(L-R): CEO of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe, WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, and Top Rank Founder and CEO Bob Arum pose during a news conference at the KA Theatre at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on April 29, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather and Pacquiao will face each other in a unification bout on May 2, 2015 in Las Vegas. AFP PHOTO / JOHN GURZINSKI / AFP PHOTO / JOHN GURZINSKI
KUALA LUMPUR — Oscar De La Hoya is not keen on seeing a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather beat Pacquiao by unanimous decision in 2015 and rumors of a potential second fight between the two boxing greats have been resurfacing time and again.
“I hope not,” De La Hoya quickly answered when asked by a Filipino reporter on Thursday if he wants to see Pacquiao fight Mayweather again.
“Because Manny’s not the same. There’s a reason why Floyd waited so long. There’s a reason why floyd waited so long to fight me. There’s reasons,” he added.
It took five years of on and off talks and rumors before the megafight between Pacquiao and Mayweather happened while Mayweather fought a version of De La Hoya that was past his prime.
De La Hoya, the Golden Boy Promotions chairman and CEO, said he gives Mayweather the edge over Pacquiao in a rematch due to the fact that Pacquiao has faced stiffer competition than Mayweather.
“I’ll tell you the truth I’ll give Floyd the advantage over Manny any day because Manny has been in wars, Manny has fought better opposition in their prime,” De La Hoya said. “He has more wear and tear. He has had a longer, better career than Floyd and Floyd fights once a year. He takes care of himself, he trains all the time so Floyd is fresher. He doesn’t fight like Pacquiao.”
“Pacquiao gets hit and he keeps coming. That just wears you down. So I have to give Floyd the advantage as much as I love Pacquiao.”