By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Manny Pacquiao believes trainer Freddie Roach that he could beat an aging Oscar de la Hoya.
As a result, Pacquiao said he is ready to fight the Golden Boy if the terms are right on Dec. 6.
In an exclusive interview in his suite at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu, Pacquiao said he believes what Roach said during an interview with The Main Event panelists Dennis Principe and this writer over dzSR Sports Radio.
“I believe him [Roach] because he trained De la Hoya for his showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr.,” said Pacquiao. “If he didn’t train De la Hoya, I will not believe him immediately.”
In the Sports Radio interview, Roach revealed that Pacquiao can knock De la Hoya out. “He [De la Hoya] is the bigger guy and does have a good left hook, but he is not the same Oscar of a few years ago. He is just having trouble pulling the trigger. He is a little slower. If Steve Forbes can hit him as easily as he did, I know Pacquiao will knock him out.”
Pacquiao agreed with Roach’s observation that he would have to train for three months because of the styles and to work on a plan on how to beat De la Hoya.
Discussing the financials of a De la Hoya fight, Pacquiao said he expected to do big numbers on pay-per-view of “at least 2 million to 2.2 million [buys]. That’s my estimate.”
Pacquiao’s close friend and confidant Rex “Wakee” Salud said he, too, agreed with Roach, who doesn’t want small fights for the lightweight champ. Salud joined the chorus of fight people objecting to a fight against Humberto Soto, who is also handled by promoter Bob Arum, or World Boxing Association super featherweight champion Edwin Valero, who still hasn’t been cleared to fight in Las Vegas.
