by James Slater – Oscar De La Hoya has always been very good at hyping a fight, especially if it’s one of his own. Well, though the upcoming De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao fight doesn’t need any further hype to become a huge success, a little more never hurts. And the 35-year-old legend has been talking recently with ESPN on the December 6th fight.
Calling the welterweight clash dubbed “The Dream Match,” a “global event” and “the biggest event in boxing history,” De La Hoya certainly talked the fight up big style. “The Golden Boy” also talked tactics and gave a little away as to what type of fight the bout may well become. Having been studying both of Pacquiao’s close calls with Juan Manuel Marquez, two of “Pac-Man’s” toughest fights, De La Hoya has been formulating his game-plan.
“Well, watching both fights, obviously Juan Manuel Marquez is such a crafty boxer. He has changed his style a bit so he could be more of an aggressive puncher, a more pleasing style for the fans and obviously that’s helped his career out quite a bit,” Oscar said of the fighter he promotes, in Marquez. “I have to be smart. I have to use my jab. I have to be rangy in that ring, just the way Juan Manuel Marquez did against him [Pacquiao] in both of their fights. He was using that long jab. He was using those long right hands. I just have to make sure that when Pacquiao comes in with his explosive style and his hard punches, I have to make sure that I have my hands up.”
Always a smart boxer, it seems De La Hoya is not in any way looking at the Pacquiao fight as a foregone conclusion. Oscar also revealed why he took this fight, instead of the number of others that were possibilities.
“The fact that they challenged me. The best fighter on the planet, the fact that he challenged me. The fact that he said he could knock me out,” De La Hoya said in giving his reasons for wanting the fight. “And I think the fact that Freddie Roach said I could no longer pull the trigger anymore. Okay, well let’s see what’s going to happen in December. And also the fact that this is going to be the biggest event in boxing history. This is a global event. It’s great for the sport.”
As focused as he is on Manny Pacquaio and December 6th, Oscar also says he would still like a second fight with Floyd Mayweather Junior, who has been suffering some financial woes as of late.
“I don’t lose sleep over it, ” De La Hoya said with regards to a return with Mayweather. “I do sometimes think, ‘Wow, if I can have that rematch, how different it would be.’ When I fought Floyd Mayweather Junior, it was actually easy when I was throwing the jab. For some reason I stopped throwing it and if we did fight in the near future it would be a totally different story – that’s for sure. I hear he needs the money!”
You’ve got to hand it to Oscar, he’s one of the best talkers in the game!