Even the weight of the gloves will now have a weight in the proposed megafight between superstars Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Paccuiao.
“If Oscar insists that Manny should use 10oz gloves, then, I don?t think the fight will materialize,” said Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal said yesterday from General Santos City.
Gacal said one of Pacquiao?s conditions is for him to be allowed to wear 8oz gloves and for De La Hoya to use 10oz gloves since he is the naturally bigger boxer.
Both camps had earlier clashed on several issues, including the split of the revenue, the catchweight and the local TV coveror.
Last week, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) Chief Executive Officer Richard Schaefer started negotiations for a lucrative clash at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas between Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound star, and De La Hoya, the pay-per-view king.
Although Arum and Schaefer failed to reach an agreement, both were upbeat about the chances of seeing the realization of a mouth-watering bout that should equal or even surpass current pay-per-view and attendance records.
While both agree that there was progress made during the two-hour talks, there was still a gap that needs to be bridged.
“We are still apart,” said Arum, noting that he plans to bring up the matter with Pacquiao as in the case with Schaefer, who expects to brief De La Hoya about outcome of the discussion.
Recently, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has given both fighters the go signal to fight at lightweight and the liberty of choosing either 8oz or 10oz gloves.
Reports from De La Hoya?s camp say the Golden Boy will demand that Pacquiao also use 10oz gloves like him, a demand that is expected to be turned down by Team Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is the current World Boxing Council lightweight (135 lbs) champion, while De La Hoya, who began his stellar career at super-feather (130 lbs), hasn?t fought below welter (147 lbs) the last 10 years.
Arum and Schaefer said it is now in the hands of Pacquiao and De La Hoya whether the fight will take place or not.
Arum has a solid backup plan in case the De La Hoya fight doesn?t work out as he has put Humberto Soto of Mexico on standby for a Nov. 1 challenge at Pacquiao?s WBC title on Nov. 1 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
Top Rank and GBP are scheduled to hold the second round of talks this week.
