Para kay Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya, magkapareho lamang ang lakas ng mga suntok nina Floyd Mayweather Jr. at Manny Pacquiao ngunit mas maraming bigwas na pinapakawalan ang Pinoy boxer.
Aminado si De La Hoya na napatigil siya sa 8th round ni Pacquiao dahil sa dami ng mga bigwas nito nang magharap sila noong Disyembre 6, 2008 sa Las Vegas kaya nagretiro na siya sa boksing.
Sa kanyang laban kay Mayweather noong Mayo 5, 2007 sa parehong lugar, nanalo lamang ito sa kontrobersiyal na 12-round split decision kaya naagaw kay De La Hoya ang WBC light middleweight crown.
Natawa ang multi-division world champion dahil hindi niya halos naramdaman ang mga suntok ni Pacquiao na kalilipat pa lamang sa welterweight division ngunit nanlata siya sa dami ng tumatama sa kanya mula sa Pilipino.
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“I had good whiskers. We all know that Mayweather is not known for a good punch. It stings. I would have to say they are about the same,” diin ni De La Hoya sa BoxingScene.com. “It’s funny because I didn’t feel Pacquiao’s punch. It didn’t do anything to me. Maybe it was because Pacquiao was coming up in weight and that was his first fight at welterweight.”
Gayunman, iginiit ni De La Hoya na mas may abilidad si Pacquiao na magpatulog ng kalaban sa ibabaw ng ring at dehado lamang sa timing o tiyempo kay Mayweather.
“So I really didn’t feel his punch. With him it was more of the accumulation. The only difference is, Pacquiao has more of the ability to knock you out, but he has to land the perfect punch,” ani De La Hoya. “But Pacquiao doesn’t have the good timing like Mayweather. I would say they are about the same.”
Bagamat pipiliin niya si Mayweather na magwawagi kung matutuloy ang laban kay Pacquiao, idinagdag ni De La Hoya na mas may respeto ang boxing fans sa Pilipino.
“It’s one of those fights where anybody could win. Who would I give the edge to if it was today, I would have to go with Floyd,” giit ng promoter. “Three years ago, hands down it would have been Manny Pacquiao. But now I would go with Floyd. If he fights Pacquiao, then Floyd will erase all doubts that anybody might have.”
“Yes [Pacquiao has aged more in the ring], absolutely. Why? Because he’s been in wars. But, who has more respect which is going to live on forever - that’s Manny Pacquiao,” dagdag ni De La Hoya. There is no doubt about that. With Manny Pacquiao, they are going to say ‘wow, he fought all these guys, fought tough battles and gave us [all these fights].’ Now it’s a matter of what matters most.”
