Former six-division world champion and Golden Boy Promotions Founder Oscar De La Hoya is picking eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao to hand Floyd Mayweather Jr. his first defeat when the generation’s two best superstars finally meet in the ring, but now it appears he is re-thinking his prediction.
De La Hoya, speaking with the Los Angeles Times, said that smart individuals will place their money on Floyd Mayweather Jr., noting that Mayweather lives in Las Vegas, he’s an icon in the city, and he’s nearly impossible to knockout – let alone put on the canvas – and the close rounds will undoubtedly go towards the undefeated pound-for-pound king.
“The smart money is on Mayweather,” De La Hoya said via the Los Angeles Times. “Look, it’s Las Vegas, Mayweather’s hometown. His picture is on the side of the MGM. The close rounds are going to go to Mayweather. It’s big business. It’s no secret.”
Oscar De La Hoya would know. He fought professionally in the sport for 16 years (1992-2008) and established Golden Boy Promotions in 2002. De La Hoya himself has been the victim of bad decisions in the past. For example, he was robbed of clear victories against Felix Trinidad and his rematch against Shane Mosley. On the other hand, he was also lucky to escape with victories against the likes of Ike Quartey, Pernell Whitaker, and Felix Sturm. He is one of the few guys in boxing who has seen the business from both sides of the isle. I can’t say definitively that the best man will win on Saturday because bad decisions happen in boxing. I hope we see a great fight and the right person is declared the victor.
De La Hoya added that Pacquiao has to start off fast otherwise Mayweather will run away with the fight.
“If Pacquiao can surprise him in the first two or three rounds and get Mayweather where he has to catch him and come from behind, then it can be a very interesting fight,” De La Hoya said. “That has to be Pacquiao’s plan.
