Pacman to face de la Hoya
Thu, November 27 2008
De la Hoya, training at the Big Bear retreat in the California mountains, had to lose weight to reach the 147-pound limit to meet Pacquiao, who will have to gain weight to set up the “Dream Match.”
Pacquiao, aka Pacman of the Philippines, who has captured world titles at four different weight divisions, takes on Los Angeles native De La Hoya in Las Vegas.
“Training camp is going well. Being up here has once again ignited that fire in my belly that hasn’t been ignited in many years,” de la Hoya said.
“Now that many weeks have passed by, I feel very comfortable with welterweight. I don’t think we’re sacrificing any power. We’re punching harder than ever.”
Pacquiao will enter the ring 47-3, with two drawn and 35 knockouts while de la Hoya, in his first welterweight fight since a 2000 knockout of Arturo Gatti, is 39-5 with 30 knockouts.
“I will be extremely disappointed if this fight does not end in a knockout. It would be a total disaster for me.”
De la Hoya shrugged off criticism from Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer. “It’s his way of pumping up his fighter. Me and Manny Pacquiao, we don’t have to say anything bad about each other,” de la Hoya said.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would fight Manny Pacquiao,” said de la Hoya.
