Pacquiao will force the fight on Mayweather, De La Hoya says

By: Bong Lozada - 10 years ago

In this combination of file photos, Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, prepares to spar at a gym in east London on May 22, 2009, and Manny Pacquiao, right, of the Philippines, weighs in for the junior welterweight boxing match against British boxer Ricky Hatton, May 1, 2009, in Las Vegas. Floyd Mayweather Jr. will meet Manny Pacquiao on May 2, 2015 in a welterweight showdown that will be boxing’s richest fight ever. Mayweather himself announced the bout Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 after months of negotiations, posting a picture of the signed contract online. AP

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing’s Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya believes that anything can happen come May 3 (May 2 US time) once Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. get on the ring of the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

He, however, also believes that Pacquiao can dictate the tempo.

“Pacquiao is going to force the fight. It’s a matter of if Pacquiao can cut the ring off and connect them,” De La Hoya told The Desert Sun. “I think it’s going to be a wonderful fight.”
And if people have doubts on De La Hoya’s opinion, it’s safe to say that he fought both Pacquiao and Mayweather before retiring in 2009.
De La Hoya, a former Olympic gold medallist, said Mayweather should “sustain the pressure for 12 whole rounds” against Pacquiao.
He added that Mayweather changed styles a little bit, going for a more defensive approach and not taking many risks while Pacquiao has remained the loose-cannon puncher that beat him.

Pacquiao, De La Hoya said, is still “aggressive, fun to watch, never a dull moment.”