De La Hoya’s options open

The plan for Oscar De La Hoya was to have three fights in 2008 to wrap up his Hall of Fame career, the final one coming in December.

But this is boxing, which means plans have a tendency to change. De La Hoya might yet fight three times, but the last one might have to wait until 2009. For now, the only thing certain is the Golden Boy will meet reigning WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand Garden.

"I'm not going to talk about retirement," De La Hoya said Thursday on a teleconference call from Los Angeles, where the fight officially was announced. "My focus is on training, fighting and winning. We'll see how I feel after the fight if it's my last fight."

The fight will be 12 rounds at 147 pounds using 8-ounce gloves. No title will be at stake.

"Oscar is probably the one fighter you can count on to sell out the venue, and people want to see him,'' said Richard Sturm, president of sports and entertainment for MGM Mirage. ''Manny Pacquiao has a loyal following, and they'll show up."

Last year, De La Hoya (39-5, 30 knockouts) said he would fight for the final time in 2008. But a September rematch against Floyd Mayweather Jr. fell through when Mayweather retired.

"I don't want it to be the focus of this fight," De La Hoya said of the possibility of this being his last fight. "I'm not closing the door on anything. Let's just say my foot got caught in the door."

For De La Hoya, the challenge will be matching Pacquiao's speed and quickness. He admitted it won't be easy.

"I do have to change my style around," De La Hoya said. "I have to adjust to his speed. I have to figure out a way to pull the trigger, and I have to find a way to increase my speed."

Freddie Roach, who used to train De La Hoya and now trains Pacquiao, said De La Hoya can't "pull the trigger anymore."

De La Hoya said he's using those words as motivation, and even though the sports book at the MGM Mirage properties opened him as an 8-5 betting favorite Thursday, De La Hoya said the burden falls on his shoulders to prove he still can fight at the age of 35.

"I know I can still do this," he said. "My reflexes are still there. My speed and strength is still there."

Pacquiao, the WBC lightweight champion, is coming off a ninth-round knockout of David Diaz on June 28. He sees the fight as an opportunity to defeat a legend and to bolster his claim to being the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter.

"I know everybody is saying this will be a difficult fight for me because Oscar is bigger," said Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs). "But I always do my job in the ring, and I think I can beat De La Hoya. I saw his last performance, and I think I am faster and stronger than him. I think I can beat him the way I beat Diaz."

De La Hoya, a 10-time world champion with titles in six weight classes, last fought May 3, scoring a 12-round unanimous decision over Steve Forbes. Pacquiao has won titles in five divisions and has won eight straight fights. When he fights at 147 pounds Dec. 6, it will be the third weight class he will have competed in this year. He beat Juan Manuel Marquez at 130 pounds in March and Diaz at 135 in June.

This fight reunites De La Hoya with Bob Arum, the Top Rank chairman who signed him following his gold-medal performance at the 1992 Olympics and guided him through the first nine years of his professional career before De La Hoya decided to promote himself.

"It's ironic to see how things can turn around," De La Hoya said. "Bob started me as a professional, and now here we are, back together."

Throughout the negotiating process, De La Hoya insisted on a 70-30 split of the revenues, which could be around $100 million. Pacquiao wanted at least 40 percent. De La Hoya apparently came off the 70-30 split to get the deal done.

The fight will be televised on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.