It seems that everybody in the boxing industry has an opinion on what is being billed as the biggest fight ever, between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2. But few of those opinions carry as much weight as Oscar De La Hoya’s.
The Olympic gold medalist and former world title holder turned promoter fought both Mayweather and Pacquiao before retiring in 2009.
De La Hoya has said that Mayweather has the advantage in the fight, but he told The Desert Sun on Wednesday that he expects Pacquiao to be in the best shape of his career.
For Mayweather to win, he’ll need to “sustain the pressure for 12 whole rounds again Manny Pacquiao,” De La Hoya said.
For the longest time, De La Hoya, like everyone else, wasn’t so sure the fight would ever materialize. And although he isn’t connected to either boxer, he has some leverage to help facilitate the fight.
Mayweather has maintained for months that he was going to fight on May 2, whether it was against Pacquiao or someone else. The fact that De La Hoya had a boxer in Saul “El Canelo” Alvarez fighting the same night caused a conflict for Mayweather’s potential draw. De La Hoya said he would only move the Alvarez fight to May 9 if Mayweather agreed to fight Pacquiao.
“I do feel that Mayweather was pressured into this fight,” De La Hoya said. “I believe that Mayweather was boxed in from the pressure coming from (CBS CEO) Les Moonves, the pressure coming from (Top Rank CEO) Bob Arum, the pressure coming from Pacquiao and the pressure coming from Golden Boy.
“We’ve said all along that we want to see the best fights for the fans, and we stuck to our guns with Canelo fighting May 2, and the only way we were going to move is if Mayweather-Pacquiao is made, and it was made, sure enough.
“As long as these fights are being made, as long as the fans are happy, that’s all that matters.”
De La Hoya fought both Mayweather and Pacquiao more than five years ago, but has followed them closely since. He said that Pacquiao is the same fighter: “aggressive, fun to watch, never a dull moment.” Mayweather, he says, has changed in that he is surviving more, not getting hit and not taking as many risks.
Which style will prevail?
De La Hoya has previously leaned toward Mayweather, but said this week that it will ultimately come down to which fighter sticks to their strengths.
“I feel that come May 2, it’s going to be such a great fight because of their styles,” De La Hoya said. “Pacquiao is going to force the fight. It’s a matter of if Pacquiao can cut the ring off and connect them. I think it’s going to be a wonderful fight.”
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