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Philippines, 20 May 2024 |
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PACQUIAO RELIES ON ?GOD? AND ROACH FOR WIN VS DE LA HOYA By Alex P. Vidal PhilBoxing.com Fri, 05 Dec 2008 LAS VEGAS, Nevada ? Manny Pacquiao has shown a tremendous devotion to God as he admitted that he prays a lot for ?the most important fight of my life? against the extremely popular Oscar De La Hoya in a 12-round ?Dream Match? on December 6 at the MGM Grand, here. Aside form his spiritual preparations, Pacquiao also relies heavily on the wisdom of his prized trainer and adopted father Freddie Roach who has assured him ?De La Hoya could not anymore pull the trigger? thus he can knock out the 10-time world champion in six different weight categories in their non-title duel. ?My advantage is, Freddie Roach knows the weaknesses and many other things about De La Hoya,? Pacquiao said. Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs) also stressed that he never missed his regular ?habit? of always communing with God. Aside from being physically prepared for the historic shootout with the East L.A.-based De La Hoya (39-5, 30 KOs), Pacquiao said he is spiritually ready, as well. The best boxer pound-for-pound boxer repeated his mysticism in the podium during the press conference which caught the attention of CEO Richard Schaefer and De La Hoya himself who were seated on Pacquiao?s right side. Pacquiao has indicated that he loves to fight De La Hoya in a toe-to-toe slugfest ?because that is my style.? Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has promised a knockout win for his ward in the ninth or 10th round. ?Pacquiao is quicker. He has the speed and speed kills,? the 78-year-old promoter reiterated after the final press conference December 3. World middleweight champion Bernard ?The Executioner? Hopkins, the only man to beat De La Hoya by technical knockout (TKO) on September 18, 2004, however, disagreed with all those who believed that Pacquiao will upset the actor-cum-boxer who won the United States? lone boxing gold medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. ?Do they have amnesia?? the 43 Hopkins hollered. ?There is no way a smaller boxer can beat the bigger boxer and Pacquiao will be badly beaten by the heavier De La Hoya.? Hopkins said no other boxer today can demolish De La Hoya in the same fashion when he put the Golden Boy on the canvas also at the MGM Grand four years ago. Hopkins also cautioned Pacquiao to watch out for De La Hoya?s ?wicked? left hook which had sent to dreamland former Olympian Fernando Vargas (TKO 11) and the talkative Nicaraguan Ricardo Mayorga (KO 6). Hopkins said Vargas and Mayorga also packed wallop in both fists and are heavier than Pacquiao. ?Look what happened to them, guys?? Hopkins concluded. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.  |
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