Oscar De La Hoya knows exactly well how to beat an opponent. That is to look at his weaknesses.
That is what he is intending to do when he plans to hire trainers of previous opponents of Manny Pacquiao like the famously known Mexican Nacho Beristain. He was notable in handling Juan Manuel Marquez, the boxer whom Pacquiao has had difficulty beating but had managed to get a draw and a split decision. Rudy Perez, Barrera's trainer is also included in the short list.
This is a wise decision on Oscar De La Hoya's part but would this be enough to beat a warrior in Pacquiao?
--------------------
Report: De la Hoya eyeing trainers of ex-Pacquiao foes
Source: GMANews.TV
09/14/2008
MANILA, Philippines – Oscar de la Hoya’s choices for his trainer include the mentors of Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera, two of Manny Pacquiao’s former opponents.
De la Hoya told ESPN.com that he is considering Rudy Perez or legendary trainer Nacho Beristain to work with him when he prepares for his highly anticipated battle with Pacquiao on December 6.
Dan Rafael, ESPN.com’s boxing expert, said Beristain, Marquez’s long-time coach, is “the leading candidate".
Under Beristain, Marquez forced Pacquiao to a draw in their first meeting and was close to beating the Filipino slugger in their rematch held earlier this year.
Beristain also guided Marquez to victory versus Joel Casamayor Saturday in Marquez’s debut in the lightweight division.
Perez, meanwhile, has worked with Barrera.
"It's just a matter of who I feel comfortable with," de la Hoya told Rafael. “At this stage of my career it's not rocket science."
De la Hoya began to look around for a trainer after his first choice, Floyd Mayweather Sr., decided to focus on Ricky Hatton.
De la Hoya is contemplating training jointly with Hatton under Mayweather. But de la Hoya and Mayweather reportedly haven’t spoken since the de la Hoya-Steve Forbes match last May where Mayweather worked de la Hoya’s corner.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Oscar De La Hoya to Tap Trainers of Ex-Pacquiao Foes
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Oscar De La Hoya's Dilemma: Manny Pacquiao's Fighting Stance
Manny Pacquiao's chances of winning against Oscar De La Hoya was backed none other than his promoter Bob Arum when he said than Oscar De La Hoya's main problem with fighting Manny Pacquiao is the way the Filipino boxer fights.
According to him, De La Hoya can't dominate southpaws even during his prime. Is there any truth to his claim? Or he was just hyping up his boxer?
--------------------
Arum: Left-handed Pacquiao to pose problems for de la Hoya
Source: abs-cbnNEWS.com
By DENNIS GASGONIA
September 10, 2008
Manny Pacquiao’s fighting stance will pose a “very big problem” for international boxing superstar Oscar de la Hoya when they meet inside the ring in Las Vegas, Nevada come December 6.
Top Rank executive promoter Bob Arum, who used to promote de la Hoya’s fights before the boxer eventually decided to become a matchmaker himself, said the Mexican-American has difficulties in handling southpaws.
“Oscar as I said time and time again, always has problems with left handers. His entire career he's only fought two southpaws. One was [Hector] Camacho … and [Pernell] Whitaker,” Arum told dzSR Sports Radio during an interview Tuesday.
Arum said though de la Hoya managed to win over the two boxers, the six-division champ had trouble dominating them and to think that he was still at his peak when he fought Camacho and Whitaker.
“So I'm very confident with Manny's chances… the way he throws his punches, he's faster than Oscar, he's elusive,” said Arum.
The Top Rank head honcho added that he will be providing Pacquaio’s trainer Freddie Roach copies of de la Hoya’s fights against Camacho and Whitaker. This way, he said, they will see de la Hoya’s disadvantages against southpaws.
Mexicans love Manny
Meanwhile, Arum echoed Roach’s claim that Pacquiao is more popular among Mexicans compared to de la Hoya.
“Manny has endeared himself to Mexicans because he's conducted himself as a gentleman and he fights like a Mexican. Manny has tremendous fans among the Mexicans,” he said.
Roach earlier said that de la Hoya has never been accepted by the true Mexican fans from Mexico. “Mexican-Americans yes, but not Mexicans,” said the hall-of-fame trainer.
“I think to some extend he may have more fans than Oscar does among Mexicans,” said Arum.
The 12-rounder non-title match between Pacquiao and de la Hoya was dubbed as “The Dream Match”. It is slated to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on December 6.
“It started out as a fantasy, Larry Merchant suggested it and then ESPN ran with it and it was a dream nobody though it would happen and now it‘s a reality. Everybody liked that title,” said Arum.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Manny Pacquiao Can Retire After Oscar De La Hoya Fight – Nazario
I don't agree with this statement by Mr. Rod Nazario, former manager of Manny Pacquiao.
His reason for Manny to retire after the fight with Oscar De La Hoya just because of the windfall of money does not justify what's Manny's purpose in doing battle in the ring.
I do believe that this fight is just the start of Manny envading the bigger stage of boxing. If he is able to beat De La Hoya, then he can be lined up and billed the same way as the Golden Boy.
More importantly, his role as the Filipino's champion and the youth's role model for success are intangible. In my own opinion, he still have some more years before he bid boxing goodbye for his retirement.
Take a look at Mr. Nazario's point of view below as to why he thinks Manny can retire after the fight with Oscar De La Hoya.
--------------------
Pacquiao can retire after DL Hoya fight – Nazario
Source: Manila Bulletin Online
By Nick Giongco
Manny Pacquiao’s former manager has expressed his concern over the wisdom of Pacquiao’s decision to fight Oscar de la Hoya in December, but said the bout could be the defining match of his career and he can retire after that, win or lose.
"After this fight, Manny can announce his retirement," said boxing promoter Rod Nazario, who handled Pacquiao from 1995 until 2005.
Nazario noted that the windfall from the fight is enough to set up even his grandchildren for life.
Pacquiao is assured of at least $ 15 million, not including the revenue from the pay-per-view buys.
In a recent rough computation made by the Bulletin, Pacquiao is expected to surpass by many millions the P1 billion mark in ring earnings from his US campaigns.
Nazario, however, warned that Pacquiao, his handlers and other boxing experts should not be lulled into believing that De La Hoya is over the hill.
"(De La Hoya) washed up? I don’t think so," said Nazario.
Nazario said that while De La Hoya has fought 44 times, and lost five since turning professional after winning the US’ only boxing gold medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the Mexican-American is not a fighter who have taken one punch too many and is just seeking his final shot at glory.
"De La Hoya has taken good care of his body and I do not agree that he is faded," Nazario said.
"Manny will be weighing in at 150 lbs on the night he climbs the ring and not more than that because he’ll be slowed down by too much weight," said Nazario.
How about De La Hoya?
"De La Hoya will weigh 160 lbs on fight night and that’s too big a difference in weight (between him and Pacquiao)."
Although both fighters have agreed to meet at the welterweight limit of 147 lbs on the official weighin that will be held on the eve of the match scheduled at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, they are going to put on additional weight in the next 24 hours.
"Manny will not gain much in the hours following the weighin but De La Hoya will bulk up since he can afford to do that because that’s his natural fighting weight," noted Nazario.
Nazario stressed that Pacquiao’s best chance to score an upset is to get inside in hopes of landing his power shots.
"But that’s not going to be easy because De La Hoya will stick out his left hand to keep Manny at bay. This is going to be tough for Manny," said Nazario, who is known to have given Pacquiao his big break on US soil in June 2001.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal said the stipulation in the contract that mandates De La Hoya to meet the welter limit of 147 lbs will force the Mexican-American to work out a sweat.
"That’s going to push him to get down (10 147) because if we failed to put in the contract that he will be penalized $ 3 million for every pound in excess of 147, he will try to come in at 150. De La Hoya already has a lot of advantages over Pacquiao and we cannot afford to give him another one," said Gacal.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Oscar De La Hoya to Pay Manny Pacquiao $3 Million for Every Pound Over 147
Team Pacquaio has struck a good deal regarding this stipulation in the fight contract. They have smartly lessen some advantages that Oscar De La Hoya may have over Manny Pacquiao come fight night.
If ever Oscar De La Hoya fails to come during the weigh-in with the right weight, Manny Pacquiao already is sure to bag several million dollars from him with his negligence.
--------------------
DL Hoya to pay $ 3 million for every pound over 147
Source: Manila Bulletin Online
By Nick Giongco
Oscar De La Hoya is dead-certain of tipping the scales at 147 lbs or even less during the official weigh-in on the eve of his Dec. 6 brawl with Manny Pacquiao.
"I have already talked with Bob Arum and he told me that Oscar has agreed that the penalty will be $ 3 million for every pound or a fraction thereof in excess of 147 lbs (during the weighin),"said Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal yesterday.
Gacal had batted for the inclusion of that agreement in the official fight contract to prevent De La Hoya from gaining more advantage as he is naturally the bigger boxer.
"Oscar is the bigger boxer, is taller (at 5-10 as to Pacquiao who is 5-6) and has the reach advantage," said Gacal, noting that the Golden Boy will have to sweat it out to make the welterweight limit.
In his last two fights — against Floyd Mayweather and Steve Forbes—De La Hoya came in at 150 lbs.
De La Hoya, who turns 36 in February next year, hasn’t fought at welterweight since stopping Arturo Gatti in March 2001 but is confident that he can still make the weight.
After destroying Gatti, De La Hoya campaigned mostly at super-welterweight (154 lbs) aside from moonlighting as a middleweight (160 lbs) in 2004.
Pacquiao, who turns 30 on Dec. 17, started out as a light-flyweight (108 lbs) when he turned pro in 1995 and has since moved up to lightweight (135 lbs), winning world titles at flyweight (112), super-bantam (122) and super-feather (130) along the way.
Despite his obvious size advantage, De La Hoya is of the opinion that by fight night, boxing fans won’t notice the difference.
"Well, I think first of all a lot of people are going to be very surprised when we’re standing next to each other. Size really isn’t going to be that much of a big difference. It’s not going to be like Roy Jones against John Ruiz with the size differential," said De La Hoya during a teleconference call from Los Angeles.
Despite the tremendous odds, Top Rank chief Bob Arum believes Pacquiao has more than genuine chances of upsetting De La Hoya.
"Manny has got lots of speed and his southpaw style will frustrate Oscar," said Arum, who promoted De La Hoya from 1992 up until 1999 when he severed ties with the 76-year-old Harvard-educated lawyer from New York.
Arum added that Pacquiao-De La Hoya will rank among the all-time greats, stressing that the match up will be mentioned in the same breath with the Ali-Frazier trilogy in the 1970s and Sugar Ray Leonard’s historic bouts with Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler of the 1980s.
"This fight has worldwide implications. It is an American Olympian fighting against the greatest fighter, the greatest athlete to come from the country of the Philippines. And, someone of my age, I realize what the Philippines has meant to the United States, what it’s meant to the world. The Philippine people fought courageously with the Americans at Bataan and Corregidor in the second World War."
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Manny Pacquiao to Settle Old Score with Oscar Dela Hoya
We can't blame Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao if he is shooting for the stars by fighting Oscar "Golden Boy" De La Hoya.
For one, a fat paycheck awaits him win or lose. Of course, this is not the only motivation and Manny don't want to go home a loser.
Second is that by beating Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao will elevate himself even more to greater heights among top boxers of all-time, which also will increase his stock and per fight purse.
So in this fight, Manny Pacquiao has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Go Pacman!
--------------------
Pacquiao to settle old score with Dela Hoya
Source: Manila Bulletin Online
By Nick Giongco
Squaring off with Oscar De La Hoya has become an obsession for Manny Pacquiao that the Filipino southpaw believes he is capable of shocking the world in the event they meet in the ring on Dec. 6.
"I know that winning against De La Hoya is going to be tough but I have full confidence in what I can do and I know I can score an upset," Pacquiao said during a brief break in his vacation with his loved ones in the United States.
While a De la Hoya fight will guarantee him the fattest paycheck of his career, Pacquiao said there’s a personal aspect in this fight that is being proposed for Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"There’s going to be lots of money involved but I also have to settle something personal (with De La Hoya)," said Pacquiao, who did not elaborate, although ringsiders believe that De La Hoya’s disenchantment with the fighter began when Pacquiao turned his back on a contract that he signed with the Golden Boy.
Pacquiao has already met and discussed the merits of a De La Hoya fight with his promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, and Arum has scheduled to meet with GBP Chief Executive Officer Richard Schaefer this Wednesday to determine whether a deal can be made between the two rival promotional outfits.
Recently, Pacquiao told a gathering of boxing beat writers, columnists and sports editors that he drools over the prospects of rumbling with a "legend like De La Hoya" and that he believes his trainer Freddie Roach is not out of his mind when he told the press that Pacquiao can get the job done even against a bigger fighter in De La Hoya.
Arum and Schaefer will deal with the revenue sharing not only in the pay-per-view, ticket sales and purse but likewise on the delicate issue of the weight limit and brand of the gloves that will be used.
Initial reports inside Team Pacquiao said the 29-year-old General Santos banger is asking million and De La Hoya has been quoted as saying that a fight involving himself would enable Pacquiao to earn up to five times the amount that he’s been getting.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar De La Hoya Boxing Fight
Greetings boxing fans!
Welcome to the "Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar De La Hoya Boxing Fight" website.
In this boxing website, you will get news updates, issues, and fight results on the upcoming boxing fight between boxing legends Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and Oscar "The Golden Boy" De La Hoya, billed as David vs. Goliath.
This blockbuster boxing fight is scheduled on December 6, 2008 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada and is expected to top the pay-per-view receipts fitting two of the most famous boxing icons in today's generation.
Who's going to emerge victorious? Will it be Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, who is being compared as David or will it be Oscar "The Golden Boy" De La Hoya who is likened to as the giant Goliath. Let's find out as we continue to watch their preparations for the upcoming big event.
