho Beristain, and he told me something stunning: As De La Hoya has trained for this fight, his weight dipped all the way down to 146 pounds.

Beristain said he was concerned by that, and that once they got more carbs and protein into his system, De La Hoya got back up to 150. But that's still a pound less than Pacquiao. So much for De La Hoya having a size advantage.

Both fighters will weigh in at 147 pounds on December 5, and once they rehydrate for Saturday night's fight, I think De La Hoya will have a slight weight advantage, as well as, obviously, a height and reach advantage of a few inches. But overall, I have to agree with Roach: De La Hoya's size advantage isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Freddie Roach: Manny Pacquiao's Fight With Oscar De La Hoya Will Be Decided by Speed

2008-11-13T07:20:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but he's an underdog in his December 6 fight against Oscar De La Hoya because De La Hoya is bigger than Pacquiao.

But Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, told me today that he thinks the size difference between the fighters has been overblown, and that speed will win this fight.

"He's handling the bigger sparring partners well," Roach said. "When I saw how he handled the bigger sparring partners, I was very pleased."

Roach said Pacquiao weighs 151 pounds right now, he'll easily make the 147-pound limit for the fight, and he'll walk into the ring at about 150 pounds.

"We have him on a diet with a lot of protein to keep his weight stabilized," Roach said. "He's been about the same weight in camp. We didn't do any weightlifting to make him bigger because I believe speed wins this fight. His body fat is 6% and his weight is really good."

Roach said he expects De La Hoya will weigh about 160 pounds when he walks into the ring, adding, "I think speed wins this fight, not size. It's not an issue at all."

GOMEZ SAYS DE LA HOYA WILL BE SIDELINED IF HE DOESN’T WIN

2008-11-13T07:17:00.000-08:00

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com

Golden Boy Promotions Vice President and international matchmaker Eric Gomez s says that if “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya doesn’t beat Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao, then De La Hoya will no longer be in the limelight as a fighter.

In an overseas telephone conversation with www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports from Chengdu, China where he attended the 46th Annual Convention of the WBC, Gomez said De La Hoya “will be sidelined if he can’t win” his “Dream Match” with Pacquiao at the MGM Grand on December 6.

Gomez who grew up with De La Hoya in the same East Los Angeles neighborhood said they were making sure that De La Hoya doesn’t pay attention to that he is “ too big and too strong for Manny” and it would be an easy fight.

Gomez said De La Hoya “is not listening to that” and is “getting ready preparing hard” for the December 6 showdown in Las Vegas.

He said De La Hoya was looking good and would be ready when he steps into the ring for what may well be a fight that could end his career and sideline him.

The hype for the “Dream Match” continues even as we understand that HBO which will telecast the fight on pay-per-view is taking steps to enhance the buys and to prevent if not minimize piracy which appears to be a major problem hurting promoters, fighters and the PPV networks.

Head trainers Freddie Roach and Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain will be featured in an international conference call on Monday in Los Angeles (Tuesday, Manila Time) with Pacquiao’s team of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Roach featured at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and Beristain will be thirty minutes later.

Pacquiao, Ring Magazines No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world will himself host a media conference call on November 24, one week after De La Hoya takes center stage on November 17. Schaefer and Arum will take their turn on December 1, five days before the “Dream Match.”

Pacquiao to push Hoya to the limit

2008-11-12T07:16:00.000-08:00

By Abac Cordero

It’s Oscar dela Hoya, and not Manny Pacquiao, who’s going to run out of steam as the “Dream Match” enters the crucial rounds on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Freddie Roach said Pacquiao will make sure it happens.

“That’s what we’re going to do. Push the issue,” the celebrated American trainer told DogHouseBoxing.com in a recent interview at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

Roach said Pacquiao, in the thick of training for the biggest and heaviest fight in his career, has been training to last the whole 12 rounds against his legendary opponent.

“If the knockout comes it’ll be a bonus. That’ll be gravy. But you know, Pacquiao doesn’t train to knock people out. He trains to fight twelve hard rounds,” Roach told Gabriel Montoya.

Roach said they’d bring the fight to Dela Hoya.

“Make Oscar fight three minutes of every round. I think we will get him somewhere along the way because he does tire. But you know, obviously Oscar is a great fighter. I’m confident but I know it’s not going to be easy.”

Roach said letting the other camp know what their battle plan is wouldn’t change the outcome of the match.

“Well, obviously we have to get past the jab. We know that. It’s not a secret. People say that I shouldn’t be telling my strategy but who doesn’t know that. I mean, c’mon. Oscar is going to be using the jab.

“That’s going to be the key to him dictating the pace of the fight is to use his jab effectively. We got to take the jab away from him and that’s what we been working on. So far it’s working well,” said Roach.

Pacquiao has been working harder than ever for this fight, and his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, is amazed.

“I’ve seen no fighter in the history of boxing with the stamina of Manny Pacquiao. I’ve been in the business since 1966 and I haven’t seen anything like it,” said Arum last Saturday.

Manny Pacquiao Update!

2008-11-11T07:19:00.002-08:00

By Dennis Principe

Apparently, the sanction fee which was initially reported as being charged on Manny Pacquiao for the Oscar De La Hoya fight is actually an amount that the Filipino fighter owes to the World Boxing Council from a previous fight.

Last Friday in Chengdu, China, WBC president Jose Sulaiman read a statement during their convention castigating Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz who reportedly reneged on their promise to pay the sanction fee for the David Diaz fight last June.

“First, the WBC has a rule that all Champions and challengers must pay a 3% sanction fee to the organization; they humiliated the WBC by questioning the pending $ 30,000 dollars in his fight against David Diaz, which he himself promised to pay many months ago, but now Mr. Koncz is informing us that he has to talk with the Promoter to see if they are paying or not such money,” said Sulaiman.

In the same statement Sulaiman revealed that Pacquiao, or at least among his handlers, are already targeting a fight either against Ricky Hatton or Floyd Mayweather, Jr. after the De La Hoya fight.

In acknowledging their hold of the WBC lightweight crown, the Pacquiao camp asked permission to allow the Filipino champion to hang on to his WBC belt in fighting De La Hoya. In return, Pacquiao offered to pay $20,000. Sulaiman however considered the amount as some sort of a “dole out”.

“Second, they requested permission to fight Oscar De La Hoya, with the WBC approval. In this fight we estimate that he might make more than Ten Million Dollars and he offered to pay only $ 20,000, like if the WBC were beggars. The WBC rules are very clear regarding WBC Champions fighting without defending his title,” said Sulaiman.

Sulaiman added his concern regarding other ranked fighters of the lightweight division should they allow Pacquiao to hold onto his crown by fighting either Hatton or Mayweather, Jr. after the De La Hoya fight.

“Which means that the WBC must freeze the WBC Lightweight title for more than a year, taking away all opportunities to all fighters who are fighting everyday to win and fight for the title, to find that there is a barrier and they can not,” Sulaiman said.

The WBC leader then announced that a unanimous voting among delegates of the 164 nations present in China grants Pacquiao 15 days to pay $30,000 that they promised before the fight against Diaz.

“In regards with his fight against Oscar De La Hoya, instead of the 1.5% that he must pay, which are half of the 3% stated in the rules, he must pay $100,000 as sanction fee if he wants to keep the title of the WBC,” added Sulaiman.

In ending his statement Sulaiman clarified that their intention is to protect fighters while at the same time help destitute boxers.

“The WBC has nothing against boxers, as we have a pension plan to help with food and medicine many ex-boxers in the world; the WBC is only working for the safety of boxers and not one single member officer of the WBC gets any compensation from the WBC or boxing whatsoever,” said Sulaiman.

Review of WBC sanction system urged

2008-11-11T07:19:00.001-08:00

MANILA, Philippines—A review and revision of the sanctioning system applied in world professional boxing is imperative following the latest misunderstanding that victimized boxing hero Manny Pacquiao.

This was the advice yesterday to World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman by lawyer Rudy Salud, the founding secretary general of the top world boxing body.

Sulaiman last week denounced and threatened Pacquiao, accusing him of reneging on his obligations to the WBC totaling $130,000 in sanction fees.

It was later established that the accusation was baseless, and that the enormous amount initially assessed Pacquiao was a result of miscommunication.

Pacquiao, whom the overanxious Sulaiman threatened with revocation of his world lightweight title during the recent WBC convention in Chengdu, China, has responded with admirable maturity.

After assuring Sulaiman he would promptly pay up whatever amount is necessary once properly assessed and advised, Pacquio told the WBC head he’s keeping the lines open for a dialogue.

Salud said he found it surprising, if not outright ridiculous, how Sulaiman suddenly decided to charge Pacquiao in sanction fees for the Dream Match, which the WBC president had earlier dismissed as a “fight between a pachyderm and a hobbit horse.”

There’s no title at stake in Pacquiao’s monumental fight against Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas on Dec. 6.

The fight is not sanctioned by the WBC and will be supervised by the Nevada State Commission.

“Granting that the sanction fee is legal, Pacquiao being a WBC champion carrying his title in another fight, what basis did they use to come up with the enormous percentage?” Salud asked.

Sulaiman was obviously swayed by the claim made by jaded international promoter Don King that Pacquiao stands to earn as much as $20 million against De La Hoya, and paying a paltry sum “would be a theft.”

However, Golden Boy Promotions vice president Eric Gomez was quick to assure that Pacquiao stands to earn a lot less, “maybe less than $10 million.”

“If one champion, like (former IBF minimumweight king Florante) Condes, was assessed $300 for 3 percent of his purse totaling $10,000 why would another world champion be charged exorbitantly?” Salud asked.

“There should be a sane system of determining sanction fees. A champion indeed uses his crown to claim fame, but isn’t the WBC itself using the greatness of this champ to enhance its prestige?”

The WBC definitely owes Pacquiao tremendous prestige that can’t be weighed in dollars, he added.

PAG-AASINTA SA BULL'S EYE

2008-11-11T07:15:00.000-08:00

By Manny Pacquiao
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 09 Nov 2008

LOS ANGELES — Magandang araw po ulit sa inyong lahat, mga ginigiliw kong tagasubaybay ng kolum na ito. Sana ay nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan gaya ng inyong abang lingkod.
Handang-handa na ako sa laban at paganda na nang paganda ang aking kondisyon halos isang buwan na lang ang nalalabi bago kami tuluyang magbanggaan ni Oscar Dela Hoya sa ibabaw ng ring sa MGM Grand Arena sa Las Vegas.

Ang tinaguriang "Dream Match" na aming wawakasan sa Disyembre 6 ni Dela Hoya ay magiging isa sa pinakamalaki at pinakamagandang laban ng taon sa larangan ng boksing dahil lubos naming gustong manalo at magtapos ang laban na ang resulta ay magiging isa sa mga tatalakayin at pag-uusapang laban sa mahabang panahon.
Kaya naman, wala akong pinalalampas na bagay sa paghahanda ko. Lahat ng mga sangkap upang magwawagi tayo sa laban na ito ay aking ginagawang lahat, kasama na riyan iyong pagbubuhos ng buo kong lakas sa training.

Kaya naman, pagkatapos ng isang matinding araw sa gym, kadalasan ay umuuwi kami agad sa aking apartment at nagagawa naming maglibang at mag-relax upang mapawi ang pagod.

Bukod sa pag-gitara, paglalaro ng chess, pagkanta sa karaoke at marami pang ibang pinagkakaabalahan, ako ngayon ay nalilibang sa paglalaro ng darts. Hindi pa gaanong matagal mula nang mag-umpisa akong maglaro ng sport na ito at masasabi kong malaki na ang aking ipinagbago. At maganda ang resulta ng aking paglalaro dahil nakikita ng aking mga kasambahay ang malaking pag-improve ng aking game.

Maganda ang darts dahil itinuturo ng sport na ito ang kapangyarihan ng ating utak at pag-iisip at ang pagkunekta nito sa ating pangangatawan. Kapag magaling ka na sa larong darts, kung ano ang iisipin mong gusto mong patamaan, kadalasan ay tinatamaan mo. Kadalasan ngayon, medyo malaki na ang bahagdan ng aking pagiging asintado at kinagigiliwan ko ito.

Parang sa boksing din, itinuturing kong bull's eye si Dela Hoya at doon ako naka-focus ngayon. Alam kong mahirap patamaan ang bull's eye pero dahil na rin sa aking pagsisikap at pagtitiyaga, sa tingin ko, hindi mahirap na matatamaan ko ito ng hindi lang isang beses. Sana, kapag natamaan na natin ang bull's eye, tayong lahat ay magsasaya at sasayaw sa mga kalye ng bawat sulok ng bansa.

Sa Disyembre rin, pagkatapos ng aking laban, ako ay magpapa-tournament ng darts sa Pilipinas at gusto kong maging malaki ito at sasalihan ng lahat ng mga magagaling na darters ng Pilipinas at ng iba pang bansa.

Magbibigay ako ng P2 Million na prize fund at sa ngayon, marami nang mga tao ang nagpahiwatig ng kanilang interes sa pagsali rito.

Sana po ay tuluyan ninyo pa rin akong suportahan sa lahat ng bagay, para lahat tayo ay makatama sa ating mga pansariling mga bull's eye sa ating mga buhay.

Hanggang sa muling Kumbinasyon. God Bless Us All.

* * *

Freddie Roach on the Oscar De La Hoya Secret Strategy - It Ain't No Secret!

2008-11-11T07:13:00.000-08:00

By Johnny Benz, Doghouse Boxing (Nov 8, 2008) DoghouseBoxing.com (Photo © Laura De la Torre)

In a recent interview conducted by Doghouse Boxing's Gabriel Montoya, Freddie Roach took time out from his busy and hectic training schedule to answer some questions for our readers. Roach who is deep in training with his pupil, Manny Pacquiao for the upcoming December 6th battle against Oscar De La Hoya, answered many questions in regards to the fight.

Amongst many of the questions asked to Roach, Montoya asked him what has been the biggest adjustmentfor Manny fighting these bigger guys? (Pacquiao has been training with naturally bigger fighters.)

Roach wasn't worried he'd be handing out any secrets, noting everyone knows Pacquiao will need to get past and nullify De La Hoya's Jab. Roach tells Doghouse Boxing, "Well, obviously we have to get past the jab. We know that. It’s not a secret."

Roach went on to add, that he's not worried about talking strategy, stating: "People say that I shouldn't be telling my strategy but who doesn't know that. I mean, c'mon. Oscar is going to be using the jab. That's going to be the key to him dictating the pace of the fight is to use his jab effectively."

Roach added that things are working out well, stating: "We got to take the jab away from him and that's what we been working on. So far it's working well."

THE HEART OF MANNY PACQUIAO

2008-11-06T10:37:00.000-08:00

PhilBoxing.com

Who would even believe that in the thick of the preparation for the biggest fight of his life -- money and prestige-wise -- boxing icon Manny Pacquiao would still find time to make a call in the middle of the night to a friend in the Philippines to give an assurance that he would take care of two still unknown and unproven fighters?

Yes, he did. At about 3 p.m. on Nov. 2, as I and my family gathered in our old rural house and talked about life not far from the tombs of our loved ones, I received an unregistered call.

First, it was his publicist -- Winchell Campos, then his lawyer, Jeng Gacal, and finally, it was Manny Pacquiao himself, who talked to me. And it was 12 midnight in Los Angeles, California.

"I'm sorry. I did not know that they are still in the US. I thought they went home to the Philippines," Manny apologetically told me referring to featherweight Glenn Gonzales and bantamweight Jundy Maraon who were earlier signed up by Top Rank for a 4-fight-a-year 3-year contract.

Since arriving in the US in April this year, Gonzales has only fought once, winning a six-round bout in Planet Hollywood against Florida-based Robert daLuz, while Maraon still has to get a fight.

"It's too late for me to get them to fight in my undercard but I will ask Atty. Gacal to handle them starting now," Manny told me.

Manny learned of Gonzales and Maraon's plight following an article which appeared in www.philboxing.com and www.thepinoyboxers.com that quoted me as saying that I had asked Top Rank to release the two boxers from their contractual obligations and that I was bringing them home to the Philippines.

"(Michael) Koncz will no longer handle the boxers' schedules. It will be Atty. Gacal who will talk to Top Rank about the boxers' fights from now on," Manny said in response to my complaint that Koncz was interfering with the fight schedule of Gonzales and Maraon.

Gonzales, 23, a featherweight who has a record of 7 wins, 4 KOs, and 1 draw, and Maraon, also 23, a bantamweight with a record of 10 wins, 8 KOs and 1 draw, signed up with Top Rank late last year on the recommendation of Manny Pacquiao himself.

They are two of about a dozen outstanding boxers from Mindanao who belong to the Braveheart Boxing Club who are virtually unknown outside of the island.

When the boxers arrived in the US, however, Koncz called me up to say that Top Rank and MP Promotions, which is Manny Pacquiao's promotional outfit, have an agreement that all Filipino boxers appearing in Top Rank cards must go through MP Promotions.

Following a meeting with Manny Pacquiao, an arrangement on the purse percentage that would go to MP Promotions was reached and Gonzales was given a fight on July 5.

Then, everything was quiet. That was until I decided to bring the two boys home to get back into the ring in the Philippines as they had been inactive for a long time.

With Manny's call this afternoon, things might yet change. But in the meantime, the decision to bring Gonzales and Maraon home to have two or three fights before taking a crack at the Philippine titles in their respective divisions, stands.

In spite of this, one cannot help but admire the gesture of humility on the part of Manny Pacquiao.

Such is the heart of this young man who has made history by becoming the greatest Asian prizefighter of all time. And it is this soft heart that endears him to his countrymen.

Win or lose, Manny Pacquiao will always be a champion to the Filipino people.

Pacquiao, Dela Hoya take breather: It’s show time

2008-11-05T10:34:00.000-08:00

By Abac Cordero

They’re not yet done selling this fight.

Tickets to the “Dream Match” between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar dela Hoya have long been sold out and yet the two superstars in the thick of training are still taking time out to promote the Dec. 6 showdown.

Dela Hoya, the king of pay-per-view, is all set to appear on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Sunday (today in Manila). He will be the episode’s special guest and is expected to make a few announcements.

Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound king, is being prepped as guest on the popular Jimmy Kimmel Live, an American late-night talk show being broadcast on ABC. It is the longest running ABC late-night talk show since the Dick Cavett Show in the early ‘70s.

Bob Arum told The STAR that Pacquiao might appear on the show close to the fight, and the likeable Filipino superstar, the Top Rank president said, “would be asked to sing a song or play a musical instrument.”

Pacquiao appearing in a popular late-night talk show is part of the promotions for the coming fight which has already brought the two fighters to several key places like New York, San Antonio and San Francisco last month.

For his fight against Hector Velasquez in 2006, Pacquiao threw the ceremonial pitch in a California Angels match, and against Jorge Solis later on was asked to appear in a San Antonio Spurs ballgame in San Antonio though it didn’t happen.

“This time we’re concentrating on appearances that are cross-over. And this big late-night show of Jimmy Kimmel should take Manny across the country,” said Arum of the show that already had the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Mike Tyson and Tom Cruise as guests.

Last week, ESPN’s primetime newsmagazine aired a very special feature on the life of Pacquiao – his rise from poverty to being a national hero in the Philippines. The special feature was reported by Jeremy Schaap.

“It was an unbelievable feature,” said Arum.

He said tickets to the fight, set at the 17,000-seat Grand Arena of the fabulous MGM Grand of Las Vegas, have “all been gone” and with the continued promotional gigs they’re hoping to catch more on the PPV sales.

Promoters are hoping that it could match or even the surpass the record 2.4 million PPV buys generated by the Dela Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight last year.

“So can Pacquiao’s “Dream Match” with De La Hoya out do those numbers? It’s hard to say. There are many factors in this year’s economy that were certainly different from 2007,” it was written on the Internet recently.

“It’s often said that in times of recession, recreational items such as concerts and sporting events are the first to get hit. The Global market is in turmoil these days, financial markets everywhere are taking a plunge and come Christmas time, many people might be reluctant to part with their cash on items such as Pay-Per-View.

“(But) Yes, I believe Pacquiao can break the Pay-Per-View record over Mayweather Jr’s ass,” wrote Johnny Benz of DogHouseBoxing.com.

OPLAN OSCAR HATCHED IN HOLLYWOOD

2008-11-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

By Hermie Rivera
PhilBoxing.com

Hollywood, CA -- Manny Pacquiao revs up a pyretic grind at his private camp, intent in handing Oscar de la Hoya a thorough drubbing when they collide at MGM's Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Determined to surprise the favored Golden Boy, the Pinoy idol is pulling all stops for a record-setting thriller certain to bust the charts ratings-wise. Live gate attendance earlier sold-out in record time.

A decisive Pacquiao triumph over Hoya allows him to leave a defining legacy enroute to a new plunge in politics. But that’s another story.

“It’s Manny by knockout” chief trainer Freddie Roach brags each time hawks in media accosts him for a take on the ‘big vs. small' confrontation.

“My man knows where to land his knockout blows. Manny is well-coached on when to plant his vicious shots -- in areas where Oscar is rendered clueless as to how he’ll win,” cocky Roach explained.

“Guaranteed” added the two-time trainer of the year, revealing a part of the body where a well-placed punch can brutally terminate the Dec.6 showdown.

Manny is not addressing Roach’s insistence of an abbreviated “Dream Match” but allows that such a possibility is not only doable but achievable.

Oplan Oscar, a well-crafted fight plan is strategized at Roach's Wildcard Hollywood headquarters on Vine.

Away from prying eyes of spies?

Careful snoops. If caught, you’ll find yourself whisked in an ambulance to an ICU for a quick check-up?

Not to worry . Fans can still get his coveted signature and pose for pictures after the Pacman is through working out.

One vital move he is in-synch with his trainers is for a 145 pound weigh-in limit and a 155 lbs. fight-weight. Give or take a pound or two.

Ideal for Pacquiao but not for de la Hoya who is facing a quicker and stronger slugger -- Oscar’s height, weight and heft edges -- notwithstanding.

The book titled The Art and Practice of English Boxing yields an interesting passage: “The parts of the body (head) in which a blow is struck with the greatest probability of terminating the battle are on the eye, between the eyebrows, in the bridge of the nose or the temporal artery, beneath the left ear, under the short ribs—and in the pit of the stomach.”

Sounds familiar?

Reminds you of Bernard Hopkins on that fateful night at the MGM Grand Oscar?

At Big Bear Mountains of the Golden State, Oscar Hoya is tightening-up his reliable left hook, ridding its arc-like delivery to exact optimum damage.

But Pacquiao is capable of unleashing his own effective counters when threatened by such hooks.

As tight as the skinflints on Pugsville Row?

Keep tuned.

Top photo: Oscar de la Hoya (R) talks to the author during the 'Dream Match' promotional tour in San Francisco. Photo by Emmanuel Rivera.

ESPN poll picks Hoya over Pacman

2008-11-03T22:36:00.000-08:00

By Nick Giongco

In an on-going poll being conducted by ESPN Boxing, 56 percent of voters believe Oscar De La Hoya will repulse the challenge of Filipino favorite Manny Pacquiao when they collide on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Of the 13,016 polled, 44 percent, however, are convinced that Pacquiao, who will be jumping up two weight classes, can pull off an upset win.

Pacquiao last fought as a lightweight (135 lbs), while De La Hoya will go down a bit from super-welterweight (154 lbs) to welter (147 lbs) in what is expected to be a smashing success in pay-per-view sales considering that all 16,000 seats at the Grand Garden Arena have either been sold out or purchased in advance by the major stakeholders of the promotion.

The ESPN figures do not exactly mirror the Las Vegas betting line, which lists De La Hoya as a 2-1 favorite.

Even the Ring magazine — which the Golden Boy owns — ran a poll on who would win the clash between Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound king and De La Hoya, the pay-per-view champion, in its commemorative issue that hit the streets last week.

Of the 20 polled, only two picked Pacquiao to emerge victorious.

But when one raised the issue with members of Team Pacquiao, they just ignored it, saying they were numbers.

Freddie Roach, on whose hands rests Pacquiao’s fate, strongly believes there’s no way De La Hoya, who is pushing 36, will turn back the hands of time even if he has been busy beefing up his training team with marquee names.

"I like where Manny is right now," said Roach, noting that the 29-year-old puncher always look good in training.

"Manny’s 151 lbs now and he’s going down slowly," said Roach, sounding very confident that making the 147-lb limit on the eve of the fight won’t pose a problem."

"Manny’s body contains just 5 percent fat and he looks great," added Roach, who expects the workouts to intensify even further with the addition of sparring rounds every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This Tuesday, Pacquiao will begin sparring eight rounds and around 15 to 20 days before the fight, he will log 12 rounds of sparring in one training day.

Kabasares: What if Pacquiao lives next door?

2008-11-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

By Cris D. Kabasares

SAN FRANCISCO, California -- Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao, 29 years old, 5"6', told a crowd in New York during the "dream match" HBO Pay-Per View promotional tour that "some people are criticizing Oscar De La Hoya for picking a small opponent like me and some say I took this fight for the money. I'll prove them wrong -- I will be fighting to give glory and honor to my country, "asahan 'nyo, si Manny Pacquiao, tatayo hanggat may hininga. Hindi ako susuko," the Filipino Reporter quoted the Gensan City fighter. Pacquiao records stand at 47-3-2, 35 K0s.

The more engaging and crowd-getter Oscar De La Hoya, 35 years old, 5'10, from East Los Angeles, told the crowd in this city's Crissy Field: "I'll stop his (Pacquiao) streak of defeating Mexican boxers.

What's your take on the Mindanao crisis? Discuss views with other readers

The fight, according to Nancy Gay, "has become a fight for national and ethnic pride."

The megastar Oscar De La Hoya is a 2 to 1 favorite to beat (Manny) Pacquiao when the two meet on December 6 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas in a 12-round welterweight (147 pounds) bout, writes San Francisco Chronicle's Nancy Gay. De La Hoya's record: 39-5, 30 by way of K0s.

The Filipino Reporter (New York) publisher and editor-in-chief Bert Pelayo told this writer he gives the fight to the Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya because he's bigger and he's a ring tactician.

The December 6 dream match has been sold out hours after the box office opened.

I'm a late hanger-on to the Manny Pacquiao mania that has swept the Philippines like wild fire since he started thrashing some of the greatest living Mexican boxers.

I haven't followed the odyssey of this Bukidnon-born boxing marvel named Emmanuel Dadidran Pacquiao. Although I had enough time to do a lot of things, I read his ring exploits in the sports pages only when I felt like doing it. It was, incredibly, a case of apathy. And one thing more -- I am an avid football fan.

Time, however, like life itself, does change.

And here's why!

While vacationing in Davao City during the months of May through August, this year, rumor spread in our village that the champ from Gensan has expressed interest in acquiring a property in Durian city. He was, as the rumor went, particularly eyeing a lot at the lush Mountain Haven Subdivision in Barangay Eden, Toril, some 17 miles from the SM City in Matina. My wife and I own a modest vacation home there. The place isn't bereft of a superstar, Sharon Cuneta owns a lot there. But there's still room for another prominent name. Manny Pacquiao could be the one.

The rumor remains, well -- just that -- a rumor. But what's exciting about it was it churned out some whimsical questions in my mind.

What, if indeed Pacquiao becomes my neighbor?

What if we run into each other while jogging around the subdivision?

How would I break the ice, so to speak?

"Hi Champ" would definitely be a proper greeting to start what in due course could be a lasting neighborly ties with a bona fide celebrity, I think.

So I thought of brushing up with my stats on the Pacquiao fame rather pronto. With Google a mere click away, it wasn't entirely a bad idea.

On June 26, I drove to Mandaya Hotel in Davao City to pay for two seats for the Manny Pacquiao-David Diaz fight on pay-per view and buffet lunch at the hotel's lobby. This was Philippines' boxing immortal's outing for another crown, the WBC (World Boxing Council) lightweight title. This I've got to see, I told my wife.

Two days before the scheduled match, I "texted" a few friends in and around Mindanao, including Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno, to ask them whom they'd pick to win the fight. To a man, they rooted for Pacquiao. I had to text an old friend in Manila, a retired sports journalist who had covered some of the biggest fights in his time, including the October 1, 1975 Mohammad Ali-Joe Frazier "Thrilla in Manila," to get an opposing choice. The guy risked to forecast a Diaz win. Pacquiao had barely slithered a split decision (SD) over Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez in their March 15, 2008 fight for the World Boxing Council's super featherweight crown at the Mandalay Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, he stated.

The Filipino champ fought poorly, his timing was erratic, like he was off a delicate choreography. He sent Marquez to the canvass in the second round but failed to finish him off which was a slight departure from his vaunted skills. After that the Mexican fighter furiously traded punches with and scored effectively against Pacquiao. Marquez had cornered the Filipino mauler many times, he said.

"Cris, take a peek at the details of the fight in the papers -- you'll agree with my choice," he added.

He was right. All 28 sports writers who covered the bout, including three Filipinos -- Ronnie Nathanielz, Francis Ochoa, and Ricah Trinidad -- scored the match for Marquez. He (Marquez) landed 34 percent of his punches, Pacquiao cleared 25 percent; in the power hits, Marquez scored 42 percent, while Pacquiao managed only 37 percent. Marquez's jabs found their marks 21 percent of the time, Pacquiao struggled with a mere 14.

The judges scored: Judge Duane Ford: Pacquiao 115, Marquez 112; Judge Jerry Roth: Pacquiao 112, Marquez 115; Judge Toni Miller: Pacquiao 114, Marquez 113.

On June 28, I saw the Filipino champ drop David Diaz with his legendary left at the 2.24 mark of the ninth round to annex a fourth crown. Pacquiao was at his best, I thought.

After the Pacquiao victory, I "texted" my Manila friend to find out what he thought of the fight. His cell phone was unattended.

On December 6, I'll watch the fight on HBO.

Sports writers predict this fight to be risky for Pacquiao.

I wouldn't let my neighbor down!

* * * * *

(Cris D. Kabasares writes a column for a New York newspaper.)

Freddie Roach: “Dundee Changes Nothing with Oscar”

2008-11-02T10:25:00.000-08:00

Secondsout.com

It was announced on Thursday that legendary trainer and Hall of Famer Angelo Dundee had been added to Oscar De La Hoya’s training team as a special consultant to assist with his preparation to face Manny Pacquiao in their super fight on December 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The Pacman’s trainer says nothing has changed.

“I don’t care if Oscar has Major Dundee in his camp,” said Roach, upon hearing the Dundee news. “No one is going to be able to help Oscar pull the trigger when he faces Manny on December 6!”

87 year-old Dundee has worked with fifteen world champions during his career, most notably Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. Nacho Beristain will remain as De La Hoya’s chief trainer for the fight with Pacquiao.

Freddie Roach trained De La Hoya for his last fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

THE GOLDEN BOY" TO MAKE APPEARANCE ON ABC'S EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION THIS SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2ND

2008-11-02T10:23:00.000-08:00

PhilBoxing.com

LOS ANGELES, October 31 - Ten-time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Oscar de la Hoya will be featured on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on Sunday, November 2nd. "The Golden Boy" will be on the show as a special guest to make two surprise announcements to Tim and Michelle Hill and their four children, a family who with the support of their community is having their home and boxing gym rebuilt. The episode will air on Sunday, November 2nd at 8:00pm PT/ET and 7:00pm CT on ABC.

The Hill family has faced economic hardships and has put all of their money into keeping their gym open for the local youths to train in while staying off of the streets. As there is no charge for children to train in the gym, it has become a very popular place for children in the community.

"Tim and Michelle are real heroes and I admire what they have done for their community," said De La Hoya. "Their unselfish acts of kindness have brought an entire community together by taking kids off the rough streets and allowing them to train in their gym free of charge. This facility has been a second home to most of the kids in the community and I'm pleased to be a part of making the gym more affordable for the Hills. The next time I'm in New York I plan on visiting the Hill family's new house and boxing gym."

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is entering its 6th season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Anthony Dominici is the executive producer; and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.

RESPETO PARA KAY BUBOY FERNANDEZ

2008-11-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

PhilBoxing.com
By Manny Pacquiao

LOS ANGELES — Kumusta po kayong lahat. Sana ay nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan.

Kung ako po ang inyong kukumustahin, maayos na maayos po ang aking kundisyon at maganda at tahimik ang aming training camp para sa paghahanda namin kay Oscar Dela Hoya sa Disyembre 6 sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Bukod sa masaya kami ni Coach Freddie Roach sa aming punch mitts sessions dahil malaya at bukas ang aming pagpapalitan ng kaalaman tungkol sa estilo ni Dela Hoya, mainam din ang aking mga ka-spar dahil lahat sila ay pawang magagaling, malalakas at mabibilis.

Bukod sa matinding paghahanda at pagsasakripisyo naming, masasabi kong malalim din ang pagsusuri ng aking koponan sa mga bagay na pwedeng mangyari at gawin ni Dela Hoya sa araw ng laban. Naririyan si Eric Brown at ang aking pinagkakatiwalaang tinyente na si Buboy Fernandez na naging dalubhasa na rin sa sining ng boksing.

Sa bawat galaw na aming ginagawa sa ring, naririyan si Buboy upang magbigay din ng kaniyang mahalaga at malalim na kaalaman at lubos akong nasisiyahan sa kanyang mga tulong.

Halos buong buhay ko nang kilala si Buboy, mula pa noong kami ay mga bata pa sa Labangal, sa General Santos City, kung saan kami lumaki. Kabitbahay ko si Buboy at halos apat na taon lang ang diperensiya ng aming edad. Natatandaan ko pa noon, butas-butas pa ang aming mga salawal. Nagkahiwalay ang aming landas nang ako ay nagsimulang maghanap ng aking kapalaran at napadpad sa Digos, Davao del Sur at sa Maynila, kung saan ako ay nagsimulang manalo bilang isang professional sa gulang na 16.

Naaalala ko nang bumalik ako sa General Santos noong 1999 bilang isa nang kampeon. Nagkita ulit kami ni Buboy at naisip kong tulungan siya dahil bukod sa marami kaming pinagsamahan noong kami ay mga bata, alam kong malaki ang pwede niyang maitulong sa akin. Naninigarilyo, sunog sa araw ang kaniyang balat, payat at butas pa rin ang suot na salawal, isinama ko si Buboy sa Maynila upang doon din niya hanapin ang kaniyang kapalaran.

Sa edad na 24, tinuruan ko si Buboy na humawak ng mitts at magsanay bilang isang trainer at kahit na hirap na hirap siya at kung minsan ay naiiyak din sa hirap ng buhay, unti-unting natuto at gumaling si Buboy. Ilan pang panahon ang nagdaan, nakita kong mas magaling na siya kaysa sa ibang mga datihang trainer sa gym.

Nang ako ay naging world champion ulit sa super-bantamweight division, isinama ko na rin si Buboy sa America at siya na ang humahalili kay Coach Freddie sa maraming bagay. Sa laban na ito at sa mga nagdaan pang mga laban, si Buboy ay matiyagang nanonood ng mga DVD at mga tapes ng laban ng aking mga makakalaban at nabubuo rin niya ang tamang sistema upang talunin at wasakin ang anumang estilo nila. Malayo na ang narating ni Buboy at ako ay natutuwa dahil nang siya ay aking tinawag upang sumama may sampung taon na ang nakararaan, hindi niya ako hinindian. Ngayon, isa na siyang trainer na malalim na rin ang kaalaman sa sining ng pakikipaglaban.

Salamat, Buboy!

Sana po ay tuluyan pa rin ninyo kaming suportahan sa pinakamalaking laban natin. Hanggang sa muling Kumbinasyon. God bless us all.

Top photo: Buboy Fernandez assisting Pacquiao's stretching exercise during the Cebu training camp for the Barrera fight.

Face It, Oscar: Manny Pacquiao's Wordwide Army Is On The March!

2008-10-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

Michael Marley

LONDON—One of the many quotes which allegedly came from the lips of baseball icon Lawrence “Yogi” Berra is that the mental aspects of the sport are underrated.

Or, as they say the Yogster put it, “ninety percent of this game is half mental.”

With that in mind, I wonder how Oscar de la Hoya, who used to playing the conquering hero-matinee idol role, is going to handle it emotionally come Dec. 6 when he will have be chilling like a villain.

Because that is what Oscar will be when he climbs into the ring to face Pinoy National Fist, Manny Pacquiao.

I was reminded of this twice Monday as I stopped here on my slow way back from the Mikkel Kessler title bout in Germany.

I mean, you Pacnuts didn’t think I had abandoned you, did you?

First, I noticed the four middle-aged ladies who handle the gift shop/newsstand in my Kensington hotel were Pinays.

I mentioned Pacman’s name and they started swooning like bobbysoxers at a Sinatra show or, maybe more properly as I am here in the UK, like the girls used to go wild for those four Beatles.

I have them some snappy Megamanny patter and one lady looked at me and said, “You like Pacquiao. You know about Philippines. You got Filipino wife?”

“No, ma’m,” I answered, “not yet but maybe soon. Got any photos?”

I had another reminder that, for the first time in his storied career, Oscar will be facing an opponent who really has a worldwide following. Besides the six million or so OFW (Overseas Foreign Workers) who are scattered like the four winds in remote places such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc., there are the big population of Pinoys in the U.S., in Canada and just about everywhere.

How does Oscar, who pretends to be an emotional boxer but is really not, compartementalize that?

When he gets booed in December, it won’t be because he is intensely disliked unless you count the Antonio Margarito fans. It will be because of the intensity of the national pride that exudes from even the most casual Pacquiao fan.

Which brings me to my second reminder of Pacman Fever, deep here in the heart of Ricky Hatton Land.

I’m on the lift going up to my ninth floor room with a group of younger Filipinos who appear to be tourists.

There is one exceptionally pretty Pinay in the group.

“Mabuhay,” I say in greeting. “Manny Pacquiao fans…you all must be.”

The cutie pie looks over her shoulder and says brightly, “Manny Pacquiao, he will win the big fight!”

Pacman's Worldwide Army is on the march.

Face it, Oscar. Deal with it, Oskie Dolla Hoya.

It’s Manny Pacquiao’s world.

You and I, amigo, we’re just living in it.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

ESPN delves into Pacquiao’s life spacer

2008-10-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

By NICK GIONGCO

Just about everyone can’t get enough of Manny Pacquiao.

On Tuesday night (Wednesday in the Philippines), E:30, ESPN’s only primetime newsmagazine show will delve into the life and times of Pacquiao, who battled poverty at an early age to become a boxing icon in just a short span of time.

ESPN tapped ace chronicler Jeremy Schaap, son of the distinguished late scribe and broadcaster Dick Schaap, to spend some time with Pacquiao, who has a date with destiny when he battles Oscar De La Hoya on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas.

ESPN even dispatched a crew to the Philippines to get pieces of footages a couple of weeks ago at around the same time a team from HBO was also present to do the same thing as part of its 24/7 programming.

The decision to feature Pacquiao is obvious.

Pacquiao is the current toast of boxing and the 29-year-old left-hander is to boxing what Kobe Bryant is to basketball.

Following the retirement of Floyd Mayweather, Pacquiao became the recipient of the mythical title of pound-for-pound king, having defeated three of Mexico’s premier warriors — Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

The first Asian to be voted Fighter of the Year (2006) by the Boxing Writers Association of America, Pacquiao has also been named by the prestigious Ring magazine as its top puncher in the same year.

Pacquiao is also the first Asian to win four world titles in the same number of weight classes.

In his usual eloquent style, HBO Pay-Per-View senior vice president Mark Taffet describes Pacquiao as an athlete extraordinaire.

"Pacquiao weighs 135 lbs (but) his PPV numbers look more like heavyweight numbers,"

said Taffet, citing of course Pacquiao’s trilogy with Erik Morales and his rematch with Marquez as prime examples of his drawing power.

Top Rank big boss Bob Arum said the Pacquiao-De La Hoya welterweight war dubbed "The Dream Match," has what it takes to break the 2.4 million buys set by De La Hoya against Floyd Mayweather last year.

Roach: Pacquiao-Hoya will be over in 9 rounds

2008-10-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

DOMINIC MENOR, GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines - The Dream Match won't go the distance, if Freddie Roach is asked.

In an interview with GMANews.TV on Friday, Manny Pacquiao's trainer was asked to predict what round the Pacquiao-Oscar de la Hoya bout would end. He had a terse reply.

"Ninth round."

Pacquiao finished a five-round sparring session with light-middleweight Rashad Holloway and Roach was pleased with what he saw Thursday afternoon at his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

"It was a great day," Roach said. "Manny handled the jabs very well. It was a great workout overall."

Team Pacquiao has expressed confidence that its main star would be able to overcome de la Hoya. Roach said he was going to leave no stone unturned.

"We're covering our bases, that's right. Whatever [Oscar's] got, we're prepared for it. Whatever he's bringing, we'll be ready for it."

Meanwhile, Pacquiao was impressed with the reality series "24/7" being produced by cable-network giant HBO.

Pacquiao wrote in his online column that he didn't mind the side gigs.

"I wanted the training to be exclusive and private but we just couldn't ignore the TV production side of the fight," Pacquiao said.

"I'm just enjoying every minute of my preparation, both the training aspect and the TV aspect. I know our match is a big event and big events entail big promotions," he added. - GMANews.TV

"TATAY" FREDDIE

2008-10-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

"Kumbinasyon"

By Manny Pacquiao

PhilBoxing.com

LOS ANGELES — Pitong taon na pala ang nakakaraan mula nang ako ay dumating sa Los Angeles at kumatok sa pinto ng Wild Card gym ni Coach Freddie Roach. O kay bilis ng panahon.

Kaya naman kahit na anim na linggo na lang ang nalalabi bago kami magkaharap sa ibabaw ng ring sa December 6, alam kong hindi na matagal at mangyayari na ang pinakapinananabikang laban ng taon. Magsasagupa kami ni Oscar Dela Hoya sa MGM Grand Arena sa Las Vegas at excited na ako.

Kahapon, araw ng Biyernes, nang kami ni Coach ay nagsasanay sa punch mitts, hindi ko lubos maisip na napakarami na naming oras, araw at taon na magkakilala. Parang magkasama na kami sa napakatagal na panahon at sa bawat laban ng aming buhay, magkarugtong ang aming landas.

Malayo na ang aming narating ni Ginoong Roach at malalim na ang aming samahan, isang bagay na hindi na mabubuwag ng panahon at ng ano mang ibang mga bagay. Tiwala ako sa kanya dahil alam ko, ang pagtrato niya sa akin ay para na rin niyang sariling anak. Sa kanya nakasalalay ang aking buhay at buo ang tiwala ko na maraming beses na niya ako naitama ng landas, lalong lalo na sa ibabaw ng ring.

Kahit na hindi naman malaki ang agwat ng aming edad, para na rin kaming mag-kuya dahil sa ang turing namin sa isa't-isa ay binabalot ng respeto at paghanga sa aming bawat kakayahan. Pero sa mga interview, mas gusto kong iturinng na "tatay" ko si "Coach Freddie."

Sa simula pa lang, nang kaming dalawa ay nagsimulang mag-mitts may pitong taon na ang nakakaraan, alam kong siya na ang matagal ko nang hinahanap na trainer. Pati rin si Coach, matapos daw niya akong i-mitts noon unang pagkakataon, nakita na niya sa akin ang kakaibang potensiyal.

Nagsimula kaming bumuo ng isang sistema ng pakikipaglaban, isang bagay na pinagkakasunduan naming dalawa. Siya ang guro, ako ang estudyante. Pero, sa pagdaan ng maraming panahon, kaming dalawa na ang bumubuo ng aming mga plano para sa isang laban, magkakaiba mula roon sa nakaraang laban o kung sino ang susunod na kalaban.

Kahapon, walang-pigil ang aming ensayo sa mitts. Kahit na pagod ako, pinipilit ko pa ring ibigay ang lahat ng aking lakas at kahit na si Coach Freddie rin, kahit nababakas ang pagod sa kanyang anyo, kahit na malalim na rin ang kanyang paghinga at pawisan na rin kaming dalawa, walang-tigil naming ipinagpapatuloy ang ensayo. Alam ko rin na sa sobrang lakas ng mga suntok sa katawan, malaking hirap at sakit din ang dinaranas ng aking pinakamamahal na guro.

Nakita kong hinihimas niya ang kanyang kamay dahil sa sakit matapos naming mag-mitts. Pero gaya ko rin, si Freddie ay isang mandirigma na hindi marunong umayaw at hindi tumatalikod sa mga pagsubok at kahit na anong laban. Pareho namin sinusubukan ang hangganan ng aming kakayahan at kahit na kapwa kami pagod, bigay-todo pa rin ang salpukan ng aming mga kamay. Kapag sinusuntok ko sa tiyan si Coach, alam kong masakit din ng kaunti ang ginagawa ko pero tinatanggap niya ito dahil kasama ito sa aming trabaho. Palagi ko siyang tinatanong: "Are you tired?" Kapag "no" ang sagot niya, wala na kaming 30-second break at tuluy-tuloy na ang ensayo papunta sa susunod na round.

Para kay Coach Freddie, Thank you very much. I owe you a lot.

Hanggang sa Muling Kumbinasyon. God Bless Us All.

Boxing News: Manny Pacquiao gets National Spotlight before Oscar De La Hoya

2008-10-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

By Media report on DoghouseBoxing

Manny Pacquiao, will be in the national spotlight next Tuesday night, October 28 when ESPN's only primetime newsmagazine show, E:60, airs an in depth story on him at 7:00 PM (ET) on ESPN.

Reporter Jeremy Schaap takes a look at Manny's rise from poverty to national hero in the Phillipines and, some would say, a fighter who is carrying boxing with his success and potential. Schaap is willing to do interviews with any media who might be interested in hearing about his time with Pacquaio - and thingsthat might not make the final cut due to time restraints.

Here's a brief overview of the piece: Manny Pacquiao holds many titles. He is currently the WBC Lightweight Champion, was formerly the WBC Super Featherweight Champion, IBF Super Bantamweight Champion and WBC Flyweight Champion but as the first Filipino and Asian boxer to win four world titles in different weight divisions, his most prominent role might be as a hero/icon in his native country. This 29 year old from General Santos, Philippines rose from the poverty of his country to be named by Ring Magazine as the top pound for pound boxer in the world in June, 2008 and is poised to become even bigger if he wins his December fight with Oscar De La Hoya. E:60 reporter Jeremy Schaap sits down with the world's number one boxer to talk about Pacquiao's big break in June, 2001, when he stepped in as a late replacement and beat IBF Super Bantamweight champion Lehlo Ledwaba by technical knockout. He has virtually destroyed most pugilists that have dared to step in the ring to face him since then and right now many experts agree Pacquiao is carrying boxing. With eight straight wins and a record of knockouts in terms of revenues from his recent pay-per-view fights, Pacquaio may be worth more than his weight in gold. According to Mark Taffet, senior vice president for HBO PPV, Pacquiao weighs 135 pounds (but) his PPV numbers look more
like heavyweight numbers." Tune in and find out why this fighter was able to generate a record $20.2 million in revenue for a featherweight class bout.

E:60 is ESPN's only primetime multi-subject newsmagazine show. It features in-depth reporting, long-form stories and a roster of award-winning reporters. For complete E:60 features and expanded versions of the reporter-producer meetings, http://www.e60.com.

WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING SEEMS TO BE WORKING

2008-10-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com

Los Angeles, CA: - Yesterday is the third consecutive Wednesday I have been to the Wildcard Gym to check on what is going on with regards to the training of Manny Pacquiao for his up coming “Dream Match” with Oscar de la Hoya on December 6th.

I asked people who are privy to the very details of the training camp and this is how they replied without tipping the opposite camp:- “All’s well and things are going as planned.”

I was also told that certain incidents that allegedly happened last Monday, October 20th (that had nothing to do with the actual training per se) were not exactly how they were described by an article on the Philippine Inquirer.

One thing that stands out when one takes a close look at Pacquiao is his increasingly visible magnificent built. He seems as solid as can be with muscle bulk on the right places. His chest, deltoids and biceps are in terrific shape and his calf muscles are as Joe Ramos would describe them, “power legs”.

What was so amazing is the added bulk does not seem to slow him down. On the contrary, he never lost his speed and it added more zing to his punches.

Truly, Pacquiao is an outstanding human specimen. Credit that to his genes and whatever they were doing behind closed doors. Clearly what ever it is seems to be working.

There were reports about the possibility that Pacquiao is peaking to early. When we brought that up to the Team, we were assured that Pacquiao is just exactly where they want him to be at this point in his training. “Talagang ganyan, pag nasa training bigay lahat,” said Buboy Fernandez. ( It’s really that way. When he is in training, he does it to the max.)

HBO was at the gym today filming segments of what they will later use for the promo for the fight. And, the gym was literally empty allowing Pacquiao and Roach to focus on their game plan.

Incidentally, Bobby Pacquiao was at the gym too. He was engrossed in training for an up coming fight towards the end of the November in New Mexico. “Nothing sure yet,” he said, "but I was told to train and be ready.”

A few minutes after Roach and Pacquiao completed their mitt sparring routine, Roach returned to the ring and did the same with his new boy in the gym, Amir Khan of the Great Britain.

Top photo: Pacquiao bulking up his body in preparation for his upcoming fight with De La Hoya on Dec. 6.

Bobby Pacquiao poses at the Wildcard Gym Wednesday.

Roach, Pacquiao and Khan at the Wildcard Gym Wednesday.

Photos by Dr. Ed de la Vega.

Pacquiao will 'kill De La Hoya's body and the head will fall'

2008-10-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

By Danyeva Grace C. Donato
PhilBoxing.com

Like British mauler Bob Fitzsimmons who used body shots to tear down to pieces James "Gentleman Jim" Corbett to claim the world heavyweight title in 1897, Manny Pacquiao is also expected to zero in on Oscar De La Hoya's body from the opening bell and destroy the Golden Body in the later rounds.

Fitzimmons was also the underdog when he knocked out Corbett with body blows where he became famous for the cliche: "Kill the body and the head will die."

Freddie Roach is reportedly making sure Pacquiao can roll past De La Hoya's fences and once inside, deliver the hardest blows in the body that could make De La Hoya grimace in pain and force him to surrender or fall like a sack of potatoes.

Roach has reportedly "solved" De La Hoya's height puzzle and is extremely confident the 29-year-old Pacquiao will make history on December 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada when he inflicts the Golden Boy probably his "most embarrassing defeat."

De La Hoya stands five feet and 11 inches as against Pacquiao's five feet and six inches.

"There will be no mismatched because Manny has studied how to befuddle a taller foe," remarked a prominent ring physician who requested anonymity because he holds a "sensitive" position in a world boxing body.

De La Hoya's body is now reportedly a suspect because of long period of inactivity despite edging on points a little-known foe in May this year. He as not fought in 2005 and picked up only a win apiece in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

"De La Hoya's mind may still be willing, but his body will tell him enough is enough," added the ring doctor.

Against the "smaller" Pacquiao, De La Hoya, 35, is expected to utilize his reach advantage to prevent Pacquiao from entering the "forbidden" territory which is the space between his elbows and breadbasket.

He is also expected to use his left jab as often as necessary to prevent Pacquiao from throwing combinations in the body.

FEAR NOT RECAH, ROACH IS FOCUSED!

2008-10-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com

Los Angeles, CA: I just came from the Wildcard Gym to watch the training of Manny Pacquiao. I am glad to report that all is well at the training camp!

For that reason, I beg to disagree with my good friend, Recah Trinidad who expressed his concerns about the directions Roach has taken in so far as the training of Pacquiao is concerned.

I do not necessarily disagree with Recah’s comment regarding the “role as a lead salesman” of the Dream Match that Roach has allegedly taken. After all, that is the function of the promoters. However, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Roach trying his best to help drive up the hype for as long as it does not neglect his lead role as a trainer.

And, I know he does not.

The toy gun and “can’t pull the trigger” as well as the taping of Oscar’s photo on the front side of Roach’s body protector should be taken for what they are worth. Nothing but to drive up the hype. More importantly, they are just “feeds” for writers who cover the on going details leading to the event on December 6th.

In fact, if Roach didn’t pull those stunts, we would not be discussing them now.

Nor do I disagree with what Roach is doing about what Recah has referred to as the “rivalry slug out” with Nacho Beristain. That to me, is also all part of the hype. Read: More PPV.

Recah, nor anyone for that matter, should have no fears that Roach is not fully focused on the tasks at hand. On the contrary, Roach is so focused on everything that concerns the training camp that he even keeps a closed tab on such details as the taping of Pacquiao’s hand. I know for I see it as it happens.

Those of us who are privileged to have access to the gym and watch the training see the many things that occur in the training camp. I only wish I could write about them, particularly the pointers Roach gives to Pacquiao as they go through the punch mitts. I know they surely make good reading. They would also without doubt help allay the concerns of Recah .However, they could benefit the opposite camp as well. Something I would not like to happen.

And, I can’t violate the trust the Team has given me in allowing me to be amongst the few that are allowed to witness the training.

Suffice it to say, Roach and the whole Team for that matter are focused on what they are supposed to do. No more and no less.

So, to Recah, I say: - All is well at the training camp. Fear not my friend, Roach is focused on the tasks ahead!

Top photo: Roach (L) doing mitts with Pacquiao at the Wildcard Gym today.

Rashad Holloway.

Pacquiao shadow-boxing.

WEIGHTS ADD EXPLOSIVENESS NOT MUSCLE MASS!

2008-10-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com

San Francisco, CA—WBC Lightweight Champion, Manny Pacquiao, is less than two months away from the biggest challenge in his illustrious boxing career, taking on former Middleweight titlist, Oscar De La Hoya. In the past, Pacquiao has been known to lack focus against certain types of opponents. That is far from the case for this fight. Not only has Pacquiao arrived at training camp a couple before his normal 8-week training grind, but also he has implemented new training techniques in preparation for this unique challenge.

Starting with his rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera back in October 2007, Pacquiao has struggled to make weight the limits for his fights. Even in his last fight against David Diaz last June, Pacquiao still had to sweat out 2 pounds to make the 135lbs weight limit the day before the weigh-in. However, for this fight, it will be highly unlikely that Manny will struggle to make 147lbs, the highest weight limit Pacquiao will attempt to make ever.

Originally, trainer Freddie Roach planned to have Manny weigh in at 142lbs the day before the fight and come into the ring at 146lbs. However, Freddie has switched up the game plan and will instead have Manny maintain the 147lbs limit throughout training camp, the weigh-in, and the night of the fight. This is definitely a luxury that 99% of today’s fighters would love to have.

Because Manny will not reduce weight below 147lbs, new strength and conditioning techniques will be implemented to take advantage of Manny not having to be on a weight reduction diet. In charged of this task is Alex Ariza, Manny’s strength and conditioning coach, who joined the team last June to prepare for the David Diaz fight.

One of the new techniques Pacquiao has been using is weight training. According to Pacman Enforcer, Rob Peters, who watches every Pacquiao training session, the weights are very light and is scientifically based that will enhance Manny’s explosiveness to a large degree. The weights training is not meant to add muscle mass in order for Pacquiao to fill into 147lbs. Also, the weights are not used everyday and Ariza likes to switch up the exercises so Manny doesn’t get complacent on any one routine.

In a sport like boxing, with a long history and tradition, weight training has been part of a new wave of training methods for today’s athletes. However, heavy lifting by boxers has hardly produced any positive results. Fighters who are built like steel statues usually do not have the same success as fighters who have traditional training methods.

Therefore, it will be interesting to see how these routines and training methods will enhance Pacquiao’s skills. Pacquiao also likes to play basketball to build up endurance and to keep active during off days. After a long cross country promotional tour, Pacquiao played 3 hours of full court basketball in San Francisco.

Top photo: Pacquiao (L) with conditioning coach Alex Ariza at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles.

PACQUIAO FIRST DAY OF SPARRING: "I FELT THOSE BODY SHOTS" - HALLOWAY (With Photos)

2008-10-16T19:08:00.000-07:00

News

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com

Los Angeles, CA: As per schedule, Filipino spitfire Manny Pacquiao started his sparring sessions this afternoon at the Wildcard Gym.
Pacquiao, wearing his favorite white with red trim Nike shoes and shorts, and his custom made green colored gloves, matching groin and head protector, and a handsome brownish red T-shirt, climbed the ring at the Wildcard Gym on schedule, just before 1:30PM.

Waiting for him on the ring is super welterweight Rashad Holloway (9-1-0, 5KOs), the 5’10 fighter hired by Freddie Roach to mimic the Golden Boy and give Pacquiao a hard work out.

The sparring session was slow in the beginning with Pacquiao seemingly trying to adjust to the height and the longer reach of Holloway. Pacquiao seemed content in measuring the distance before he threw his jabs.

In a short while, Pacquiao adjusted nicely and the spirited exchange of punches begun. Pacquiao would move in, tag his opponent on the head and face and move out to avoid the counter shots coming his way. The punches that he can not avoid were blocked by his gloves. Some however, got through and Pacquiao took them in stride.

Some of those that got through appeared to be power shots and they did not seem to bother the Pacman. Although, they may not be as strong as those expected to be delivered by de la Hoya, it seem that Pacquiao has the capacity to take and absorb blows from super welterweight.

After the sparring, Halloway was quoted as saying that the Pacman “is too fast and very strong. I felt those body shots.”

As usual, only a select few people were allowed in the gym. The only noteworthy media people there were the crew from ESPN and Philboxing.

It is perhaps the presence of ESPN that kind of limited what Pacquiao showed in terms of technique and it does not take an Einstein to figure out why.

At the end of the session, members of Team Pacquiao appeared elated, particularly Buboy Fernandez. “Happy ako sa pinakita ni Boss, kahit first day pa lang (I am happy with what the boss showed today, even if it's only the first day)," he said.

Pacquiao indeed had a good first sparring day. But, that in a way. was expected.

Top photo: Pacquiao (R) tags the 5'-10" Holloway with a right during their sparring session today at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles.

All photos by Miguel Salazar / MP Promotions.

Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya: An Analysis of a Legacy

2008-10-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

14.10.08 - by Shawn O'Donnell - When the Pacquiao- De La Hoya fight first was announced most boxing insiders viewed it as a huge mismatch and a large cash grab. Experts overwhelming believe that De La Hoya will dominate the much smaller Pacquiao. Normally I would agree with most of the aficionados in the game, but there are several elements in this fight that have swayed my opinion. I have learned from my years of being involved in boxing that the only way to accurately predict a fight is if you have an inside look at the training camps. I don't have the luxury of being up and close to the action, but what I can propose are scenarios and facts that exist. I believe this fight will be decided upon the issues of weight, activity, psychology and sticking to a solid game plan. This may give some direction as to what outcome this fight might have..

The single most significant piece to this fight is the weight. Manny Pacquiao has ascended from 106 pounds to a new fighting weight of 147 pounds. Much has been said of this massive increase, but lets judge it in perspective. When Pacquiao debuted as a professional fighter, at sixteen years of age, he fought at a weight of 106 pounds. This will equate to an increase of 41 pounds to his current twenty nine year old frame. When most fighters gain this much weight in their career they compromise movement and speed. If we look at fighters such as Duran, Tyson and Frazier they became less effective fighters as they moved up in weight. A large part of this has to do with the distribution of the weight over their torso. When these fighters added weight, it was mainly around their mid-sections. This impeded their ability to move,bend and get leverage to deliver their punches. A few years back, I had Pacquiao pegged as an energy fighter that would add weight to his frame and become less effective because of the previously stated reason. I was wrong. I believe that Manny Pacquiao is a physical anomaly. After watching him fight David Diaz this year, I was amazed that Pacquiao was rock hard at this weight and seemed just as fast and relentless as ever. When I asked Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, about this he replied, “Manny is just filling out and adding more muscle to his body. He has really powerful legs and a large back for his size. He is just adding size to these areas.” Although Pacquiao turned pro at a body weight of 106 pounds, we must consider that Pacquiao was still a boy at that phase of his life. Not to mention the fact that poverty and improper nutrition kept Pacquiao below his natural weight. With maturity and the exposure to better food and training methods, Pacquiao gained weight in a way that has enhanced his athletic performance.

When I talked to Roach, he had just finished a tour of the country to promote the fight and was eager to talk about the issue of weight. “ Manny currently weighs 153 going into training camp. When we get to fight time we will weigh about 147. This is the exact weight he came in at the night of the Diaz fight. For us it will be a matter of weighing in and not worrying about anything. I see De La Hoya as the one having the difficulty in weight. He looks light right now, but it will be hard for him to keep his weight down that low for several months.” Roach made a point that is worth expanding on. De La Hoya has not fought at the 147 limit for eight years now. This might prove to be a difficult undertaking for him. If we look back in boxing history, the reality of fighters cutting weight in their mid thirties does not seem to favour a victorious outcome for De La Hoya. Roy Jones, Ray Leonard, Riddick Bowe, Chris Byrd and a plethora of other fighters have littered fistic history with abysmal performances after cutting weight in their thirties.

If we examine this scientifically, De La Hoya will have to shed extra weight to fight at this limit. The excess weight will probably be lost in terms of muscle mass, which is something De La Hoya cannot afford to lose. Standing at 5 '10 ½ in tall he is a lean fighter. If he strips away muscle mass, it will probably come from his torso, which is the protective buffer to his Achilles Heel: his mid-section. Punishing sparring sessions,coupled with inactivity and unnatural weight loss will make De La Hoya's mid section an especially sensitive target. Although he has a cast iron chin, his ability to take body shots has always hampered him. Look at the Hopkins, Vargas, and Mosley bouts and you will clearly see that Oscar was put in considerable jeopardy after being hit to the body. This point isn't lost on Roach either. “It is no secret that we are going to go the body. Getting in close and doing some damage will be apart of the plan, but we are also going to force him to fight three minutes of every round. This is what we did with Barrera and we will do the same to De La Hoya”.This could spell big trouble for Oscar.

De La Hoya has been plagued by a tendency of fading in fights. This is a dilemma that he has also publicly acknowledged. He has faded badly in the second half of his fights with Quartey, Trinidad,Sturm,Whittaker, Mosley and Mayweather. In an effort to address this issue he took a tune-up fight with veteran fighter Steve Forbes. De La Hoya won that fight quite convincingly and he came away with the notion that he had solved his stamina issue; in reality that problem still exists. Forbes rarely put any meaningful pressure on De La Hoya, and he isn't the type of fighter that incites fear in the hearts of those that he faces. Pacquiao is of a rare breed in this business, he is a relentless puncher; always searching and keeping alert for the right moment to unleash his fury. His shark like fighting style is what makes most fighters come unhinged, and coming unhinged from a fight plan is something De la Hoya is well acquainted with.

During his super fight with Floyd Mayweather De La Hoya was initially controlling the action with patience and clinical boxing skills. However, during the second half of this fight he mysteriously abandoned his jab. He began to mix it up and engaged in sloppy exchanges, in which the much fresher Mayweather picked him apart. One could chalk it up to a tactical error, but if we examine the Trinidad fight, he made a similar mistake as well. During this fight he abandoned his boxing strategy and ended up losing a fight he was clearly ahead in. I could list several other fights where this has happened as well, but I would be rehearsing the same point. It is not just De La Hoya's game plan that comes off at the wheels, but his ability to use his physical advantages comes up short as well. In fights against Whittaker, Mosley and Mayweather, Oscar enjoyed a considerable advantage in reach. His opponents were able to negate that advantage through their speed. I see the Pacquiao fight in the same way. Although De La Hoya has a six inch reach advantage, the difference will prove to be negligible due to Pacquiao's incredible hand speed. De La Hoya's mental strength is one of his greatest assets, but it also one of his greatest liabilities. He can be stubborn and prideful, which often leads him into trouble.

De La Hoya has showed a propensity to engage in slugging when it is clearly not in his best interest to do so. He also wastes enormous amounts of energy with unnecessary movement. These bad habits make his fights much harder than they need to be. To be successful against Pacquiao he will have to utilize a clinical, patient boxing style devoid of inconsistencies. Eric Morales proved this the first time he fought Pacquiao. When Morales veered off this path and engaged Pacquiao in toe to toe action,he was stopped both times. Juan Manuel Marquez also employed a patient boxing style, which arguably gave him the advantage over Pacquiao in their two fights. De La Hoya and Marquez are master boxers;however, it is De La Hoya's tendency to resort to slugging that causes him distress in his fights. Will he do the same against Pacquiao? If he does, he will play right into Pacquiao's hands.

A key piece of this fight will not only revolve around the ability to box, but to exploit weakness. Pacquiao's outstanding weakness is that he has a tendency to be off balance when punching. In order for De La Hoya to take advantage of this he will have to fake and draw Manny off balance. This will require quick reflexes and precise timing. I believe that De La Hoya's age and inactivity will keep him “a day late and a dollar short” on this strategy. To time Pacquiao will not be easy either. He has incredible core strength, which allows him recapture his balance in a fraction of a second. In addition to this, De La Hoya has had only five fights since 2004. This isn't in keeping with a top pound for pound fighter's schedule- to keep sharp you have to be active.

De La Hoya is also working against his own DNA. When you get older your proprioceptive senses (reactivity and reflexes) begin to diminish. It will not be outwardly noticeable to the layman, but De La Hoya will notice the changes in a huge way. When he goes to fire off combinations, or move to avoid a punch, he will notice that there will be a significant disconnect between what the mind knows that it needs to do and what the body can actually perform. We saw signs of this during the last phases of the Mayweather fight. In order to shore this up, the Forbes fight was organized so that De La Hoya could work out his timing on a much slower opponent. However, the hardest thing to fight against is your own biological limitations. Freddie Roach's comment about “De La Hoya not being able to pull the trigger anymore” is not directed at his ability to punch hard per say, but more so his ability to execute a punch in a timely manner. Roach may prove to be right on the money when he speaks of this matter. De La Hoya can change fights through the actions of his iron will though. His primary tool for dealing with any form adversity is his psychological game plan. Will it be enough for this fight?

De Hoya has stated that Roach's comments have given him the motivation necessary to win this fight. Oscar uses these statements to fire up his sympathetic nervous system and keep it on the ready. Roach is very aware of this factor. “Right now Oscar has taken me aside and given me %$*# for my comments, but we are still relatively friendly. I anticipate that as fight time draws nearer it will get quite heated”.De La Hoya is motivated the most when he has inflammatory foils such as Vargas and Mayorga to push his buttons. Pacquiao is the opposite of these adversaries; he is a mild mannered character outside the ring that is respectful of his opponents abilities. Will this provide enough fuel to fire De La Hoya's psychological engine? If anyone has the motivation necessary to prove a point it is Pacquiao. According to Roach, Pacquiao is incensed with De la Hoya. Pacquiao was sued by Golden Boy Promotions over a contractual dispute regarding promotional rights. That lawsuit has eaten away his tolerance towards De La Hoya. If that is not enough motivation for him, Pacquiao has the added incentive of being his countries biggest celebrity.

Over ninety million Filipino people watch with baited breath whenever he fights. Pacquiao takes us back to the thirties when fighters represented the struggles and hopes of their cultures. He came from humble beginnings and has risen to great heights. Many people identify with him because of this, and as the calamity of the global credit crisis spreads, many Filipino people concerned about the future, will turn to Pacquiao to distract their worries.De La Hoya is probably the most popular boxer in the world, he has luke warm support from people of his own cultural heritage. Many Mexican fans resent him for beating the legendary Mexican fighter, Julio Cesar Chavez, and have not forgiven him that indiscretion. Although Pacquiao is labeled the “Mexacutioner” for beating Mexico's top professional fighters, he also draws upon that cultural fan base as well. Many Mexican fans simply admire Pacquiao's relentless aggression and combative skills. It is something that cuts across all cultural divides.

This fight may prove to be the largest grossing fight of all time, but there is something much larger up for grabs. De La Hoya wants to leave a legacy in place and feels that he can do so only by beating the professions top pound for pound fighter. Many fans point to the fact that De La Hoya is fighting a much smaller opponent that will not give him much of a challenge. I beg to differ though. De La Hoya has given himself considerable handicaps to deal with in this fight. His reduction in weight, inactivity and inability to stay focused in a fight will be his undoing in the end. If he can overcome these obstacles, he will accomplish a great feat. De La Hoya has risen to take on the best challenges of his time and for that he should be commended, but his time has passed. This sport does not dispense golden watches for service rendered to its greatest participants. To often we are left with contrary images of great fighters that held on to the past too long. And as De La Hoya so violently unseated Julio Cesar Chavez, he too will experience this sad right of passage at the hands of Pacquiao.

De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao: A Super Fight in Question

2008-10-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

By Matthew Hurley:
In the weeks leading up to the WBA welterweight world boxing championship bout between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito rumors abound as to whom Oscar De La Hoya would choose as his dance partner in what was alleged to be his final fight in December. After Floyd Mayweather unexpectedly retired De La Hoya went through with his tune-up fight against Steve Forbes, winning by unanimous decision, and then sat back with that omnipotent and oh-so-annoying smile on his face. In the end it really didn’t matter who he fought because when Oscar occasionally sets foot in the ring his accountants dance in glee on their desktops. An Oscar De La Hoya fight means cash and lots of it, regardless of who he is swapping leather with him. No matter who he fights Oscar will get paid and paid handsomely, and the masses will come.

Unfortunately for Oscar many hardcore fans have grown tired of his act. Make no mistake, when De La Hoya was a full time fighter his naysayers were always being more than a bit disingenuous in their disdain for him. He may have crossed over into superstardom and the Fortune 500 Club but he fought nearly everyone of note and held his own in every single bout, win or lose (the one glaring exception being his loss to Bernard Hopkins). Oscar may have been a pretty boy star with well-rehearsed sound bites but he was tough to the core – a true fighter. As time wore on though, he became more businessman than fighter and those who disliked him before now loathe his apparent money lust as he dodges true contenders in the welterweight and junior middleweight divisions.

On top of his apparent unwillingness to engage fighters like Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito his record in his past six fights, dating back to 2003 is 3-3, with his ugly unanimous decision victory over Felix Sturm in 2004 seen by many as a gift. That present was wrapped up with a shiny bow in order to keep his already scheduled pay-per-view date with middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins in check. Hopkins would knock the ‘Golden Boy’ out with a body shot in the ninth round.

So, after Cotto and Margarito finished waging war on one another, with Antonio emerging victorious by a thrilling eleventh round technical knockout, many were hoping against hope that Oscar would step up and take on the true king of the welterweight division. That notion was not just impractical it was silly. Oscar was never going to fight either one of those two 147 pound monsters. Mayweather wanted no part of them either. De La Hoya, who didn’t look particularly impressive against feather fisted Steve Forbes, was suddenly lobbying for a fight with junior welterweight Ricky Hatton. In fact he was trying to sell the bout to reporters hours after Mayweather had knocked the ‘Hitman’ out back in December of 2007. He wanted a rematch with Mayweather, and it seemed a sure thing, but he also wanted to set up the popular Hatton as a potential future opponent. That should have set off the alarm bells that Oscar had no intention of fighting anyone he didn’t outweigh by at least ten pounds, and it certainly left Cotto and Margarito out in the cold.

When it became apparent that Oscar would look even further down the scale at current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao his detractors smiled derisively and said, “See, I told you so.” Pacquiao had just made his debut at lightweight, winning the WBC title from David Diaz by an impressive ninth round technical knockout. Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach, who trained De La Hoya for his losing effort against Mayweather, was all for the bout. It would represent the biggest payday Manny will likely ever get and, should he win, transform the already wildly popular fighter into a crossover superstar. From the point of view of Manny’s camp it was a no-brainer. But Pacquiao waved the fight off at first. Of course it all dealt with money, but when more was put on the table and Roach put him in a headlock and explained to him in nickels and dimes what was at stake, the Filipino icon smiled, nodded and signed on the dotted line. What difference did it make that he would be adding 12 pounds from his last fight? What difference did it make that he would be entering the ring over 40 pounds heavier than his professional debut in 1995? Money doesn’t just talk, it screams and if any fighter deserves a huge payday it is Manny Pacquiao.

The fight, set to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on December 6th, has garnered tremendous criticism from fans and pundits alike. But is it warranted? Those who believe that Pacquiao is way too small to get inside of De La Hoya’s six inch reach advantage should be reminded that the much slower and comparably sized Steve Forbes had little problem connecting against Oscar. In fact, the light hitting and slightly intimidated fighter bruised up Oscar’s face. (Forbes stands 5’ 7 ½” with a 68 inch reach. Pacquiao stands 5’ 6 ½” with a 67 inch reach.) Pacquiao is also coming off one of the best performances of his career while De La Hoya hasn’t truly looked good against a world class opponent since his rematch loss to Shane Mosley five years ago. Oscar has also come up short in several of his big time bouts – Felix Trinidad, Mosley twice, Hopkins and Mayweather. One should wonder if that plays on his mind, particularly when he’s heard all of the criticism leveled at his decision to take on Manny in the first place.

It’s really a no-win situation for Oscar. He wins, well, he’s bigger, stronger – he was supposed to win. He loses and his detractors have yet another disappointment in his career to point out.

As for Pacquiao, he’s already positioned himself into the win column. His willingness to fight anyone has endeared him to the hardcore fan base. He’s a living legend in his native Philippines (and something of an adopted countryman among Mexican fans because of his thrilling style, despite his series of bouts with Mexican idols Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.) And at 29 years of age he’s already established himself as a first ballot hall of famer. With this fight he is guaranteed a monster payday and if he pulls off the upset he replaces De La Hoya as boxing’s biggest attraction. Not bad for a guy who was once knocked out by Medgoen Singsurat in Thailand when no one thought he would amount to anything.

The De La Hoya – Pacquiao fight will be a huge event and most of those who say they will “boycott” the fight will cave in and buy it in the end. And the reason they will is because even if it turns out to be a farce and Oscar overwhelms Manny the event itself will transcend the fight. It will become, in the weeks prior to the opening bell, must see TV to any boxing junkie because the build up will be overwhelming, and non-boxing fans will suddenly become interested – such is the appeal of Oscar De La Hoya. And the mere thought that Pacquiao might actually pull off the upset against the aging ‘Golden Boy’ is much too intriguing a notion for any true fan to pass up.

De La Hoya, Pacquiao play Lady Liberty by singing each other's praises

2008-10-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

By George Willis
Special to ESPN.com


Oscar De La Hoya, far left, and Manny Pacquiao hammed for the cam in the first boxing news conference held at Liberty Island.

NEW YORK -- The ferry transporting Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao and various dignitaries across the Hudson River toward the Statue of Liberty signaled the latest extravagant promotion powered by De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions. If you thought there was a lot of hullabaloo surrounding the lead-up to De La Hoya's fight with Floyd Mayweather in May 2007, De La Hoya-Pacquiao promises to make that seem tame. The world won't have to wait to hear about De La Hoya-Pacquiao because Golden Boy Promotions, HBO and various sponsors are going to make sure the Dec. 6 fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is circled on millions of calendars.

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Chris Farina/Top Rank

Play nice, boys: Lady Liberty overlooked the proceedings as De La Hoya, left, and Pacquiao kicked off their media tour.

From buying a commemorative 12-pack of Tecate that will get you a $25 rebate, to the four-part "24/7" HBO countdown series, to the obligatory De La Hoya-Pacquiao promo T-shirts, there will be plenty of reminders about the pay-per-view fight, which despite its hefty $54.95 price tag is being billed as a way to escape the economic troubles that have engulfed the country. Kicking off a six-city media tour at the base of the Statue of Liberty was an appropriate setting, considering the millions of people who have looked up to Lady Liberty as a symbol of hope, prosperity and the free enterprise system. De La Hoya, the son of Mexican immigrants, is a symbol of the American Dream -- at least, it says so in his recently released autobiography, "American Son." Pacquiao, a native of the Philippines, has made a fortune fighting in America and will make upward of $10 million in this fight. Somewhere, boxing fans and writers alike heard Don King cackling "Only in America." "Watching the Statue of Liberty, I feel proud to be American," De La Hoya said from the dais. "With great respect I have to say this is one of the most special moments of my entire career."

Chris Farina/Top Rank

PacMan fever: Pacquiao fans turned out in droves to support their countryman.

Perhaps he was getting a little carried away, wrapping himself in the Red, White and Blue, but clearly it was a glimpse of what figures to be the boxing promotion to end all boxing promotions. But if bigger and better is the theme of Golden Boy Promotions, it's also thinking of the Pacquiao camp, which isn't about to be a prop at De La Hoya's pay-per-view party. Some have frowned on the pairing, calling it a 147-pound mismatch in favor of De La Hoya, who will carry sizeable advantages in height (four inches), reach (six inches) and normal weight into the ring. But Pacquiao, who will be moving up 17 pounds from his fight in March against Juan Manuel Marquez, figures beating a bigger fighter in name and size will only enhance his career. "Some people are criticizing Oscar for picking on a small guy like me," said the 5-foot-6½ Pacquiao. "Some are saying I'm taking the fight for the money. But on Dec. 6 I will prove all the critics wrong. It will be a great boxing match. You have seen my previous fights and you know how Manny Pacquiao fights in the ring. On Dec. 6 the fire and the intensity will be doubled. This is no mismatch." Let's hope the fire and intensity on fight night is a bit edgier than it was in the Big Apple. When the two fighters did their face-to-face stare-down for cameras, they had to wipe the smiles off their faces. But if De La Hoya can't work up a lather for Pacquiao, maybe he can for Freddie Roach, who predicted Pacquiao would win by knockout. Roach trained De La Hoya for his split-decision loss to Mayweather, but has been Pacquiao's longtime tutor and plans to educate the Filipino on all of the Golden Boy's weaknesses. "I learned a lot during the eight-week period," Roach said of his time with De La Hoya, "and now I'm going to use it against him. I know his strengths and I know his weaknesses. We're going to take advantage of his mistakes." De La Hoya admitted that Roach being in Pacquiao's corner is a "concern," but plans to have a few new tricks taught to him by Nacho Beristain, his third trainer in his past three fights. Regardless of who is in the respective corners, De La Hoya knows he'll have his hands full with what will be in front of him. "I am 35 years old, challenging a young, hungry, fast, explosive fighter like Manny Pacquiao," De la Hoya said. "It's a huge challenge for me. But when I have everything to lose and nothing to gain, to me that's the motivational factor. I have to prove to myself that I can still do this. Manny Pacquiao, the heart that he has, the fire that he has, he's a big threat to me."

LIBERTY ISLAND PRESSCON IS A ROUSING SUCCESS

2008-10-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com

Los Angeles, CA:- We just got off the phone talking with some members of the Team Pacquiao who are presently with the national tour to promote the Pacquiao-de la Hoya December 6th rumble at the MGM Grand Events Center at Las Vegas.

According to our sources, Bob Arum was exactly right. People will come to the fight, and the press conference no matter where the promoters will put it up. From the information we got, more than 500 people were at the press con no small wonder for a highly secured tourist place that is not exactly cheap to access. The photographers had a field day as the weather predicted to be somewhat rainy, cooperated thus producing an event that brought smiles to the faces of the promoters.

Pacquiao and de la Hoya came wearing “business dress down”outfits. They look so elegant standing together with Lady Liberty at the background. Pacquiao according to our sources, was just a tad more dapper in his slightly faced blue jeans, sky blue shirt, a dark coat and dark shoes. His designer shades added to his almost GQ look.

Pacquiao and de la Hoya appeared to be in very good shape and in good spirits, said our sources and they are both anxious to get it on come December 6th.

From New York, the group moves to the Windy City known as Chicago and will end the tour in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon after stops at Houston, San Antonio and San Francisco.

Top photo: With the New York City skyline as a backdrop, Oscar De La Hoya, left, speaks during a boxing press conference as Olympic gold medalist and 10-time world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao, right, currently the WBC lightweight and WBC super featherweight champions, and promoter Bob Arum look on Wednesday Oct. 1 , 2008. De La Hoya and Pacquiao will square off in a 12-round welterweight bout on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nev. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Oscar De La Hoya, left, Olympic gold medalist and 10-time world champion boxer, and Manny Pacquiao of the Phillipines, currently the WBC lightweight and WBC super featherweight champions, show their fist in front of the Statue of Liberty for a press conference, Wednesday Oct. 1 , 2008 in New York. De La Hoya and Pacquiao will square off in a 12-round welterweight bout on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, in Las Vegas, Nev. (Photo by Miguel Salazar)

PACQUIAO ARRIVES AT THE BIG APPLE, LET THE SHOW BEGIN!

2008-10-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com

Los Angeles, CA:- Word got to us that Manny Pacquiao and his entourage landed safely in New York, a little after 6 PM EST (Tuesday). Pacquiao and his group flew via a Continental Airlines commercial flight from LAX.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Pacquiao and the Golden Boy, Oscar de la Hoya, together with their respective camps and representatives from Top Rank headed by Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer of the Golden Boy Promotions will meet the press under a specially built event tent set at the famed Liberty Island in New York to begin hyping what could be the “biggest fight” in these modern times.

The Pacquiao entourage is composed of trainers Freddie Roach and Buboy Fernandez, legal adviser Franklin 'Jeng' Gacal, PR man non-pareil Winchell Campos, Joe Ramos, videographer Levi Gutierrez and the team’s new dashing photographer, Miguel Salazar.

This initial Pacquiao-de la Hoya press tour is precedent setting. It will be the very first time ever that a formal press conference announcing a boxing event will be held at the historic Liberty Island, the symbol of US hospitality for new immigrants to this country.

Given the security conscious US Homeland Security which also oversee and protect the Liberty Island by way of the National Park Services, the press conference will also be the most secured.

Pacquiao, the WBC Lightweight title holder will meet Oscar de la Hoya at an agreed weight on no more than 147 lbs. at the MGM Events Center at Las Vegas on December 6th. The fight has generated a great debate owing to the vast “difference in size, natural fighting weight, height and reach” between Pacquiao and de la Hoya.

From New York, the same group of people will move on to Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, San Francisco and finally at the Whittier area in East Los Angeles, the Golden Boy’s old stomping grounds. The tour is aimed to add more interest to the already much-hyped and sold-out ($17million live gate) December 6th event, and further bump up the expected record breaking PPV buys from fans across the country and places beyond.

PS: For whatever it is worth, when we got the word from our sources about Pacquiao’s safe arrival in New York, we were just getting into a concert featuring Arnel Pineda and Journey Band at the Greek Theater in Hollywood. It was so heart warming to see another ultra successful and talented Pinoy in person.

Top photo: Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao (R) and Filipina-Mexican-American singer Jasmine Villegas are in New York for tomorrow's opening salvo of the 6-city De La Hoya-Pacquiao promotional tour which opens at the Statue of Liberty in New York. Photo by Miguel Salazar.

News ROACH PLEASED WITH PACQUIAO’S CONDITION

2008-10-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach is clearly pleased at this early stage of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao’s preparation for his “Dream Match” against “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand on December 6. Speaking to www.insidesports.ph, Manila Standard and Viva Sports from the Wild Card Gym where Pacquiao worked out yesterday, Roach said Pacquiao was coming along “great” and they had “a very good workout before the press tour” which opens at the Statute of Liberty in New York as we reported weeks ago following a conversation with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.

Roach said Pacquiao would work out every day even during the promotional tour and said there were no problems.

He said Pacquiao went six good rounds on the punch mitts and went through the entire routine which he “normally does” in training.

Roach revealed that Pacquiao weighed 152 pounds which is just five pounds over the stipulated 147 pound limit for the De La Hoya showdown.

He said Pacquiao “looked good” and said he played basketball on Sunday and was “happy.”

When told that De La Hoya had been quoted as saying he would go for a knockout against Pacquiao, Roach who trained “The Golden Boy” for his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr retorted “he better.”

Roach added, “if you look for a knockout it never happens. You know that.”

The promotional tour opens with a lot of fanfare in New York and then moves to Chicago for the next stop. Former WBC lightweight champion David Diaz who lost his title in a ninth round demolition at the hands of Pacquiao told us he would try to make it to the tour stop in his hometown of Chicago.

Government could halt Manny Pacquiao fight against oversized opponent

2008-10-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

Ricky Hatton has become an icon with boxing fans in the UK, but could you imagine Gordon Brown, David Cameron, or Jackie Smith coming forward to express their fears over Hatton being hurt by a bigger opponent, with a longer reach? Hands off our boy!

Gallery Photo
Little and large: Pacquiao may be going a weight to far this time

In this case, 'Only in the Philippines', where Manny Pacquiao, the world-rated No 1 pound for pound fighter, is a national icon and treasure. He is the regarded as a living legend. He's a great boxer, and an honourable man. Such an icon, in fact, that warring factions in that country have called a truce when he fights, as the country grinds to a halt.

But now...a new level of 'Manny Idolatry', from a Filipino congressman, who has requested that the Government revoke, temporarily, Pacquiao's licence to stop him from entering into what Rufus Rodriguez insists may be an unfair mismatch with Oscar de la Hoya in Las Vegas in December.

"I'm afraid that Oscar can hurt Manny very badly. Pacquiao is destined to be a great boxer. We should take care of him," said Rodriguez. "Their fight in December is not for glory, but for money."

Pacquiao faces De La Hoya in a 12-round welterweight fight, Pacquiao is coming up two weight divisions, while de la Hoya must come down to the 147lb limit.

Pacquiao started his career at 106lbs. He won his first world title at flyweight. De La Hoya has won 10 world championships in six different weight classes.

I must admit that when the fight was first made - and there had been talk of Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao at one point, in front of 100,000 in an open air fight at Wembley Stadium last year - my gut instinct was that Pacquiao was undersize and De La Hoya oversize in this one. De La Hoya has fought the likes of Bernard Hopkins - at middleweight - and is coming down two divisions. Pacquiao is moving up two divisions from his natural fighting weight.

In a TV interview in the Philippines, Congressman Rodriguez said the bout should be stopped. "Manny is a national treasure. If something bad happens to him in that fight the Government and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) would be blamed."

It then emerged that there was actually some substance behind the request. Eric Buhain, chairman of the GAB, revealed that the board had passed a resolution in July which said they were against the fight. The board has actually asked Pacquiao to update them on his preparation on a weekly basis to appease all those supporting him. Congressman Rodriguez insists the Gaming Board should also inform the Nevada Commission that the Philippine Government does not sanction the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight.

Pacquiao, 29 - known in the Philippines as The Destroyer, People's Champ, and National Fist - should receive between $15 million and $20 million from the non-title fight. Pacquiao is self-managed.

DE LA HOYA WORKING HARD ON HIS LEFT JAB

2008-09-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 23 Sep 2008

“The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya agrees with fight fans who believe his left jab will be his most potent weapon against Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao when they clash in their “Dream Match” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on December 6. De La Hoya spoke to www.insidesports.ph, Manila Standard and Viva Sports by overseas telephone from Monterrey, Mexico where Golden Boy Promotions staged a highly successful fight card in which Colombia’s Antonio Pitalua scored a stunning sixth round knockout over Jose Armando Santa Cruz and will fight Edwin Valero for the WBC interim lightweight championship.

De La Hoya said “honestly I am going to work on my left jab. I want to throw it three or four or five times and I want to put my punches together. Fire combinations so I will be working on different techniques in training, up to the fight.”

De La Hoya doesn’t have a trainer as yet and this apparently worries him a little but he assured us “I will be ready for the fight.”

The Golden Boy revealed that Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, the great Mexican trainer who handled Juan Manuel Marquez among others, is on top of the list. De La Hoya said “I am going to be talking to Nacho Beristain in the next couple of days.” De La Hoya described Beristain as “a great trainer who obviously knows Pacquiao very well.”

De La Hoya claimed he has had one month’s training so far and his weight is down to 151 pounds which is a mere four pounds above the stipulated 147 pound limit for the Pacquiao fight.

He said “I feel great. I feel very motivated” emphasizing that “this fight is very serious for me.” De La Hoya reiterated that he is training very hard and expects “a very tough fight from Manny, but we’ll be ready.”

De La Hoya downplayed his height advantage over Pacquiao saying “you know I think he can give me a tough fight. I think because of the speed and his power. Age is obviously going to be a factor but all I can do is get in the best shape of my life and train like I always train, so I could be ready.”

While he conceded that by moving up to the 147 pound limit from his last fight at 135 Pacquiao will “get a little bit slower” De La Hoya noted that “Manny, a little bit slower is still faster than anybody else.”

Discussing the biggest assets of Pacquiao in relation to their “Dream Match, De La Hoya said “I think his greatest asset is his left hand. He’s got a good left hand. And the speed” saying that it was the “one thing we are working on to neutralize.”

Speaking about the promotional tour which opens on October 1 in front of the Statue of Liberty in New York said they had put together a great promotional tour where he and Pacquiao will visit places all over the US that are going to be historical. Aside from New York the tour will move to Chicago, Houston and San Antonio in Texas and San Francisco and Los Angeles.

RELIEVED PACQUIAO RETURNS TO L.A TODAY

2008-09-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 23 Sep 2008

A relieved Manny Pacquiao returns to Los Angeles on Tuesday night to begin serious training for his “Dream Match” against Oscar De La Hoya at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on December 6.

His lawyer, Atty. Franklin “Jeng” Gacal who arrived with Pacquiao on Sunday night told www.insidesports.ph that there were two reasons why Pacquiao decided to return for a brief visit. He wanted to “know first hand the effects of the financial crisis in the US on Philippine banks” and that he was completely assured that his hard-earned funds were well protected because the Philippine banking system was well protected and was not affected by the crisis in the U.S.

Gacal also reiterated what Pacquiao said on arrival that he “missed his family.” Pacquiao and his charming wife Jinkee have two sons and a daughter and she is expecting their fourth child, a girl, in December.

Gacal who returned to his hometown of General Santos City after their arrival came back to Manila Monday afternoon via Davao and confirmed they would leave for Los Angeles today.

Gacal said Pacquiao was pleased that everything was okay and he could be free of distractions and keep his focus on his preparations for the megabuck clash with De La Hoya.

LATEST UPDATE: PACQUIAO MAY TAKE TONIGHT'S FLIGHT TO L.A.

2008-09-22T02:59:00.000-07:00

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 22 Sep 2008

There’s apparently no need for supporters of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao to panic about his sudden return to the Philippines Sunday night, according to his lawyer Franklin “Jeng” Gacal.

Gacal told www.insidesports.ph, Manila Standard and Viva Sports on Monday morning that Pacquiao and he would fly back to Los Angeles on Tuesday for sure, although he said that there was a slim possibility that they may even leave aboard the Philippine Airlines flight on Monday night. The trouble is that Gacal flew to his hometown of General Santos City following their arrival from the US and while he told Pacquiao he could return to Manila right away if Manny wanted to return right away he was told they could leave on Tuesday.

The lawyer said Pacquiao returned to Manila because of concern over his substantial deposits in a big Manila bank which Gacal said “is a legitimate concern” because of the collapse of major financial institutions in the US which has affected the world economy and created a financial crisis although banks in the Philippines were reportedly not affected and were well protected.

Gacal said it would have been difficult for Pacquiao to “continue to focus and concentrate on his training” if he was concerned about his hard-earned money.

Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach told www.insidesports.ph he had “heard about” Pacquiao’s departure but hadn’t been directly informed. He said Pacquiao “needs to get focused” on his training right away.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: MANNY PACQUIAO

2008-09-19T09:07:00.002-07:00

Article By

Brad Cooney

“It doesn't matter how much bigger and taller he is, it's about what he can do in the ring.” -- Manny Pacquiao

Listen to the Manny Pacquiao audio interview here

Boxing Herald sat down with the pound for pound king, Manny Pacquiao and got his thoughts on his HUGE upcoming fight against the legendary Oscar De La Hoya. Pacquiao's training camp is already in full throttle, and the champion from General Santos City had plenty to say about what is no doubt the biggest fight of his career.

BOXING HERALD – Manny this is a huge, huge, huge fight for you. A lot of your fans are very excited.

MANNY PACQUIAO – YeS, [laughing] this is going to be a great fight.

BOXING HERALD – Talk about the matchup with you and Oscar De La Hoya.

MANNY PACQUIAO – Well, Oscar is bigger and taller than me, but it doesn't matter how much bigger and taller his is. The most important thing is what can he do in the ring. I think I have the advantage over him, and that's speed. Speed and strategy in the fight.

BOXING HERALD – A lot your fans and boxing writers feel that Oscar is too big for you. What can you say to your fans that will relax them, to make them feel that you will be OK in there against De La Hoya?

MANNY PACQUIAO – Well, what I can say is just relax, and take it easy, I can handle this. I am focused on my training. I will train hard for this fight. I came to training camp early for this fight, because I knew that I would have to.

BOXING HERALD – I heard that you will be sparring with junior middleweights and middleweights in preparation for Oscar.

MANNY PACQUIAO – Freddie found good sparring mates, taller guys like Oscar, so this will be a great, great training camp. We will have a great training camp.

BOXING HERALD – You have fought the best to offer, Marquez, Morales, Barrera etc. Now you will fight Oscar De La Hoya. Will he be the most dangerous fighter that you will have ever faced?

MANNY PACQUIAO – I can say that he's going to be the hardest fight of my career. I understand that this guy is also a great fighter. I know that he is a legend, but for me it's an honor to fight a legend like Oscar De La Hoya. I will do my best to win this fight and to make people happy.

BOXING HERALD – Do you feel that it's a possibility that Oscar might get tired in the later rounds, and that may be another key to your victory?

MANNY PACQUIAO – We believe that he may get tired in the later rounds. That is one of our advantages.

BOXING HERALD – There were a lot of negotiations that were going on in order to make this fight a reality. How difficult were the negotiations, and to finally sign the contract?

MANNY PACQUIAO – Well, the first thing was to get both parties to agree on everything. We both have agreed on the negotiations, so the fight will happen now.

BOXING HERALD – So you are happy with the percentage of your purse, and the weight that you will both be fighting at?

MANNY PACQUIAO – I am happy with the negotiation. I think now I have to focus on the training for this fight.

BOXING HERALD – What is the one thing overall that Oscar does in the ring that most concerns you?

MANNY PACQUIAO – Well first, Oscar is bigger and taller than I am. That is the first concern, and that is why we will train hard for this fight. We have a strategy in place in order for us to beat a bigger and taller guy.

BOXING HERALD – You are now getting into boxing promotions, talk about that.

MANNY PACQUIAO – It's my plan that after my boxing career, I want to be a promoter. I have a promotion coming up this September 26^th in San Diego.

BOXING HERALD – How many more fights do you think you have left in your career before you retire?

MANNY PACQUIAO – I have more fights after this one.

BOXING HERALD – Is Ricky Hatton one of them?

MANNY PACQUIAO – Maybe [laughs].

BOXING HERALD – Do you want to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. before you retire?

BOXING HERALD – That's a possibility. If I win this fight maybe Floyd Mayweather will come out of retirement looking for a big fight.

BOXING HERALD – The pound for pound king fight.

MANNY PACQUIAO – Thank you.

BOXING HERALD – Manny thank you for your time.

MANNY PACQUIAO – Thank you, Brad.

De La Hoya still after Mayweather Sr.

2008-09-19T09:07:00.001-07:00

Posted by Dan Rafael

Oscar De La Hoya has spoken to Floyd Mayweather Sr. and reiterated his hope that he will train him for his Dec. 6 welterweight showdown with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Eric Gomez told ESPN.com that De La Hoya and Mayweather spoke in recent days on the telephone to discuss the situation.

Mayweather is in a bit of a bind because he has signed on to train junior welterweight world champ Ricky Hatton -- who is promoted by De La Hoya and also one of his potential opponents -- for his Nov. 22 fight with Paulie Malignaggi, and the two training camps overlap.

Gomez said they were talking about the logistics of how Mayweather possibly train both of them. Previously, Mayweather had suggested that if both fighters trained in Big Bear, Calif., where De La Hoya has usually trained, he could split his time between the two.

"Oscar really wants Mayweather. Mayweather is his guy," Gomez said. "Oscar really believes that had Mayweather trained him, he would have beaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. It's a situation where Oscar doesn't want to interfere with Ricky, but he also has to do what is right for him. He spoke to Floyd Sr. and they think maybe they can figure something out so he can train them both."

Just in case it doesn't work out, De La Hoya plans to meet with Nacho Beristain, the leading candidate to replace Mayweather, Gomez said.

De La Hoya will be in Monterrey, Mexico, this weekend for the Jose Armando Santa Cruz-Antonio Pitalua lightweight eliminator Golden Boy is promoting there Saturday night, and Beristain has a fighter on the card.

"Oscar will be here in Monterrey and will sit down with Nacho," Gomez said. "He'll meet with him Saturday morning. It's still possible Mayweather will train him, but Oscar wants to talk to Nacho and get his perspective on things, see what his ideas would be."

Mayweather Sr. has trained De La Hoya since 2000 with the exception of the May 2007 blockbuster against Mayweather Jr., the estranged son of the trainer.