LAS VEGAS ? While he favors Manny Pacquiao, the Golden Boy still isn?t putting all his money on the Filipino champion.
?Manny has to be careful with his style,? said Oscar De La Hoya who made a surprise appearance at the Wild Card Gym Monday.
?Marquez?s style can make it complicated for Manny,? he added, just five days before Pacquiao squares off with Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand.
Well, speaking from experience, Marquez? counter-punching style makes it complicated for Pacquiao, that their first two fights could have really gone either way.
Marquez, in fact, is the last boxer who came close to beating Pacquiao, during their 2008 rematch.
Pacquiao was wrapping up his final sparring session when Oscar arrived in his black Bentley, and headed straight up to the gym he?d visited many times in the past.
The two superstars, who figured in a 2008 dream match, which was won by the Filipino icon inside nine rounds, touched hands and spoke briefly after the workout.
As he was about to leave, the 38-year-old Oscar faced scribes from Manila.
?We need your thoughts on this coming fight,? Oscar was told.
?Manny is now on a whole different level. Manny has been fighting Shane Mosley, myself, Miguel Cotto. Marquez has been fighting ordinary fighters,? said Oscar.
What he really meant was that Pacquiao had fought bigger guys in his last fights, while Marquez has fought no one bigger than Floyd Mayweather.
?So, that could be the difference,? said Oscar.
