Filipino hero faces mighty De la Hoya in dream fight

Agence France-Presse

The bout between the Mexican-American "Golden Boy" and Pacquiao, who is reckoned to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world right now, has been dubbed the "Dream Match."

But given the disparity in the foes' natural weights, some have speculated it could turn into a nightmare of a mismatch.

Pacquiao began fighting at 106 pounds, and has fought just once at lightweight. He'll take on De la Hoya at the MGM Grand on Saturday at a compromise welterweight limit of 147 pounds - which will be the lightest De la Hoya has been since 2001.

"I feel very comfortable at this 147-pound weight right now," said Pacquiao, who nonetheless has made it plain he plans to go back to lightweight after the fight. "I've fought larger guys before. It's not a problem."

Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, admits he was skeptical of the whole idea at first.

"I honestly never thought it was possible," he said. "But then I saw Oscar with small guys and southpaws. He has trouble with both. It's basically because of what it will do for Manny's life. It's the icing on the cake. It makes him a superstar."

A hero in his homeland, Pacquiao stands to collect his biggest purse and make his biggest international impact in the fight.

"If I win, I will have achieved my dream in boxing, to put my name in boxing history after all these years," said Pacquiao. "This is the most important fight of my life."

Pacquiao believes his speed will help him overcome De la Hoya's height advantage.

"He's getting slow and the power is not there any more," Pacquiao said of De la Hoya, who has won world titles in six different weight classes. "I think I'm faster than him."

The match-up includes a tinge of personal animosity. That stems from a seven-fight deal worth at last 35 million dollars that Pacquiao signed with de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions in September of 2006, only to return bonus money two months later and stay with promoter Bob Arum. "We signed the deal and he turned his back on me and he's going to have to pay on December 6."