Golden Boy may defer retirement if victorious vs Pacman
By ROY MEDINA, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/09/2008 1:40 AM
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Oscar de la Hoya may not opt for retirement after all.
This, however, will only happen if the 35-year-old "Golden Boy" of boxing comes out with a superb performance against Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on December 6.
"If I have a perfect performance against Manny and all the stars are aligned that night, why not?" he said. "That would be a perfect moment."
De la Hoya has said that he sees sees himself struggling to make the 147-pound cut for his clash against Pacquiao, in addition to the six-year age gap between him and the WBC lightweight champ.
"The fact that yes, I am older, and I have to come down in weight (to 147 pounds), which is going to be a struggle, is going to benefit him," de la Hoya told Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle over the weekend.
According to Boxrec.com, de la Hoya last fought at 147 lbs against Arturo Gatti. The fight, which ended in a win for de la Hoya, was on March 24, 2001. Since then, de la Hoya has fought as a light middleweight within the 150-160 lb range.
More than seven years later after that Gatti clash, the Golden Boy will indeed struggle to make the weight cut.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, has been saying that it would be easy for him to climb up in weight since he weighs at least 140 pounds when he is not in training.
Despite Pacquiao's obvious advantage in terms of age and speed, de la Hoya said he made the choice and he wants to give it all he has got.
"But I chose this fight, obviously, because he challenged me, his trainer challenged me, and it was a big challenge for me to take this fight and accept it. We realize it's going to be a battle," he said.
Mexican-Americans, yes; 'true' Mexicans, no
Meanwhile, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's coach and trainer, has said that de la Hoya may lay the claim on his Mexican heritage for all he wants but boxing fans in Mexico will not stand behind him come December 6.
“Believe me, the true Mexican fans are going to be on Manny Pacquiao’s side. Because you know what, Oscar’s never been accepted by the true Mexican fans from Mexico. Mexican-Americans yes, but not Mexicans,” Roach said last week in a radio interview with Manila-based dzSR.
Roach, a Hall of Fame trainer, added that Pacquiao's explosive style and battles with Mexico's Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez have earned him the respect of "true Mexican boxing fans."
He also clarified the "Mexican assassin" tag pinned on Pacquiao following his demolition of Barrerra, Morales and Marquez.
“People call Manny the 'Mexican Assassin' but Manny’s never really taken that name. He doesn’t dislike anybody,” Roach said.
“But believe me, the Mexican fans from Mexico will be cheering for Manny that night. I believe that with my heart," he added.
On track for politics
In a related development, Pacquiao said that he is on track to enter the world of politics after retiring from the boxing scene by 2009.
"Iyan po ang gusto kong mangyari sa aking buhay, ang makatulong sa aking mga kababayan, kahit na tapos na ako sa pagboboksing. Hindi po nagtatapos ang aking misyon sa buhay sa pagwawakas ng aking career sa boksing," Pacquiao wrote in his online column, "Kumbinasyon."
The four-time world champion said that his mission to help his fellowmen will not stop after he hangs his gloves.
He also said he respects the opinions and criticisms against his plan to run for Congress.
"Nirerespeto ko ang mga opinyon ng bawat isa sa inyo dahil iyan ang elemento ng isang tunay na demokrasya, ang marinig ang bawat tinig ng bawat isa at ang kapangyarihan ng nakararami," he said.
