Las Vegas Weekly

December 5, 2008 · 11:06 AM

Oscar de la Hoya says he’s ready to fight younger adversary Manny Pacquiao

By Robin Leach

Oscar de la Hoya.

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

The first time they battled their differences, it was slugged out in a courtroom -- and Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao had a split decision on a breach of contract dispute and settled. Bad blood remains, however, and tomorrow night’s rematch at MGM Grand Garden Arena between the one-time partners who broke up and became adversaries will decide it once and for all.

They actually never expected to be in the ring at the same time knocking out each other’s headlights. Oscar thought he had a “word is your bond’ verbal deal to represent Manny for his own Golden Boy Promotions, but the Filipino fighter wound up in rival Bob Arum's camp at Top Rank. They turned up yesterday in Las Vegas after their separate California training camp workouts of the past 10 weeks -- and spoke nary a word to or at each other.

Incredibly, Oscar at 35 is still the 2 to 1 favorite over the 29-year-old Manny. Oscar has a record of 30 KOs in his 39 wins and five losses. Manny has 36 KOs in 47 fights with three losses and two draws. However, Pacquiao in has past few fights has won with impressive knockouts, while Oscar is 3-3 in his past six fights! But Pacquiao still needs to watch out for Oscar’s devastating left hook!

A whole host of Hollywood celebrities have trekked over for the 12-round, nontitle, 147-pound welterweight fight, including my friend Baywatch actress Traci Bingham, who won our VH1 Fame Games series -- and she’s promised to report from ringside afterwards for us! We’ll have our photo coverage here at Vegas DeLuxe on Sunday.

Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank

Manny Pacquiao.

Oscar is confident of a victory that basically decides the future for the WBC lightweight and super featherweight champion. Although nearing retirement age, and already working in his future career as a businessman and promoter, Oscar says he will still fight next year -- maybe in Britain against Ricky Hatton, who will be watching the Dream Match at ringside tomorrow. Then there’s always the possibility of a giant payday rematch with Floyd Mayweather. Jr if Floyd came out of retirement for the right prize purse!

The fight is billed as a sell-out that netted $17 million on the first day of ticket sales (just $2 million less than the record-breaking 2007 fight between Oscar and Floyd). However, tickets are still available, as greedy, speculative ticket scalpers have discovered the nation’s economy is hurting their normal price-gouging tactics. Now they’re trying to unload them at any price, but beware of counterfeits if you show up.

You’re better off going to MGM’s other properties at Luxor, Monte Carlo, T.I., New York-New York and the Excalibur and watching it on HBO pay-per-view for the closed-circuit telecast at just $60 a ducat!

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