SACRAMENTO, California?Oscar De La Hoya honored Manny Pacquiao on Friday by appointing him captain of the RP team in the Boxing World Cup before throwing a sharp verbal combination aimed at making the Filipino boxing super hero mend his rotten ways.
Swearing he had been disappointed by Pacquiao?s recent behavior, De La Hoya told reporters at the conclusion of a press conference inside the Arco Arena here that Pacquiao must learn to conduct himself like a true gentleman and champion.
?He has a responsibility to be responsible,? the Golden Boy of boxing said.
De La Hoya, trim and handsome in a light gray suit, at first hesitated to honestly bare his disappointment at Pacquiao?s repeated refusal to take the plane to California to start training and help drumbeat his Oct. 6 rematch with Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera.
But sensing a chance to be of help in reforming Pacquiao, he said: ?It?s never too late to knock some sense into his head.?
De La Hoya, whom Pacquiao jilted when he signed up with Bob Arum of Top Rank?despite having previously inked a seven-fight contract with Golden Boy Promotions?explained he has never lost respect for the Filipino boxing idol.
?Manny has always been nice to me,? he said. ?We have a mutual respect for each other. I just hope to help do what?s right for his career.?
The promotional tussle between GBP and Arum?s Top Rank reached the courts but De La Hoya later agreed to step aside, thus paving the way for a joint venture between the two outfits for Pacquiao?s next fight slated in Las Vegas.
?I am a businessman, but I am always ready to do what?s right for boxing,? said De La Hoya, whose reconciliation with Arum proved beneficial to Pacquiao, who was again assured of a hefty payday for his upcoming fight.
?Frankly, I want to give Manny advice so he won?t keep on making the same mistakes.?
So how did the Golden Boy get rid of the parasites in his outfit?
?I woke up one day and told myself enough is enough,? he bared.
He said he got himself a trustworthy lawyer and went on to work as a team.
?I had to start from scratch, but a lot of fighters can now look at my career and learn from it,? he said.
Meanwhile WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, with whom Pacquiao figured in a controversial draw in 2004, was appointed captain of the Mexican World Cup team.
Pacquiao is expected to be in Sacramento when the RP team takes on the Mexicans on Saturday.
