By Mark Vester

Former six-division champion Oscar De La Hoya, during a recent appearance on Sportscenter, spoke about his upcoming fight with Manny Pacquiao on December 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and his desire to fight a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. 

De La Hoya has obviously watched both of Pacquiao's tough battles with Juan Manuel Marquez. He promotes Marquez under his company, Golden Boy Promotions, and sat ringside for their March rematch. He revealed that he's been analyzing some of the tactics used by Marquez that gave Pacquiao so much trouble, and plans to use those tactics in December.  

"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," De La Hoya said. 

"Obviously 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 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 Pacquiao, when he comes in with his explosive style and his hard punches, [that] I have to make sure that I have my hands up."

As far as why he took the fight over several other possible challenges, De La Hoya went through the same script, stating that Pacquiao called him out and Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said he could no longer pull the trigger.

"The fact that they challenged me. The best fighter on the planet, the fact that he challenged me. The fact that he said that he could knock me out. And I think the fact that Freddie Roach who trained me for Mayweather Jr. says I could no longer pull the trigger anymore. Ok, well lets 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," De La Hoya said.

De La Hoya said that he would still love to fight a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr, who retired a few months ago. Mayweather won a split-decision over De La Hoya last May. Oscar even took a minor shot a Floyd, stating that "Mayweather needs the money." An obvious knock on Mayweather's recent headlines having to do with $7 million dollars worth of jewelry being stolen from Floyd's Vegas home, and the $8 million dollar lawsuit against Floyd for defaulting on a payment for a new house in Miami, Florida.

"Obviously I don’t lose sleep over it. I do sometimes think 'wow, if I can have that rematch, how different it would be.' When I fought Floyd Mayweather Jr, 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 whole different story - that's for sure. I hear he needs the money," De La Hoya said.

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