Golden Boy chief: ‘You can’t underestimate Pacquiao’

December 4, 2008 | By admin |

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MANILA, Philippines – Oscar de la Hoya is fighting an opponent four inches shorter than he is and some 15 pounds naturally lighter than he is.

But it will be a mistake to play down Manny Pacquiao’s chances.

The top brass of de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions gave some props to Pacquiao on Tuesday, saying they expect the five-foot-six Pacquiao to make the five-foot-10 de la Hoya’s life on December 7 (December 6, US time) difficult.

“If you fight the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world,” GBP chief executive Richard Schaefer, “it’s not going to be a walk in the park and I don’t think you can really underestimate Manny.”

Schaefer certainly knows what Pacquiao is capable of doing.

Two years ago, de la Hoya and GBP pursued Pacquiao, whose fiery style has endeared him to American boxing fans, and tried to lure him into his promotional fold. But GBP’s courtship of Pacquiao fell flat on de la Hoya’s face after Pacquiao reneged on his word to sign with him and instead hooked up with rival Top Rank Inc.

Pacquiao has been vocal about how he idolized de la Hoya as a fighter who at the same time enjoyed success outside the ring.

Schaefer described Pacquiao as a “fierce warrior and relentless”.

“They call him the Pacman because he keeps on coming and coming and coming,” Schaefer, a former Swiss banker before he joined GBP, said.

“Manny’s like the energizer bunny. You can’t stop him. You can’t pull the batteries out. Manny Pacquiao comes to fight.”

And given the rigid preparations de la Hoya has undergone the last 10 weeks, so does his business partner, Schaefer said.

“Oscar feels better than ever, he feels fast, strong and rejuvenated,” Schaefer added. “He really feels he’s gonna go for the knockout.” - GMANews.TV