By Mark Vester
Trainer Freddie Roach is so confident that WBC lightweight champ Manny Pacquiao will stop Oscar De La Hoya on December 6, he told Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin that ringside judges are not necessary for the Las Vegas bout. A few days ago, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer told Setanta Sports that De La Hoya will beat Pacquiao by way of a brutal knockout.
"We are going to knock him out anyway," Roach said. "There’s no way we’ll lose this fight. They think I’m crazy but that’s how I see it."
The fight takes place at 147-pounds, with Pacquiao moving up by twelve-pounds and De La Hoya moving down by three [since his last fight in May]. Roach doesn't see size playing a role in the fight.
"Let’s look at the history of boxing," Roach said. "Leonard got down to 154 lbs (super-welter) and fought Terry Norris and Norris won after winning the middleweight (160 lbs), super-middle (165 lbs) and light-heavy (175 lbs)."
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