Trainer: De la Hoya 'too big' for Pacman
abs-cbnnews.com | 07/22/2008 11:16 PM
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Veteran trainer Hector Roca said Oscar de la Hoya is just "too big" for World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champ Manny Pacquiao despite the Filipino’s vaunted punching power.
A report posted on PhilBoxing.com said Roca, who is training Rafael Concepcion for a World Boxing Association (WBA) showdown with AJ "Bazooka" Banal, thinks Pacquiao could suffer the same fate like his ward Arturo Gatti.
Roca said de La Hoya made the 147-pound-limit for the clash with Gatti, "but on the night of the fight on March 24, 2001, boxing superstar [de la Hoya] was like 170 and Artuto (Gatti) didn’t put on weight." Roca said he had to ask referee Jay Nady to stop the fight in the 5th round and giving de la Hoya the win.
Roca warned the same thing could happen to Pacquiao if he comes in at 145 pounds on fight night as celebrated trainer Freddie Roach planned in order to maintain his speed. Roca predicted de La Hoya would probably weigh around 160-165 and stressed "The Golden Boy" is "gonna be a big guy."
Roca, who also trained the late Agapito Sanchez, said that Pacquiao "looked very small" during the Pacquiao-Sanchez clash on November 10, 2001. The bout ended in a draw because of Sanchez’s dirty tactics.
Roca, however, conceded that "Pacquiao has a lot of heart and now he is very good".
Tough challenge for de la Hoya
Golden Boy Promotions Vice-President Eric Gomez, meanwhile, believes that Pacquiao presents a tough challenge for de la Hoya.
In an interview over dzSR Sports Radio Tuesday morning, Gomez said they have been telling de la Hoya that Pacquiao has the tools to hurt the six-time world champion.
"We’re talking to him and telling him it’s a dangerous fight. Manny can really hurt you, and why do you want to do that? In fact, I myself, personal, as a matchmaker, I feel that a Miguel Cotto fight is easier. I feel Miguel Cotto’s style suits Oscar better," Gomez said.
Cotto, the undefeated welterweight fighter from Puerto Rico will defend his welterweight crown against Mexican Antonio Margarito this weekend in Las Vegas.
"Manny jumps around like a buzzsaw. He comes in, jumps around with different angles, I just don’t know if Oscar can have a guy coming like that at a 100 miles per hour," said Gomez.
"Miguel Cotto’s coming in from the front door. You can wait from there and catch him. But Manny Pacquiao’s the type of fighter that comes in from the front door, side door, back door, and that’s what makes him so great. The guy is so unpredictable, very strong," he said.
