Oscar dela Hoya isn't really at home facing southpaws, and things won't change a bit when he squares off with Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand.
"I also have to keep in mind that Manny is a southpaw," said Dela Hoya as he looked forward to the biggest fight of year, a fight that could be the last of his checkered boxing career.
Dela Hoya has fought only two southpaws in his last 21 fights, and the last one came on Sept. 13, 1997 when he took on Hector Camacho for the 147-lb title.
Just five months earlier, Dela Hoya fought Pernell Whitaker for the same WBC welterweight crown. The Golden Boy won both matches by unanimous decision.
Camacho stands 5'6 1/2" while Whitaker was a shade smaller at 5'6" flat. But the fact that they both lasted the distance against Dela Hoya is something to think about.
Pacquiao also stands at 5'6 1/2 and is also a lefty. He is now rated as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, one that could finish off an opponent with either hand.
"In the past the southpaw fighters that I have fought I really haven't done very well with, so this is not going to be an easy fight," Dela Hoya said a few days back.
At 5'10 1/2, Dela Hoya would enjoy a four-inch height advantage against Pacquiao, and with his reach of 73 inches will be longer than the Pinoy icon's 67 inches.
Still, Dela Hoya isn't going to use this as a gauge.
"I have no intentions of taking it easy in the gym. I have no intentions of looking for this fight to be easy. I mean this is going to be very difficult.
"Because this will be the strongest, fastest southpaw fighter I've to face, and he's the pound-for-pound champion," he said.
Dela Hoya knows what to expect. And he's getting ready. - Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
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