Dela Hoya Camp in Disarray

All’s not well in Dela Hoya camp? By Abac Cordero Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Oscar dela Hoya tapping 87-year-old Angelo Dundee to be part of his training team so close to the fight is not a good sign that all’s well in the Golden Boy camp. “Hindi ko alam ang dahilan pero siguro hindi sila nagkaka-sundo (I don’t know what the reason is but maybe they couldn’t agree among themselves),” said Manny Pacquiao. He graced yesterday’s PSA Forum via phone patch from his posh Los Angeles apartment, and was asked to comment on Dundee’s sudden inclusion in the Dela Hoya team. Dundee was named part of the team last week and critics doubted the need since Dela Hoya is already training for a month under Nacho Beristain in his secluded Big Bear camp. It’s possible that Dela Hoya was looking for a second opinion regarding the technique and strategy he’d need to employ against Pacquiao in their Dec. 6 “Dream Match.” And there’s no question as to what Dundee is capable of doing during the last five weeks of training, having been with the best boxers and through some of the biggest fights in history. While his conditioning coach Alex Ariza said “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” Pacquiao said it’s possible for Dela Hoya to learn a good thing or two from the legendary trainer. “Puwede pa. Mahabang time pa ‘yan. Puwede pa makapag-bago ng kaunting style kaya siguro kumuha pa ng ibang trainer (It’s possible with the time left. He can still adjust his style),” said Pacquiao. Beristain is Dela Hoya’s third trainer in his last three fights, having been with Roach for his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May of 2007, and with Floyd Mayweather Sr. for his fight with Steve Forbes in May this year. Pacquiao and Roach, on the other hand, seem to be an inseparable pair since they hooked up in 2001, except for last year when the American trained Dela Hoya after guiding the Filipino past Jorge Solis. Roach said he doesn’t mind Dundee being included in the Dela Hoya team. “No one is going to be able to help Oscar pull the trigger when he faces Manny on Dec. 6,” said Roach, a two-time Trainer of the Year.