Oscar De La Hoya recently told ESPN it has been ‘no drinking, no drugs’ since he confirmed his comeback fight against Vitor Belfort.
Oscar De La Hoya opens up on Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao had beaten De La Hoya and sent him into retirement with a one-sided bout in 2008. The win elevated the Filipino fighter further into the sport’s stratosphere. Thirteen years later, De La Hoya is days away from returning to the ring with a fight against former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, just as Pacquiao is days removed from suffering an upset loss to Yordenis Ugas. Tyron Woodley ‘Humiliated’ At Floyd Mayweather Party
De La Hoya recently stated that he still respects Pacquiao and holds him in high regard:
“I think [Ugas] fought a disciplined fight [by staying back]. The times that he wasn’t disciplined, Manny Pacquiao would just eat him alive with his combinations … I thought Manny Pacquiao looked good, just Ugas didn’t make him look good,” De La Hoya told reporters before a media workout promoting his Sept. 11 fight at Staples Center on Triller and FITE pay per view.
“He went 12 hard rounds with a younger guy. That’s the problem with us fighters. We go for the younger guy. It happened with me and Manny Pacquiao when he kicked my a**. It’s not necessarily that when I was at my peak and fought Manny he wasn’t the better guy. He was the younger guy with more energy, you know what I’m saying? He looked like an old Manny Pacquiao [versus Ugas], but if he fought someone his age, then he’s going to look great.”
He recently heaped praise on ‘Pac-man’ as he said:
“Pacquiao is a legend. He’s the best. He’ll probably go down as the greatest fighter we’ve seen, ever,” said De La Hoya. “It was a privilege watching his fight [versus Ugas]. It’s probably the end of an era. We enjoyed a great ride, and we wish him all the best.”
