By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Oscar de La Hoya’s boyhood friend and Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez says “The Golden Boy’ may decide on whether to return to the ring following his 8th round TKO loss to Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao last December 6, in two weeks.
Gomez told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that “he (De La Hoya) will let us know what he wants to do” when he meets them in two weeks.
Gomez. Said De La Hoya was “good and enjoying life and doing the stuff he enjoys with his family and as a husband and father. He’s relaxing and spending his money a little bit..”
Gomez said De La Hoya “has given us no indication one way or another” about his future career as a fighter but admitted that “he still feels bad” about the bad loss to Pacquiao” although he said “that’s sports.”
The Golden Boy Promotions executive said he was pleased to learn of the recent impressive 4th round KO victory by AJ “Bazooka” Banal over Indonesian champion Nouldy Manakane and described Banal as “a really good fighter.”
Gomez said that he thought “the pressure got to him (Banal)” in his stunning 10th round KO in his WBA Interim super flyweight title fight against Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion in Cebu last July and emphasized that Banal “has to have a special training camp” when preparing for big fights.
Gomez said it is important for top fighters like Banal, Z “The Dream” Gorres and Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista among other boxers from the ALA Gym to train at venues such as the Wild Card Gym under trainers of the quality of Freddie Roach even as he pointed out that there are many excellent sparring partners of different styles, available in Los Angeles.
