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[Splandman]

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De La Hoya antes up!
67/33 cut makes fight more likely
Report by Dennis Principe
The camp of boxing superstar Oscar De La Hoya has reportedly anted up their offer for Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao to make their dream fight a reality before the end of the year. A reliable source privy to the negotiations told Fightnews that representatives of both boxing superstars are now looking at a 67-33 split, in favor of De La Hoya, to make the fight happen. Talks have been on and off the past few weeks as De La Hoya remained firm in giving Pacquiao 30%, while the Filipino champion has been unyielding in asking for a 40% share of the total revenue.
The same source said Top Rank Inc. top gun Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) Chief Executive Officer Richard Schaefer are now having encouraging discussions, and that an official announcement may be made by next week. Arum, representing Pacquiao, is currently in France for a much-needed break. The indefatigable American promoter will be in Youngstown, Ohio, next week to promote a major card featuring one of his fighters, undisputed middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik who will meet former kingpin Bernard Hopkins on October 18 in New Jersey. American trainer Freddie Roach has been adamant in wanting to get the fight done for Pacquiao, and believes his Filipino ward has what it takes to win against De La Hoya. In an interview with Philippine radio show "Sports Chat,” he stated: “I know we have to fight a very good fight and we need to have a great training camp and great sparring partners. The whole thing is preparation. And that's what Manny does best.”

This seems to go back and forth a lot.

[Paytheplayer]

WAR Pacquiao

[NCBA]

yup

[goldie1692]

Sportscenter just announced it for December 6th.

[JimmyMoore]

After more drama than a sorority social, the fight is on!

DELAHOYA - PACQUIAO IS ON!
The wait is over and the fight is on…Olympic gold medalist and 10-time world champion "The Golden Boy" OSCAR DE LA HOYA will face current Ring Magazine No. 1-ranked pound for pound champion MANNY "Pacman" PACQUIAO on Saturday, December 6 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada in a bout that will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.


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Presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank, Inc., the bout will be a 12-round, non-title fight contested at the 147-pound welterweight limit. This exciting and intriguing match-up pits two of the most recognizable and popular talents in the sport today in what will surely be the grand finale of the 2008 boxing calendar year.
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"Manny Pacquiao is considered the best fighter in boxing today and I always want to fight the best," said De La Hoya. "I am glad we were able to make this fight happen because while Pacquiao is at the pinnacle of his success and has defeated all of the top fighters he has faced, I am going to show the world that it stops with me. December 6 can't get here soon enough."
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"This is my greatest challenge," said Pacquiao. "When I take that walk to the ring to fight Oscar, I will carry all the people of The Philippines - the entire country - on my shoulders. I promise I will fight with all of my heart and that I will give everything I have. Like my trainer Freddie Roach says, I have what it takes to win the biggest fight of my life."
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After several weeks of amicable discussions between De La Hoya's company, Golden Boy Promotions, and Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank, Inc., a deal was struck this week ensuring fans around the world the opportunity to see this dream match-up.
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Richard Schaefer, Chief Executive Officer, Golden Boy Promotions said, "This fight will have the whole world talking and will be a fantastic night for boxing. Oscar's career has always been defined by taking on the biggest challenges and fighting best names in boxing. This fight against a great champion like Manny Pacquiao is just another testament to his readiness to face the strongest competition and continue his legacy as one of the greatest fighters boxing has ever seen."
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Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, Chairman of the Board, Top Rank added, "This fight is what all sports fans are looking forward to, a contest between two champions who come to fight and who are the most popular names in boxing today. Manny Pacquiao is taking on a major task in facing the legendary Oscar de la Hoya, but we at Top Rank are very confident Manny will handle himself extremely well."

[Adambomb]

This is crap. Manny is amazing but De La Hoya is too big and skilled. I've been an Oscar fan for years but he's a chump for refusing to fight Margarito. Margarito is the legit champ at 147 right now, something Oscar hasn't been in a long time. Instead of taking on an elite fighter his own size he's picking on a much smaller opponent. It's just sad.

All Oscar's losses came to guys who were arguably the #1 P4P fighters in the world when he fought them; Floyd, Mosley, Hopkins, and Tito (even though I thought he won). De Le Hoya's legacy will be on the line for his last fight. He's never beaten anyone when they were considered the undisputed best fighter in their division. With Margarito he could've done that. Instead he chose to take on a much smaller and overall less dangerous opponent. I think that speaks volumes about his true character as a fighter.

[Punk Ass]

Originally Posted by Adambomb

This is crap. Manny is amazing but De La Hoya is too big and skilled. I've been an Oscar fan for years but he's a chump for refusing to fight Margarito. Margarito is the legit champ at 147 right now, something Oscar hasn't been in a long time. Instead of taking on an elite fighter his own size he's picking on a much smaller opponent. It's just sad.

All Oscar's losses came to guys who were arguably the #1 P4P fighters in the world when he fought them; Floyd, Mosley, Hopkins, and Tito (even though I thought he won). De Le Hoya's legacy will be on the line for his last fight. He's never beaten anyone when they were considered the undisputed best fighter in their division. With Margarito he could've done that. Instead he chose to take on a much smaller and overall less dangerous opponent. I think that speaks volumes about his true character as a fighter.

I agree to an extent. He will beat the shit out of Pacman because Pacman is 130lbs soak and wet and has never faced a fighter with as much skill as DLH.

I also agree he should fight Margarito but Pacman puts asses in seats so I understand the concept when it comes to casual fans and money.

BTW, DLH really beat SSM in the second fight and he arguably beat PBF so he's still a legit P4P candidate.

[Splandman]

I wonder did everyone complaining about the size difference say the same things when Oscar kept moving up in weight until he met Hopkins. It is not uncommon in boxing at all for fighters to continue fighting bigger men until they get their asses handed to them. Oscar did start at 130 himself.

Part of the allure of fights such as this is to see if the smaller man can step up and beat someone that it seems impossible to beat. If we never allowed them to test themselves how would we ever see truly heroic efforts? I guess those complaining can't stand open weight MMA tourneys either.

Personally, I would rather see Marquez/Pacman about every six months or so as I love their fights, but I'm not going to begrudge Manny a chance to make a VERY big payday and do the impossible at the same time.

Rather than focusing on the perceived lack of heart of Oscar for taking this fight and not Margarito, why not focus on the gigantic heart of Manny for accepting.

[Adambomb]

Originally Posted by Harlem

I agree to an extent. He will beat the shit out of Pacman because Pacman is 130lbs soak and wet and has never faced a fighter with as much skill as DLH.

I also agree he should fight Margarito but Pacman puts asses in seats so I understand the concept when it comes to casual fans and money.

BTW, DLH really beat SSM in the second fight and he arguably beat PBF so he's still a legit P4P candidate.

Yeah, but if you want to get technical with who Oscar "really" beat and who he didn't then he "should've" lost against Quartay and Felix Sturm. I could see a decision going either way in the 2nd Mosley fight, but from what I remember most of the media that were ringside had Shane winning. I guess they could tell that his punches were harder and weren't influenced by the HBO announce team.

In short, he's had as many gift decision wins as he's had controversial losses. When he fights a top P4P guy he always loses. I guess with Pacquiao he'll finally get that win, but it still won't be the same.

Originally Posted by Splandman

I wonder did everyone complaining about the size difference say the same things when Oscar kept moving up in weight until he met Hopkins. It is not uncommon in boxing at all for fighters to continue fighting bigger men until they get their asses handed to them. Oscar did start at 130 himself.

Part of the allure of fights such as this is to see if the smaller man can step up and beat someone that it seems impossible to beat. If we never allowed them to test themselves how would we ever see truly heroic efforts? I guess those complaining can't stand open weight MMA tourneys either.

Personally, I would rather see Marquez/Pacman about every six months or so as I love their fights, but I'm not going to begrudge Manny a chance to make a VERY big payday and do the impossible at the same time.

Rather than focusing on the perceived lack of heart of Oscar for taking this fight and not Margarito, why not focus on the gigantic heart of Manny for accepting.

Taking on Hopkins was definitely a mistake from a competitive standpoint. Hopkins was just too skilled and too big for De La Hoya.

Heart is great, but so is intelligence. Manny seems to be showing a lack of it, even though he will make a ton of money. It could be considered dumb for anyone to turn down a fight against Oscar when he's the top draw in the sport.

I just worry Manny will never be the same if Oscar beats him down in a long fight, because we all know Pacquiao won't quit.

[pantomime horse]

Normally I'd agree that Oscar has a lock on a fight like this. After seeing his fight with Mayweather I think Oscar will have some serious trouble with Manny.

Pacman has a real shot in this fight. Especially if Oscar's jab stays awol.