By Marc Anthony Reyes
Philippine Daily InquirerManny Pacquiao calls it the “biggest fight of my life.†And because it is such, it will entail the longest preparation by the Filipino ring icon.
Pacquiao will fly to his trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in Los Angeles on Sept. 12 to kick off a 10-week training program for the bout against Oscar de la Hoya on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas—a match that, this early, has been penciled as the world’s next “super fight.â€
“This is my greatest challenge,†said Pacquiao at a teleconference Friday, formally announcing the projected $100-million fight. “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.â€
De la Hoya, who has spent most of his career hunting down—and often beating—the sport’s biggest names, will also put in a lot of work to prepare against Pacquiao.
“I have to find a way to increase my speed,†De la Hoya said. “We’re three months away, and we have to figure out quick how we’re going to neutralize him. It’s going to be an explosive fight. We’re going to fight in the center of the ring.â€
$30-million share“I have no intention of taking it easy in the gym because this will be the fastest, strongest southpaw I’ve ever faced.â€
Pacquiao stands to earn anywhere between $15 to 30 million from his cut of the pay-per-view pie. That, plus a guaranteed purse still being negotiated, will make the match the biggest ever for the reigning WBC lightweight champion.
“I promise I will fight with all of my heart and that I will give everything I have,†added Pacquiao, 29. “I am faster and stronger than him and I’m also younger. He’s bigger in height but I feel I’m stronger and it’s going to be a great fight.â€
Known for his relentless boxing style, the current pound-for-pound champion has a string of famed Mexican victims under his belt, including Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez and Eric Morales.
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