MANNY PACQUIAO holds the rare distinction of forcing into retirement two of the best Mexican boxers?Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, both three-time world champions.
Can Pacquiao, 29, and a world champion in four weight categories, do it again and show the legendary Oscar de la Hoya the door to retirement?
Renowned trainer Freddie Roach said his prized ward could do it, just as he did when he knocked out Barrera and Morales that led to their hanging their gloves.
De la Hoya said in a conference call today that he would continue fighting only if he comes out successful against Pacquiao in a match he is taking very seriously.
?[If] I can beat a young, hungry lion like Manny Pacquiao and the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, it helps me to realize that I can still do this against the young guns, the hungry lions out there,? said de la Hoya, 35, a 10-time world champion in six weight classes. ?And, therefore we move on to the next if we come out successful.?
De la Hoya said his principal motivation for his coming fight is Manny Pacquiao?his explosiveness, punching power, speed and youth.
?I have nothing bad to say about Manny?but I?m oozing with motivation, that?s for sure,? de la Hoya said.
De la Hoya, who has dispelled doubts about him making the 147-pound agreed weight, said he is wary of the fact that Pacquiao is also dealing with the issue of moving up in weight nicely.
?They?re gaining the weight properly. Manny?s looking fast. He?s looking strong. I think it?s going to be an advantage for Manny to come up in weight. I think he?s going to be the same Manny as we saw in the lower weight class,? de la Hoya said.
De la Hoya, who bulked up to 160 pounds to fight middleweights Felix Sturm and Bernard Hopkins, said going up in weight improves a fighter?s ability to take a punch.
?Well, when you put on the weight, you can take the punch,? he said. ?And obviously big or small, what matters is if you have a chin, if you have the heart, if you have the desire to win.?
De la Hoya said that although his power and speed has improved when he shed weight, his biggest concern is how his body will react to the weight loss during the actual fight.
?I?m feeling great here in training camp, but come fight night it?s a whole different story. My conditioning has been a big issue for a lot of people over the years,? he said.
