Oscar De La Hoya: ‘Mayweather And Pacquiao Still Have A Lot Left In The Tank To Make It A Really Good Fight’
Did the so-called “Fight of the Century” that features Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao already miss its window to become the most exciting event in the history of boxing? Many claim that the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight would have been more thrilling had it happened a few years back when the fans first started bellowing for this matchup. Retired six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya thinks otherwise. According to De La Hoya, Mayweather and Pacquiao still have what it takes to make the May 2 fight live up to the hype.
In an interview with Fight Hype during the Canelo-Kirkland press conference on May 9, De La Hoya said that it is “gratifying” that the long-awaited fight that took more than five years in the making will finally take place. He said that he has always been pushing for the best fighters to fight their counterparts and come May 2, the boxing world will witness the single most exciting boxing event in recent years despite other critics claiming that is several years too late.
“I really do feel that Mayweather and Pacquiao still have a lot left in the tank to make it a really, really good fight,” De La Hoya uttered. “As a boxing fan, I’m really looking forward to it.”
De La Hoya also said that Pacquiao would be the toughest challenge to Mayweater thus far given that the Filipino has a southpaw stance. He thinks that Pacquiao can do harm to Mayweather if the Filipino can last 12 rounds, moving in and out of the ring and throwing some hard-hitting punches, but he also has confidence in the undefeated fighter’s defensive skills.
Mayweather Trains With Southpaw DeMarcus Corley As Sparring Partner To Prepare For Pacquiao
Pacquiao would be the ninth southpaw that Mayweather will face when the two square off in the ring. Recently, Mayweather has tapped Corley as his sparring mate as he continues to prepare for the blockbuster May 2 fight. The southpaws that Mayweather has fought are Reggie Sanders (1996), Bobby Giepert (1997), Jesus Chavez (1997), Corley (2004), Shamba Mitchell (2005), Victor Ortiz (2011), and Robert Guerrero (2013).
Mayweather fought Corley in 2004 and reportedly trained with him for his fight with Judah in 2006. Like Pacquiao, Corley is also left-handed and Mayweather hopes that former junior welterweight champion can help him get ready for Pacquiao’s attacks. Corley has previously squared off with Miguel Cotto, Lucas Matthysse, Devon Alexander, and Ruslan Provodnikov.
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