Negotiations are underway for a Dec. 6 megafight between Oscar De La Hoya, boxing's biggest star, and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.
Although there are issues on the table such as the precise weight limit and brand of gloves the fighters would wear, promoters Robert Schaefer and Bob Arum agreed those would be easily solved. The crux of the negotiation will come down to the percentage split of the revenue.
"I can say without any question none of that will be a problem, weight or gloves," Arum said. "We are working essentially on the split."
De La Hoya (39-5, 30 KOs), who easily outpointed Steve Forbes on May 3, weighed 150 pounds in that bout. Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach want him to come down to the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.
Pacquiao (47-3-2, 35 KOs), who just defeated David Diaz for the WBC lightweight title, is a natural southpaw who showed off his stellar speed against Diaz. When the fight was stopped in the ninth round, Diaz admitted that he saw the punches, but was helpless to stop them. Pacquiao’s fight against Diaz was the first time he had ever fought at 135 pounds, so a move up to 147 could be a big challenge.
Since late 2003, Pacquiao has faced Erik Morales three times, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez twice each. His record is 6-1, with the only setback coming in March 2005, when Morales earned a unanimous decision.
HBO boxing analyst Larry Merchant cited that it will be a "no-loss" fight for Pacquiao.
“He can make a good fight. Maybe he wins, he elevates his status. If he loses, he lost to a top fighter, a bigger guy, and he’s made more money than he’s ever made before,” he said.Merchant added that Pacquiao can beat De La Hoya, who is a six-time world champion.
“I give Manny a puncher’s chance. Manny’s in his prime, Oscar is past his prime,” he said.
Arum, meanwhile, said that the possibility of welterweight champion Antonio Margarito facing De La Hoya also came up in the meeting as an alternative plan. Margarito ruined Miguel Cotto's chance to face De La Hoya when he stopped him July 26.
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