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Boxing

10th Feb 2015

Oscar De La Hoya reckons that Mayweather/Pacquiao will never happen

Golden Boy knows what he is talking about

Sean Nolan

Sad, but probably true

After a dorment spell for most of 2014, the fever about a potential fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao has been raised considerably in 2015.

Mayweather has been tweeting about it constantly and we know that the two men have met to begin discussions about a potential super fight. True, the fight is not nearly as ‘super’ as it was in 2010 or even 2012 but fight fans would be happy to see it just so they could finally put the whole saga to bed.

However, our hopes of the fight happening have been considerably cooled by an interview given by Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya to ESPN.

The boxing great, who lost to both men in the ring, reckons the fight will never happen as Mayweather wants to protect his unbeaten legacy.

“Mayweather will not fight, because he thinks that if leaves the sport undefeated [he will be considered the best ever], but he won’t be because people will respect you more when you face the toughest, the strongest, the most dangerous.” De La Hoya goes on to point out that Sugar Ray Robinson and Ali all lost fights yet they are still hugely respected as they fought the best in their era.

The fight has been in the offing, but never staged, for years now, a fact De La Hoya finds hard to comprehend.

“I can not understand why this [fight] has not been done. I cannot understand why, because in my day, during Chavez’s time, we saw the best fight with the best. I have that pride. I wanted to fight with the best, win or lose, but it was against the best. I can not understand these things.”
We have a sinking feeling you are spot on with this one Oscar.

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