De la Hoya in early bird training for Pacquiao clash
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/04/2008 3:48 PM
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One thing is for sure. "The Golden Boy" Oscar de la Hoya is not taking his December 6 showdown with Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao lightly despite reports that he is too big and too strong and may likely demolish the little guy from the Philippines.
De la Hoya's early bird training was revealed to Manila-based sports analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz Thursday by no less than the Golden Boy's childhood friend, Eric Gomez.
Gomez, who is also vice-presdent of de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, said "Oscar is already training."
"[He has] started running and doing light exercises but he will start his boxing camp in Big Bear in October," Gomez added, saying that the pre-camp training was set up in Puerto Rico.
Gomez also said he is confident that de la Hoya will make the stipulated 147-pound limit for the Pacquiao fight. "That’s something a lot of people don’t know about Oscar. [It's just] a matter of dieting and eating the right food to make the weight."
He said that de la Hoya used to eat a lot of proteins and stuff to get up in weight. "He never used to diet. He ate whatever he wanted."
But in making make the weight, Gomez said he sees no problem for de la Hoya who weighed in last week at 153 pounds "without even starting boxing."
"That’s his natural weight. He won’t have a problem making the weight. He’ll be fine," he said.
[De la Hoya] is a consummate professional and he knows what he has to do. He is a veteran and he knows that it’s very important for him to be well within his weight." Gomez said.
Recently, de la Hoya laughed off the imposition by Team Pacquiao of a fine of $3 million for every pound or fraction thereof over the 147 limit.
"Make it $5 million it doesn’t matter. He is going to make the weight," Gomez said.
