By Mark Vester
After fighting at junior middleweight and above since 2001, and struggling to make 150-pounds for the May fight with Steve Forbes, there was a lot of doubt that Oscar De La Hoya would make the welterweight limit of 147 without a serious struggle. De La Hoya, who faces Manny Pacquiao at the welterweight limit on December 6 in Las Vegas, claims to already weigh 145-pounds. Pacquiao, who is moving up by two weight divisions from the lightweight limit of 135-pounds, is said to currently weigh around 151-pounds - six pounds more than De La Hoya.
De La Hoya admits that a month ago he was struggling just to get down to 150-pounds, but everything changed once he started to work hard at his camp in the high altitude location of Big Bear, California. Some of his favorite training activities include late night runs, chopping wood and hitting an old tire with a sledge hammer.
"I was shocked because I feel so strong. About a month ago, I was trying to make 150, 149, and I was feeling weak, was feeling lightheaded," De La Hoya said. "My biggest concern was my power and my speed. Coming down to welterweight has actually enhanced my speed and my punching power. Welterweight is natural for me. Now we just have to maintain for three weeks. No tamales, nothing like that. I even have to skip Thanksgiving. It's a tough life."
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