For several years, boxing fans have been asking for a mega-fight to happen between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. For the most part of negotiations, it seems as if Mayweather has been dodging the eight-division champion.
Six-division champion Oscar De La Hoya also shared his thoughts on the matter, based on a report by GMA Network.
De La Hoya told Boxing Scene, "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. 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."
He added, "Yes [Pacquiao has aged more], absolutely. Why? Because he's been in wars. But, who has more respect which is going to live on forever - that's Manny Pacquiao. 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."
"Golden Boy" De La Hoya's statements garner much respect considering how he faced both fighters in the past. In the same Boxing Scene report, Mayweather defeated De La Hoya in 2007 via split decision. In 2008, Pacquiao beat De La Hoya in the eighth round after the fight was stopped by Golden Boy's camp.
Phil Star reported that Pacquiao has aged much since his glory days in 2009 when he won most of his fights by knockout. De La Hoya shared that Pacquiao ages at a more rapid rate because of the many fights he has had and his boxing style, which puts a huge toll on him physically and psychologically.
De La Hoya himself doubts whether a super-fight will ever happen and if the two superstar boxers will never meet in the ring, Pacquiao is set to garner more respect as a fighter than Mayweather, despite staying undefeated. Even if Mayweather does defeat Pacquiao now, people will remember the American for coming up with ridiculous conditions during Pacquiao's prime. The president and founder of Golden Boy Promotions expects that should a mega-fight push through, it will feature the biggest money purse in the history of the sport. His match against Mayweather generated pay-per-view revenues of $136 million, a record which might only be broken by a fight between Floyd and the Filipino great.
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