HOLLYWOOD, California: Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao declared he?s ready for his bid to boxing immortality when he takes on the legendary Oscar de la Hoya as he showcased his vaunted speed and power at the Wild Card Gym here.
Pacquiao, who weighs 151 pounds, said he is not concerned about the height or weight issues raised by some boxing pundits in the intriguing matchup between boxing?s best pound-for-pound fighter and the sport?s biggest attraction.
?I?m very comfortable at this weight,? Pacquiao said before conducting an open workout for newsmen Monday. ?A lot of people ask if I can keep my speed and power [going up to welterweight]. I think we are doing both.?
He said that apart from working on his power, his training focuses more on speed ?because speed will be the key in this fight.?
Pacquiao, who has won world titles at four different weight divisions, said the outcome of his December 6 non-title match at 147 pounds in Las Vegas would define his legacy.
?This is the biggest fight in my boxing career,? said Pacquiao, 29, who said this is the toughest training camp in his career. ?This is my chance that the name Manny Pacquiao will be known, not only in the Philippines but in boxing history.?
Pacquiao, a religious person, said his preparation for the fight focuses not only the physical and mental aspects but also on the spiritual.
The bout will be literally the biggest ever for the 5?6 +? Pacquiao against de la Hoya, who is four inches taller and has fought at middleweight (160 lbs).
De la Hoya, 35, said he considers himself a natural middleweight.
Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach said the weight factor could actually work in Manny?s favor. Roach noted that after the weigh-in for his 135-pound bout against David Diaz in June, Pacquiao was up to 147 when he stepped into the ring.
?I expected him to be sluggish putting that much weight on,? Roach said. ?You know what? He didn?t. He was great that night, he was explosive. And I think that was his best fight ever.?
Pacquiao stopped Diaz in the ninth round of that fight to win his second title for the year. Three months earlier, he snatched the World Boxing Council super featherweight title from three-time world champion Juan Manuel Marquez via a split decision.
Roach said Pacquiao is stronger at his current weight, adding that de la Hoya could be sapped of his energy losing and keeping weight going into the fight.
?You look at the history of boxing when the older guy fights the younger guy, like when [Muhammad] Ali fought [Larry] Holmes or when Joe Louis got beaten by Rocky Marciano,? Roach told Reuters.
?It?s the younger man?s time. I am 100 percent confident. I don?t think Oscar will be able to keep up and I think we will knock him out in the late rounds.?
Roach said he knows how Pacquiao can beat de la Hoya, having trained him for last year?s super welterweight showdown with then pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. De la Hoya lost on a split decision after leading in the first half of the bout, and he and Roach parted on bitter terms.
Roach said stamina would also be crucial in the fight, noting that de la Hoya tends to wilt in the latter rounds due to inactivity and the age factor.
?Oscar?s a great fighter and he trains very hard for his fights,? said Roach, a three-time trainer of the year. ?His main problem is he hasn?t fought much and age is catching up with him.?
Beaming with confidence, Pacquiao said he is prepared for whatever tactics de la Hoya brings to the fight.
He said he expects de la Hoya to go after him early in the bout, adding ?we have been working on that. And we are prepared if he?s going to come in and fight toe to toe.?
De la Hoya earlier hinted that he would disappointed if he fails to knock out Pacquiao because anything less than a convincing win would diminish his appeal to fight continue fighting.
