By Ronnie Nathanielsz
The recognized “Golden Boy” of boxing Oscar De La Hoya says he is “leaning towards” Floyd Mayweather Jr in a fight he hopes to make next year after it became evident that former world champion Felix “Tito” Trinidad was demanding too much money for a fight and at a weight that De La Hoya couldn’t move up to.
In an exclusive overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, De La Hoya played down fears of the speed and ring smarts of Mayweather saying “I have some good speed and good power so it should be a good fight.”
De La Hoya had earlier indicated he had lined up a number of excellent opponents for Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao who recently signed a seven-fight contract with Golden Boy Promotions including a rematch with WBC super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera, possibly next March and a return bout with Juan Manuel Marquez among others.
The head of Golden Boy Promotions whose organization is regarded as one of integrity and decency and an outfit that truly looks after its fighters earlier told Pacquiao “not to worry” about the threats of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to take legal action against him for having signed up with Golden Boy.
De La Hoya said that should Arum who he described as “a bully” file charges against Pacquiao, he would join the Filipino idol in filing a counter-suit charging Arum with harassment.
Earlier, WBC founding secretary general and eminent lawyer Rudy Salud warned Arum that he was leaving himself wide open to a harassment suit should be file a case against Pacquiao.
