Oscar De La Hoya: Manny Pacquiao best fighter I’ve faced

FILE — Manny Pacquiao (R) hits Oscar De La Hoya in the fifth round of their welterweight bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena December 6, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

KUALA LUMPUR — Oscar De La Hoya fought the biggest names in boxing throughout his professional career that spanned from 1992 to 2009.

De La Hoya embraced the challenge in fighting the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The list goes on, but De La Hoya saved the best for last in Manny Pacquiao, who turned out to be his farewell fight in 2009.

“Probably Pacquiao,” De La Hoya, who won 10 titles in six divisions, said when asked who was the best fighter he faced.

For De La Hoya, Pacquiao was the total package.

“I think his determination, his conditioning, his skill, his power, his speed, his footwork. He was probably one of the fighters I’ve most appreciated.”

All those were in full display when Pacquiao cut the much bigger De La Hoya down to size and forced him to quit on his stool at the end of the eighth round in 2008.

De La Hoya, who owns Golden Boy Promotions, is in Kuala Lumpur to promote “The Fight of Champions,” the biggest boxing event in Malaysia since the great Muhammad Ali beat Joe Bugner in 1975.

Pacquiao is facing Lucas Matthysse, who is signed with Golden Boy, in the headliner for the WBA welterweight title.