WITH just more than a week away from what could be the greatest fight of the year between two of the best boxers at present, the legendary “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya has formulized a strategy to defeat Filipino world champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in their upcoming Dec. 6 super fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

De La Hoya believes that his new trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain will be the key to his victory in his fight with Pacquiao.

“Neutralizing his speed. I don’t think it’s about being the bully in the ring. That’s where Nacho comes in. How do I beat him, Nacho? … Strategy is very, very important. I can have anyone train me physically to get in shape and go in there and do what I do, and I could probably beat him. But to make the fight easier, to make the fight so that I’m never in danger, that’s where Nacho comes into the play. The strategy, little things. That’s what he brings,” the 35-year-old former Olympian said in an interview with the Ring Magazine.(more)

RING Magazine and International Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton prefers to fight Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao than the legendary six-division word titlist “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya so he can be the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter.

“I would like it to be Pacquiao, he’s the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” the British slugger said in a report by The Sun. “If Pacquiao beats Oscar, I will get my dream of becoming the best.”

Hatton failed in his bout against the former best pound-for-pound fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr., who has since retired, following a 10th round technical knockout in their World Boxing Council welterweight bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas last December.(more)

WITH conditioning as a crucial factor because of the huge age difference, the legendary ring warrior “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya isn’t bothered if his Dec 6 mammoth fight with Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao goes the distance because he believes that he has the stamina for the whole 12 rounds since he has prepared himself hard in training camp at Big Bear.

“I’m not worried about Manny’s youth,” De La Hoya said told the Los Angeles Times. “I’m training for 12 hard rounds, and I’ll be looking for the knockout in the later rounds too, not just the early ones.”

The six-division world champion has made a lot of changes in his camp including hiring two new renowned coaches—Marquez instructor Ignacio Beristain and former Muhammad Ali trainer Angelo Dundee.(more)

AFTER Filipino boxing superstar Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s mega fight with ring legend Oscar “Golden Boy” De La Hoya on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, he would like to have another blockbuster match and that is against British slugger Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton possibly next year.

Pacquiao, who is currently training at the famed Wild Card Gym with renowned boxing trainer Freddie Roach for his upcoming battle, witnessed Hatton’s bullying of Brooklyn pugilist Paul Malignaggi last Sunday (RP time) and he believes that he is set to fight Hatton, however, his main concern right now is his opponent at hand, De La Hoya.

“I watched the fight between Hatton and Malignaggi,” Pacquiao told AOL Sports.

“I’m ready to fight Hatton, but right now I’m just focused on my next fight and I don’t want to do something that would affect my training for my next fight.”(more)

A LOT of boxing experts believe that the legendary “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya has the edge over Filipino ring superstar Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao on their Dec. 6 mega match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas but De La Hoya’s trainer himself thinks otherwise.

Experts say De La Hoya’s height and reach advantage will work greatly for him.

However, famed Mexican boxing trainer Igancio “Nacho” Beristain thinks differently.(more)