ABS-CBN News Online Beta

"Pacquiao is at the pinnacle of his success and has defeated all of the top fighters he has faced, I am going to show the world that it stops with me," de la Hoya said in a statement e-mailed to abs-cbnNEWS.com.

Pacquiao, today's best pound-for-pound fighter, has toppled a number of de la Hoya's Mexican and Mexican-American brothers, including Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and most recently, David Diaz.

For doing so, boxing analysts and critics have called the General Santos City native "the Mexican destroyer".

De la Hoya made the statement in New York during the first stop of the six-city tour that will see him and Pacquiao visiting key US cities to announce their epic fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

"Manny Pacquiao is considered the best fighter in boxing today and I always want to fight the best," the Golden Boy and 10-time world champion said in New York.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, said that the December 6 outing is "the biggest fight" of his life.

"This is my greatest challenge," said Pacquiao of the super bout, amid reports that he may end up losing the fight since de la Hoya is taller, heavier and has a longer reach compared to him.

Despite de la Hoya's clear advantages, the Filipino, who is the reigning World Boxing Council lightweight champ, said he will give everything thing he has got.

"I promise I will fight with all of my heart and that I will give everything I have," he said.

And as always, Pacquiao the Army reservist, said he dedicates the epic battle to the people of the Philippines.

"When I take that walk to the ring to fight Oscar, I will carry all the people of The Philippines -- the entire country -- on my shoulders," he said.

Meanwhile, de la Hoya told the sports media gathered during the press conference Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) in New York's Liberty Island that he expects the fight with Pacquiao to be "long and fun."

"Be ready for a long, fun fight... I say fun because with Manny Pacquiao, there is no boring fight and that’s what I'm looking forward to," de la Hoya said during the presscon that had the Statue of Liberty as the background .

Pacquiao, for his part, said, ""Tatayo ako hangga't may hininga, hindi susuko."

And while he was all smiles during the press conference, Pacquiao had revealed earlier that he has been psyching himself up for the face-off with de la Hoya.

"Magkakaharap ulit kami ni Ginoong Dela Hoya sa Statue of Liberty hindi bilang magkaibigan. Bukas, sisimulan namin ang paghahayag ng aming mga balak at mithi para sa laban na ito," the Filipino boxing icon said in his online column, "Kumbinasyon" on Philboxing.com.

Ever the good-natured man, Pacquiao said he would not say anything bad about his de la Hoya because he respects him like any other fighter he has faced in the past.

"Para sa mga taong nakakakilala sa akin, hindi ko ugaling magsalita ng masama tungkol sa aking kalaban at siyempre, naririyan pa rin ang respeto ko sa kapwa ko boxer at kalaban," Pacquiao added. With a report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News