Oscar De La Hoya is preparing for one of his toughest fights when he faces Manny Pacquiao.
The pair meet at welterweight in the MGM in Las Vegas on December 6 and the ‘Golden Boy’ is ready to test himself again at the highest level.
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach reportedly angered De La Hoya earlier this year by saying his man would “annihilate” Oscar.
And De La Hoya revealed: “When I read reports from Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao, it is an instant threat. I feel challenged. Every top athlete looks for that challenge to motivate them.
“I need this event to get into the mountains and isolate myself for three months. It is a huge challenge for me. I have to prove to myself that I can still do this.
“We are both going to be in tremendous shape. I know the abilities of Manny Pacquiao. The heart that he has and the fire that he has is a big threat to me.”
However De La Hoya is not expecting an explosive bout between the pair.
“Be ready for a long fun fight. The reason I say fun is because with Manny Pacquiao, there is no boring fight.” he said.
The fight with Pacquiao had been tagged as De La Hoya’s ring farewell, but he revealed earlier this week that he will fight on afterwards.
