By Ronnie Nathanielsz
The great Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions told Viva Sports/Manila Standard a short while ago that Philippine super featherweight champion Jimrex Jaca arrived in the US and in fact had his first workout at De La Hoya’s gym in Los Angeles today in preparation for his November 25 title fight against featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
De La Hoya called this reporter from Puerto Rico saying he wanted to clear the air following a statement by Jaca’s manager Rex “Wakee” Salud that the fight was off because he had committed to fight on the Manny Pacquiao- Erik Morales undercard on November 18.Salud claimed Golden Boy didn’t inform him that the title fight against Marquez had been re-scheduled for November 25 and only informed him after he had made a commitment.
The October 21 title fight was called off after Salud alleged that Jaca couldn’t get his B1 visa on time. Jaca himself was in fact some four pounds over the weight limit two days before the fight. However, Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez whom De La Hoya says he would trust with his life , revealed that Jaca’s visa was ready on October 11, ten days before the scheduled title fight.
In an overseas telephone conversation De La Hoya said “Jaca is here in the states. He is training, he is very excited about fighting Juan Manuel Marquez because this is a tremendous opportunity. He is making great money fighting Marquez on HBO After Dark. The latest is that Eric Gomez is making sure that he has all the sparring partners, making sure that he will be a hundred percent when he faces Marquez. So that is the latest.”
De La Hoya said he was “more than positive” that the Filipino southpaw was in the US. He said “when I spoke to Eric earlier today they told me they were at the gym, actually at my gym and he was training there and Jaca was looking really good and he was leaving to an undisclosed site.” De La Hoya remarked that he didn’t know why Gomez said that but added that “he was concerned about certain situations. But he (Gomez) said that he (Jaca) is here, is ready and is training.”
De La Hoya stressed the principles under which they work at Golden Boy saying “we are very straightforward, we are very organized, we stand up for our fighters and work behind our fighters a hundred percent and we are really excited and happy to be working with Jaca because he just signed a deal with us for three fights which we are truly excited about because Jaca is a really good fighter. This is his great opportunity to really do something here in the states and we offered him good money, he is extremely happy and is very motivated."
De La Hoya said he was confused by the actions of Salud and said “ I don’t understand why he would take him and put him on a Top Rank show and pay him less money. He is getting a world title shot and making a lot of money. Its confusing to me.”
The architect of the highly respected Golden Boy Promotions said “I am really not concerned about him pulling out anymore.” He said he was calling Gomez last night every minute asking Gomez whether Jaca got on the plane and he said “yes he is on the plane and is coming to LA and when I called him this morning and when he (Gomez) said Jaca was training in the gym I was relieved. I am not concerned at all. The fight is going to happen.”
De La Hoya also disclosed that Golden Boy had sent Bob Arum “a very, very strong letter that if he interferes – now we can say it – with our fighter Jaca, there will be some complications. I hope he doesn’t do that. I hope nobody interferes with the fight. I feel that the fighter deserves first of all to have an opportunity for a world title, obviously the experience and the money so I hope nobody interferes with that.”
He said “I don’t personally know Wakee Salud and I don’t really understand it.”
