LOS ANGELES—The money’s good. The experience? Even better.

While light middleweights Rashad Holloway and Marvin Cordova admitted that part of the reason they agreed to help Manny Pacquiao for his bout against Oscar De La Hoya in the Dec. 6 “Dream Match” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is the good pay, they said the chance to share ring space with the Filipino icon also qualifies as just compensation.

“Pay’s good, but the money can’t compare with the experience,” Holloway said. “Being out there with the pound-for-pound best and being considered one of the up-and-coming guys now and being able to hold my own with him is more than I can ask for.

“He’s in another level and we’re trying to get to that level and I’m very appreciative of the chance to (work with him).”

Cordova pitched in: “It was a good opportunity for me to work with the pound-for-pound champion. He gave me a good experience with his speedy combinations and good footwork.”

Holloway and Cordova engage Pacquiao in four-rounders every other day, hoping to give the Filipino a simulation of what fighting a bigger foe like De La Hoya feels like. Pacquiao, who has logged a total of 153 rounds of sparring up until Thanksgiving Day, will slug it out with the two again on Saturday.

They’ve been up close with the four-division champion to know that the matchup that started as a big mismatch is not just evening out; it may be even slowly tilting toward Pacquiao.

“He’s ready for Oscar De La Hoya and Oscar better be ready because Manny’s coming after him,” the stocky, 156-pound Cordova said.

“His speed is going to give Oscar a lot of problems. He’s coming up in weight and Oscar is trying to lose weight, which he says is easy but it’s not. He hasn’t fought there for seven years and Manny’s coming up and his power is there.”

Holloway, who started out thinking the smaller Pacquiao couldn’t hurt him, agrees.

“Manny can definitely punch. Have you ever looked at his legs? That’s where he generates his power from. He’s very fast, he’s very explosive. I underestimated him early on because he was small. He made me catch up really quick.”

Cordova even predicted Pacquiao will knock out De La Hoya.

“His speed is going to be the advantage in this fight,” he said. “He’s going to bring it to Oscar. He’s going to let Oscar come the first six rounds, he’s going to box him, pop-shot him. After that, he’s just going to put it on him.

“Oscar’s not going to last 12. Oscar gets tired after six rounds, so after that, Manny is going to knock him out in the eighth or ninth round.”

Talent, speed and power, though, are not the only things people notice once they get close enough to Pacquiao on a regular basis.

“He’s a good guy, takes care of us, gives us fight tickets,” Cordova said.

“Manny’s not only a great fighter but one of the greatest guys I’ve ever met,” Holloway added. “Manny’s got a heart of gold and he treats everyone the same.”