DE LA HOYA IN INCREDIBLE SHAPE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 18 Nov 2008
Oscar De La Hoya is in incredible shape and he is extremely comfortable at the stipulated weight of 147 pounds for his ?Dream Match? with Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on December 6.
In an overseas telephone conversation with www.insidesports, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Golden Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez said that ?a lot of people don?t realize that 147 really is Oscar?s natural weight? and that in the past he used to have to build himself up to become a super welterweight at 154.
Gomez, who grew up with De La Hoya in his boyhood days in East Los Angeles said De La Hoya had ?to eat twice as much, he had to do weights but this time around he?s just not doing the weights, he?s eating well but not overeating and he?s just working out hard, very, very hard.?
Gomez said De La Hoya has got a couple of African-American sparring partners who are ?very fast? besides southpaw Fred Tukes who is a welterweight from Atlanta who has been a sparring partner for many years and has a record of 7-1-1 with 5 knockouts according to boxrec.com.
Gomez said that Tukes was actually the primary sparring partner of former WBC/WBA and IBF light welterweight champion Kotsya Tszyu and even Floyd Mayweather Jr. Gomez said ?Oscar really likes him because the guy is really good and he has very fast hands,? which indicated they were preparing for the hand speed of Pacquiao. .Another sparring partner is southpaw Edwin Valero who is rated No.1 lightweight by the WBC and No. 2 by the WBA.
Gomez admitted that Victor ?Vicious? Ortiz had left the training camp not because he was fired after supposedly beating up De La Hoya in a sparring session but because he was ?not getting enough sparring and he?s got a big fight coming up on the undercard. So he wanted to make sure he has enough sparring so he left already.?
Gomez said De La Hoya sparred eight rounds the other day and then again Saturday and looked great. He said De La Hoya ?threw a bunch of punches? but still felt fresh.
Gomez said that if De La Hoya ?has the opportunity to knock him (Pacquiao) out he?s gonna do it. He is preparing like never before. He is really taking Manny seriously.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Rolly Romero Upsets Ryan Garcia, Throws Garcia-Haney Rematch into Chaos
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 03 May 2025Haney's Cautious Approach Leads to Wide Decision Win Over Ramirez in Times Square
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 03 May 2025Teo Lopez Retains Titles with Unanimous Decision Over Barboza Jr. in Times Square
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 03 May 2025Canelo and Scull Hit the Scales: Undisputed Super Middleweight Showdown Set for Tomorrow in Riyadh
Sat, 03 May 2025Press Conference Notes: Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas & Rafael Espinoza-Edward Vazquez Top Monster World Championship Doubleheader Sunday in Las Vegas
Sat, 03 May 2025Triple A Promotions Presents Live Boxing at R&J Music Pavilion in San Antonio on May 10
Sat, 03 May 2025Quiksilver, Roxy, Billabong sponsor Sarangani Bay Kayakfes 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 03 May 2025IIEE kickoffs Electrical Safety Month in QC and sets chess tournament in Baguio
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 03 May 2025High Profile Names Headline but Not Much Meat on the Bone in the Matchup
By Chris Carlson, Fri, 02 May 2025Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull: Undisputed Clash Set for Saudi Arabia This Saturday
Fri, 02 May 2025Garcia, Haney, and Lopez Hit the Scales for Blockbuster DAZN PPV Card in Times Square
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 02 May 2025A Monster Arrival! Naoya Inoue & Ramon Cardenas Make Vegas Splash Ahead of Sunday's Undisputed Junior Featherweight Showdown
Fri, 02 May 2025Minnesota Timberwolves Oust Lakers; Gobert Finally Gets Back at Dončić
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 01 May 2025“FATAL FURY: CITY OF THE WOLVES” FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Thu, 01 May 2025BAM AND HITCHINS LAND HUGE SUMMER SHOWDOWNS LIVE ON DAZN
Thu, 01 May 2025