Dundee says Oscar can beat Pacquiao
By NICK GIONGCO(Manila-Bulletin-Online)
Oscar de la Hoya should be able to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee on the night he faces Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas.
The Golden Boy yesterday reinforced his training team with the formalization of a deal to have the legendary Angelo Dundee as a special consultant, Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) Chief Executive Officer Richard Schaefer said.
Dundee, who called the shots for countless world champions most notably Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, will team up with Mexican maestro Nacho Beristain, who is De La Hoya’s chief trainer.
"After working with Ali and Leonard, I think it’s only fitting that I now get the chance to work with the most important fighter of this era," the 87-year-old Dundee told Dan Rafael of ESPN.com on Thursday.
"This fight against Pacquiao is the biggest fight boxing has seen in years and I’m excited to be a part of it and to help lead Oscar to victory."
"We felt to have somebody with the knowledge and the eyes and the credentials of Angelo Dundee to observe and give us his thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of De La Hoya and Pacquiao – it’s invaluable. That’s why we wanted to have Angelo as a camp consultant," Schaefer said.
Although Dundee will not play an active role in the corner during fight night, he will be asked to share his knowledge on technique and strategy when he reviews the fight videos during a visit to De La Hoya’s isolated camp in Big Bear, California, a mountain resort 8,000 feet above sea level.
"He will be sitting in the front row in the corner so that if necessary, he can yell his instructions and comments," Schaefer, who is De La Hoya’s right-hand man, said.
Of course, De La Hoya, a 1992 Olympics gold medal winner, is thrilled with the decision of Dundee to share his expertise.
"I am honored to have Angelo Dundee on my team for the biggest fight of my career," De La Hoya said. "His knowledge of the fight game is second to none, and along with Nacho Beristain, I feel like I have an unbeatable team in my corner for this fight against Pacquiao."
Dundee said he will not interfere with Beristain’s training methods as he made it crystal-clear with GBP that he will just come up with pieces of advice if asked.
"They’ll dictate the role, but whatever is necessary I will do," Dundee said. "I will speak with De La Hoya and Nacho, but I am not a guy who pushes. I’m there to help. I’m not there to mix anybody up."
Dundee had issued a prediction last week that he doesn’t see Pacquiao getting past De La Hoya.
By NICK GIONGCO(Manila-Bulletin-Online)
Oscar de la Hoya should be able to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee on the night he faces Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas.
The Golden Boy yesterday reinforced his training team with the formalization of a deal to have the legendary Angelo Dundee as a special consultant, Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) Chief Executive Officer Richard Schaefer said.
Dundee, who called the shots for countless world champions most notably Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, will team up with Mexican maestro Nacho Beristain, who is De La Hoya’s chief trainer.
"After working with Ali and Leonard, I think it’s only fitting that I now get the chance to work with the most important fighter of this era," the 87-year-old Dundee told Dan Rafael of ESPN.com on Thursday.
"This fight against Pacquiao is the biggest fight boxing has seen in years and I’m excited to be a part of it and to help lead Oscar to victory."
"We felt to have somebody with the knowledge and the eyes and the credentials of Angelo Dundee to observe and give us his thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of De La Hoya and Pacquiao – it’s invaluable. That’s why we wanted to have Angelo as a camp consultant," Schaefer said.
Although Dundee will not play an active role in the corner during fight night, he will be asked to share his knowledge on technique and strategy when he reviews the fight videos during a visit to De La Hoya’s isolated camp in Big Bear, California, a mountain resort 8,000 feet above sea level.
"He will be sitting in the front row in the corner so that if necessary, he can yell his instructions and comments," Schaefer, who is De La Hoya’s right-hand man, said.
Of course, De La Hoya, a 1992 Olympics gold medal winner, is thrilled with the decision of Dundee to share his expertise.
"I am honored to have Angelo Dundee on my team for the biggest fight of my career," De La Hoya said. "His knowledge of the fight game is second to none, and along with Nacho Beristain, I feel like I have an unbeatable team in my corner for this fight against Pacquiao."
Dundee said he will not interfere with Beristain’s training methods as he made it crystal-clear with GBP that he will just come up with pieces of advice if asked.
"They’ll dictate the role, but whatever is necessary I will do," Dundee said. "I will speak with De La Hoya and Nacho, but I am not a guy who pushes. I’m there to help. I’m not there to mix anybody up."
Dundee had issued a prediction last week that he doesn’t see Pacquiao getting past De La Hoya.
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