Sunday, August 03, 2008 Roach's disrespect fuels De La Hoya
AFTER being criticized by renowned boxing trainer Freddie Roach, the legendary six-division world champion “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya is fueled to fight current World Boxing Council lightweight titleholder Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao because he wants to prove that he still have what it takes.
“Oscar really wants to do the fight. You know Oscar, he honestly feels that Freddie and Pacquiao have been disrespectful,” Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer said in an interview with Espn.com.
“Oscar will show them how he can pull the trigger. Pacquiao is being Freddie Roach’s puppet and Oscar wants to teach a lesson to them,” he said.
Roach recently said that, “Oscar is older and he can’t pull the trigger anymore.”
Schaefer feels that the 29-year-old Filipino champion is the best fighter at present but he is confident that De La Hoya will beat him.
“Manny is the best fighter in the world, pound for pound, but Manny will see how Oscar pulls the trigger in the ring and Freddie can sit in the corner and watch Oscar hit him,” said Schaefer.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is set to meet with Schaefer next week to talk about the proposed De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao dream match on Dec. 6.
“I am going to meet with him and if we can work out a deal that is acceptable to Bob, Manny and to us, then we will get the fight done,” said Schaefer. “Bob and I have a pretty good track record of making big fights. I will sit down with Bob on Wednesday and I think we will know in a half-hour if we have a deal or not.”
One of the blockbuster matches that GBP and Top Rank created was the rematch of Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez last March 15, which resulted in Pacquiao winning the WBC super featherweight crown in a split decision.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s mother Dionisia is against the planned battle of his son and the bigger De La Hoya.
“Don’t bet your life just because of money,” said Dionisia told Philboxing.com She is in Cebu City right now with his other son Bobby “The Sniper” Pacquiao and is yet to talk with Manny about this issue. (EKA)
