INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—One thing has convinced Manny Pacquiao during his whirlwind promotional tour with Oscar De La Hoya – his fans outnumber those of the Golden Boy's.

The media blitz had rousing layovers in New York, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio and San Francisco, and apart from their accounts of how they would demolish each other inside the ring on Dec. 6, the Filipino said it was his fans who cheered the loudest.

"I am pleasantly surprised at how the Filipino fans cheered me on, especially in New York City," wrote Pacquiao in his column in the tabloid Abante. "They are more animated than De La Hoya's Latino fans."

The 29-year-old lefty said he hopes Filipino fans all over the world will support him when he fights the biggest name in boxing in Las Vegas.

The 12-round non-title fight set at l47 pounds is clearly the most anticipated match-up this year.

Pacquiao said there is no animosity between him and the Golden Boy, though two years ago they figured in a legal spat after Pacquiao signed up with De La Hoya's outfit only to back out and join Bob Arum's Top Rank Inc.

"Unlike other boxing press conferences that De La Hoya and I have been through, there are no shoving, no punching, because we respect each other's talent and skill," Pacquiao said.

In fact, his trainer Freddie Roach appeared to have taken the cudgels for his favorite ward during the San Francisco Bay Area stop last Saturday.

Roach, according to a www.insidesports.ph report, went up the podium, brought out a toy gun, and said: "Oscar, I have a gun and I can't pull the trigger. I think it's yours." He then handed it to an amused De La Hoya.

It was a parody to Roach's own famous quote where he said Oscar, at 35, can no longer pull the trigger.

De La Hoya has admitted to feeling the pressure of scoring a decisive win, according to www.ringsidereport.com.

"The trainer predicted a knockout, the CEO predicted a knockout, I need to be in the gym and be in great shape for this fight," De La Hoya said.

His trainer Ignacio Beristain has likened Pacquiao to a freight train which will derail on fight night at the MGM Grand. GBP executive Richard Schaefer also sees a similar result.

The 5-foot-6 Pacquiao reigns as the WBC lightweight king (135 lb) while De La Hoya, at 5-10, boasts of 10 titles in six divisions, including the WBO middleweight (160 lb) crown.