DE LA HOYA SAYS HE WON'T SUE PACQUIAO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 04 Jan 2007
Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya, one of the biggest names in boxing says that while he has filed a lawsuit against Top Rank Promotions which is headed by his arch rival Bob Arum, he won't include Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao in any legal battle.
In an overseas telephone call to this reporter, De La Hoya said, "I didn't turn promoter to sue fighters. I turned promoter to help the sport of boxing. I turned promoter to help the fighters." His statement was made in the wake of concerns that Golden Boy may include Pacquiao in his lawsuit against Arum's Top Rank outfit after Pacquiao discarded a contract he signed with Golden Boy and threw his lot with Bob Arum.
Golden Boy earlier sued Top Rank for "tortuous interference" with the seven fight contract he signed with Pacquiao in mid-September when Arum announced after the Pacquiao-Erik Morales fight last November 18 that he had signed Pacquiao to a four-year deal. Pacquiao himself confirmed his choice of Arum at a Manila news conference last week with the 75 year old promoter seated by his side.
De La Hoya said he was not really sure when the case against Top Rank would be pursued stating "its in the judge's hands and we are going to take it from there. We feel very, very strongly that we are the promoters of Pacquiao."
De La Hoya said that in Pacquiao's case he made a direct offer to Pacquiao to fight WBC super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera because he didn't have a promoter, stressing "we did not offer the fight to Bob Arum. We offered the fight to Manny Pacquiao." De La Hoya expressed the hope that Pacquiao "wakes up one day and realizes that Golden Boy will look out for his best interests."
De La Hoya said it was "very unfortunate that a big fight like Barrera vs. Pacquiao could not be made because of the interference of Bob Arum" which resulted in Golden Boy Promotions putting together a fight between Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez. Reacting to Arum's previous pronouncements in Manila that Barrera would never fight Marquez, De La Hoya said "well, its signed, sealed and delivered" and predicted that despite Arum's negative views he was confident it should be "a great, great fight and we are promoters who really look out for our fighters."
One of the biggest draws in boxing whose pay-per-view numbers breach the one million mark, De La Hoya said "it's very sad to see Pacquiao misguided by people who are supposed to look after his best interests." Commenting on Arum's announced plans for a Pacquiao fight in Macau on April 28, De La Hoya noted that it was one week before his blockbuster showdown with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. which showed how much Arum was looking out for Pacquiao.
The Golden Boy said he was "puzzled by the comment of Arum that he had nine opponents lined up for Pacquiao because we have all the top guys and there's no way he can make a fight with the top guys." He conceded that Pacquiao has a strong following but that boxing fans "want to see good fights. They want to see good match-ups and the good match-ups are with Barrera. Marquez and the fighters we have."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Donaire awaits WBA decision
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 10 Nov 2025Joel “lethal” Lewis inks Managerial deal with Dragon Fire Boxing
Mon, 10 Nov 2025Meet Jayr Raquinel: The Filipino Sensation Taking the Super Flyweight Division by Storm
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 10 Nov 2025NONITO DONAIRE HOPES TO BECOME TO BECOME WORLD CHAMPION AGAIN
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sun, 09 Nov 2025Astrobio loses by TKO in 7th round
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 09 Nov 2025UNDEFEATED KNOCKOUT MONSTER VERGIL ORTIZ JR. DESTROYS ERICKSON LUBIN IN SECOND-ROUND
Sun, 09 Nov 2025Manny Pacquiao Arrives in LA to Oversee Son Jimuel's Highly Anticipated Pro Debut
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 09 Nov 2025Robert Racasa Shines for the Philippines on First Day of World Memory Championships
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 09 Nov 2025P20k for 42k winners in 3rd SDSPPO
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 09 Nov 2025Weights Set for Tomorrow’s Sanman Boxing Show in General Santos City
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Vergil Ortiz vs. Erickson Lubin: Can Lubin Tip the Ortiz/Ennis Apple Cart?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 08 Nov 2025Gibbons’ ‘Thrilla’ regrets
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 08 Nov 2025Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Erickson Lubin Set for Explosive Showdown in Fort Worth
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Ring Officials Announced for Michael Hunter Vs Eli Frankham - York Hall, 5th December
Sat, 08 Nov 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Baseball in the Sulaimán Family
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Sat, 08 Nov 2025