Manny Pacquiao says he can handle Oscar dela Hoya.
And he wants the fight against the Golden Boy in December.
?Kaya ko yan (I can handle it),? said Pacquiao Monday evening during a star-studded party hosted by former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson at Corinthian Gardens.
Pacquiao sounded confident when he said he can handle Dela Hoya, the king of pay-per-view. He said things look bright for the fight to push through on Dec. 6.
?Timbang ang pag-uusapan (Weight will be the issue),? he said, adding that it would be fine with him if Dela Hoya, much taller and heavier, would fight him at 147 lbs.
?Okay sa akin yung 147. Titimbang ako ng 142 tapos sa laban mga 148 or 149 pounds ako (I?m fine with 147. I can weigh in at 142 and for the fight I?d be 148 or 149 pounds),? he said.
Dela Hoya stands 5?10 and has fought his last three fights at light-middleweight (150 lbs) while Pacquiao is a shade under 5?7? and had just moved up as a lightweight (135 lbs).
Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao will beat Dela Hoya with both his power and speed. He said Dela Hoya, at 35 and after 44 big fights, ?can?t pull the trigger anymore.?
Dela Hoya is on his way to retirement, and said his next fight, booked at the MGM Grand, may be his last. A fight with Pacquiao could be the perfect ending to his great career.
It?s a fight people will look forward to if sealed. And it?s a fight that could generate record sales on the pay-per-view, and a record purse for the 29-year-old Filipino megastar.
For fighting Floyd Mayweather in May last year, Dela Hoya took a guaranteed purse of $25 million but got much, much more than that in the end, despite losing via decision.
Reports said Pacquiao, acknowledged as the best pound-for-pound fighter today, could get as much as $20 million (close to a billion pesos) against Dela Hoya when everything comes in.
Pacquiao flies to US tomorrow to meet with his promoter Bob Arum and discuss all the possibilities regarding his next fight.
?Basta tatlo pa din sila na puwede makalaban. Si Oscar, si (Edwin) Valero or si (Humberto) Soto,? he said.
Dela Hoya, who?s also looking at Miguel Cotto as his next opponent, reportedly said the other day he would take the fight with Pacquiao if the latter asks for it.
Pacquiao is asking for it.
