Golden Boy Picks Pacquiao To Dethrone Mayweather

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Bayless MayweatherOscar De La Hoya is backing eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao to upset Floyd Mayweather Jr. and hand the American the first defeat of his professional career.

Pacquiao will find himself in unfamiliar territory when he goes toe-to-toe with Mayweather. For the first time since probably the Ledwaba fight, the current WBO welterweight champion enters as an underdog.

De La Hoya fought both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao during his Hall of Fame career, losing a split decision to Mayweather in May 2007, an eighth-round TKO to Manny Pacquiao in December 2008, and was forced to retire shortly after.

De La Hoya believes if Pacquiao starts fast enough and wins the first two or three rounds, the Filipino superstar could swing the fight in his direction.

“If Pacquiao can start well the first two rounds – winning those rounds – the fight can go in Pacquiao’s direction,” said De La Hoya. “He has to go in with a lot of combinations, a lot of footwork; which he has, and I hear he’s in tremendous, tremendous shape.”

De La Hoya doesn’t believe Mayweather is going to try and knock out Pacquiao, which I highly disagree with. Mayweather has been taking part in throwback workouts to boost his power before the biggest fight of his career. While I believe that Mayweather will try to knock out Pacquiao if the opportunity arises, I don’t think he will be successful. If someone is going to knock out the other guy, it’s going to be Pacquiao.

“With Mayweather, we’re going to see the same thing he does in every fight, which is box, win the rounds one at a time,” added the Golden Boy. “I don’t see Mayweather trying to knock out Pacquiao, but I can see Pacquiao trying to knock out Mayweather. One punch can change everything, and I think I’m going to have to give Pacquiao the advantage.”

However, the former six-division world champion added that the selection of popular referee Kenny Bayless has already given Mayweather an advantage coming into their May 2 super fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Speaking at a celebrity golf tournament in Dubai, De La Hoya spoke candidly with thenational.ae.

“History shows that Kenny Bayless protects Mayweather,” stated De La Hoya. “Pacquiao is now up against two guys instead of one, so I would have to say that Pacquiao is already one point behind, and the fight hasn’t even started.”

De La Hoya added that he was surprised Bayless was even considered.

“It’s surprising to me given the history, but it’s Vegas, and it’s Mayweather’s hometown and they’re going to obviously do what’s best for him.”

Will the fight come down to controversy? We certainly hope not.