Oscar De La Hoya is shopping for an opponent and Manny Pacquiao is high on the list.
This was the belief of ace boxing writer Dan Rafael of ESPN.com in an article that appeared Tuesday.
Following the sudden retirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Dela Hoya has been left without a marquee name to face in his farewell fight and Rafael, formerly the top fight scribe for USA Today, believes one of them is the extremely popular Filipino southpaw.
In a story titled “De La Hoya sweepstakes kick off”, Rafael–in order of probability–named British Ricky Hatton, Sergio Mora of The Contender fame, Pacquiao, Puerto Rican Felix Trinidad, (the winner of the July 26 fight between) Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto, American Shane Mosley and Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. as candidates to land a megabuck date with the Golden Boy.
Rafael wrote: “Some will laugh and say this isn?t a realistic match because of the size difference. But you know what? They would be wrong. The fight is entirely possible and I am told that it?s a fight that De La Hoya is interested in. Obviously, Pacquiao would have to beat David Diaz on June 28 for a lightweight belt and look good doing it. I?m not sure De La Hoya wants to wait that long to set his fight, particularly because it?s no lock that Pacquiao beats Diaz. But the Pacquiao side would take the fight in a heartbeat. Back in October, when I first wrote a blog detailing my conversation with HBO?s Larry Merchant, who conceived the fight, I called Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank for his thoughts on Merchant?s fantasy. Here?s what he said back then: “We?ll take it. I don?t even have to call Manny. I am sure he would accept the challenge without question.”
“I asked Arum about it again last weekend when I was with him in Atlantic City covering Kelly Pavlik?s fight. Again, Arum said they?d be interested. He and Pacquiao know it?s a huge money fight. If it happened and Pacquiao lost, he could easily retreat to the lightweight division and go about his business.
“Let?s not forget about a couple of interesting subplots: De La Hoya would be going against his former trainer, Freddie Roach. And who can forget that De La Hoya once signed Pacquiao with a briefcase of cash in the backseat of a limo at LAX in the move that led to all-out war between Top Rank and Golden Boy. I say if this fight does happen, the winner?s purse should be paid in cash in a briefcase in the ring after the match,” said Rafael.
When it was brought up to him the first time last year, Roach said Pacquiao would look like a balloon ball if he fights De la Hoya, but following Pacquiao?s win over Juan Manuel Marquez last March, the 48-year-old cornerman said the fight taking place is not a remote possibility.
The question is: At what weight division are they going to fight?
Pacquiao will make his debut at lightweight (135 lbs) late this month, while Dela Hoya has fought in the super-welter class (154 lbs) in his last few fights, including his beating of Steve Forbes last month in Los Angeles where he weighed 150 lbs.
