It was almost as bad as water boarding. They tortured the media by keeping us on hold for at least eight minutes.
And then on what seemed like the Seventh Day, the God of Boxing spoke the magic words:
?To me, this is a challenge. When a certain person in the boxing industry (HBO?s Larry Merchant) first mentioned this, it stuck in my head. Yes, I am older and bigger and, yes, he is younger and stronger?When Freddie Roach said Manny Pacquiao, the fighter I trained, can beat you, it started to become personal to me. To me, it?s a challenge because people are talking about Manny Pacquiao can beat me?Well, we will see on Dec. 6.?
De La Hoya, who sounded as though he has a cold, said the size difference is not that material and that ?it is not like John Ruiz fighting Roy Jones.?
Pacman was also on the conference, perhaps trying to fight off sleep as he started speaking about 2:15 am Filipino time.
?Hello,? MP said, ?this fight will really be a difficult fight for me but I know some people say it is a very easy fight for Oscar but you know what?I always do my job in the ring, to give a good fight. I think I can beat De La Hoya. I saw his last match and I think I am faster and stronger than him. And I am younger. Also I believe I can beat him in the way that I beat (David) Diaz in my last fight. My speed?Oscar does have a height advantage but I believe I am stronger than him. It is going to be a great fight on Dec. 6.?
The first speaker was Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer and his intro quickly gave the news away.
?Only one fight has people talking,? Schaefer said. ?Everyone has an opinion on this fight one way or another
Co-promoter Bob Arum: ?I am thrilled. This fight has worldwide implications. As someone of my age, I realize what the Philippines have meant to the United States and to the world. The Filipinos who fought so bravely along with Americans at Bataan and elsewhere. The Filipinos are a fighting people. And Manny Pacquiao is the best Filipino fighter ever. This fight will demonstrate that boxing is the most popular sport worldwide. Everybody knows the pride the Filipinos have in Manny Pacquiao.?
Schaefer said ticket details would shortly be announced. He also said a media press tour schedule will be announced.
Schaefer took time to credit HBO commentator Merchant with first proposing the fight.
Asked about the revenue split, Arum said Manny asked him not to discuss the specifics. Schaefer agreed with that.
?It was give and take, both fighters wanted the fight,? Schaefer said.
De La Hoya said he wanted to have a ?100 percent focus? on Pacquiao and would not commit to this being his final professional bout.
