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By Ed C. Tolentino, Contributor
World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion
Manny Pacquiao has trimmed down the list of his next possible
opponents to just three—Edwin Valero, Humberto Soto and Oscar de
la Hoya.
But Pacquiao openly said that he prefers to
trade blows with de la Hoya, the popular “Golden Boy” of the
punch-for-pay business.
“Ang talagang susunod na makakalaban ko pag
hindi si Valero o Soto, si de la Hoya,” Pacquiao told a group of
select sportswriters Tuesday. “Pero kung ako ang tatanungin, si de
la Hoya ang gusto ko. For pride itong kay de la Hoya.”
For Pacquiao, de la Hoya poses as the ultimate
challenge in his boxing career. There are proposals for the bout to
take place at the welterweight limit of 147lbs de la Hoya, 39-5,
with 30 knockouts, weighed 150lbs in his last fight in May—a win
by decision over Steve Forbes.
The last time de la Hoya fought in the vicinity
of 147lbs was March 2001, when he weighed in at 146lbs for a fight
against Arturo Gatti. De la Hoya hammered Gatti into submission in
five rounds.
“Ibang klaseng training ang gagawin ko kay de
la Hoya,” said Pacquiao. “Hindi bababa sa eight weeks ang
training ko dito, siguro 11 weeks pa. Ibubuhos ko ang lahat sa laban
na ito. Sisiguraduhin ko na maganda ang kondisyon ko para kahit
anong mangyari eh walang excuses.”
De la Hoya, 35, enjoys a decisive height and
reach advantage over Pacquiao. The East Los Angeles native stands
five to 10 and a half and boasts of a 73-inch reach. Pacquiao, 29,
stands five to six and a half and has a 67-inch reach.
The heaviest fighter Pacquiao ever fought was
David Diaz, who weighed in at 130lbs for their June 28 lightweight
clash won by Pacquiao in nine rounds.
Freddie Roach had been overheard saying that the
Filipino can knock out de la Hoya. He trained de la Hoya in his
fight against Floyd Mayweather last year.
Pacquiao believes his trainer. “Matagal na
kaming magkasama ni Freddie at malaki ang tiwala ko sa kanya,”
said Pacquiao.
One potential obstacle for the fight, however,
is the fight purse the fighters stand to demand. Pacquiao, who is
reportedly eyeing a purse in the neighborhood of $20 million, wants
an even split of the pie.
“Pareho lang naman kaming boxer at pareho
naman magiging mahirap ang training namin,” Pacquiao said.
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