Oscar fight to fetch $20-M for Manny?

Oscar De La Hoya

MANILA - It's not an impossible dream for World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight champion Manny Pacquiao to take on Oscar De La Hoya and trainer Freddie Roach said recently there's a big chance the fight could happen sooner or later with a $20-million purse for the Filipino icon.

"I think it would be a great fight," said Roach. "Oscar wants it. And if Manny is guaranteed something like $20 million, he might just take it. But Oscar will have to go down to 147 pounds, which was what Manny weighed the night he fought (Juan Manuel) Marquez. Oscar will go up to about 160 at fight time so there will be a disparity in weight."

Roach, however, said De La Hoya will be at a disadvantage outweighing Pacquiao by over 10 pounds.
"Oscar will be much slower because he'll carry more weight," said Roach. "That's how we'll want it. Manny can use his speed to move in and out. It'll be a very competitive and entertaining fight. It will certainly sell at the box office."

Whether Pacquiao can bring up his power to the welterweight level is a question mark and Roach admitted he doesn't have the answer.

But if Pacquiao moves up in weight to fight De La Hoya or superlightweight Ricky Hatton, Roach said he will suggest seeking the advice from United States Olympic Committee consultant for sports nutrition Mackie Shilstone of New Orleans.

Shilstone has worked with over 3,000 professional athletes, including fighters Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones, Jr., Riddick Bowe and Michael Spinks.

His success in bringing up Hopkins, Jones and Spinks to win world titles at higher weight divisions has brought other athletes, like Serena Williams of tennis, to link up.
Jones is living proof that Shilstone's method works. He won world titles in the middleweight, supermiddleweight, lightheavyweight and heavyweight divisions.

Hopkins captured world crowns in the middleweight and lightheavyweight classes.

"Mackie will look at bone and muscle development," said Roach. "He just won't make you gain weight. He'll make you gain weight at the right places without losing your mobility and flexibility. He'll advice you on your real fighting weight."

Another future target for Pacquiao is Hatton who was stopped by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in a world welterweight title bout last December.

"Hatton is definitely beatable," said Roach. "Manny could fight him at 140. Hatton's not much bigger than Manny. He's got a crowding style. He'll come forward to pressure which is what Manny likes. That's a more realistic fight than De La Hoya, but both could happen."
Roach said the problem is Golden Boy, which De La Hoya owns, controls both fighters. And at the moment, the only fighter Golden Boy wants Pacquiao to face is Marquez.

Roach said he will advise Pacquiao to consult a sports nutritionist on how much weight to put on after a weigh-in and before a fight.

"Manny is accustomed to eating certain foods so I'm not sure if a nutritionist can impose a diet without considering what his body is used to," said Roach. "For instance, he has to eat white rice before working out.

When I fought, the weigh-in was six hours before a fight and, after making the weight, I used to eat steak. That's not done anymore today. But I fought some of my best fights with all that steak still undigested in my stomach."

Roach said Pacquiao appeared sluggish in his last fight against Marquez despite training eight weeks and getting ready to go 12 rounds if necessary.

"He put on a lot of weight after the weigh-in, maybe close to 20 pounds," said Roach. "Nutrition isn't my specialty but I know all that weight will make you slow and sluggish and take away your quickness. It's not right to think that the bigger you are, the stronger you are."

Roach was told sports nutritionist Dr. Sanirose Orbeta offered to develop a diet for Pacquiao like she did for Gerry Pe–alosa. The diet will not dehydrate a fighter in making weight and preserve his strength for a bout.

"It wouldn't hurt for Manny to listen to Dr. Orbeta," said Roach. "Nutrition is such a big factor in preparing a fighter and, now that Manny is moving up to lightweight, he should consult an expert on how to bulk up without losing his power and speed."

Back to top

MVP fed up with intrigues in SBP-BAP

Manny Pangilinan

MANILA - Businessman-sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan said he'd be willing to give up the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas presidency if he could leave it in good hands.

Pangilinan expressed reservations in running for reelection, saying: "I don't need this job, I don't want this headache."

The PLDT chief is not prevailing upon Patrick Gregorio to stay on as executive director as he himself is tired of the antics of politicians trying to meddle in the sport.

Gregorio has tendered his resignation effective May 31.
"If you ask me, I want to go. My concern is if we all go and then they (the politicians) take over, what will happen to Philippine basketball? I want to leave it in good hands," Pangilinan told the Philippine Star.

"I don't need this job. If I could leave it to somebody who could carry on, I would just be there to support," Pangilinan added.

Without naming names, Pangilinan said he had been besieged by issues raised by certain politicians whose aim is to rock the boat and put him and the SBP-BAP leadership on the spot well in advance of next month's election.

"These politicians don't watch basketball. Have you seen them watch collegiate basketball, PBA [Philippine Basketball Association] or PBL [Philippine Basketball League]? They know nothing about basketball," said Pangilinan in Filipino.

Frustrated at the rate things are going in Philippine basketball, Pangilinan said he might as well not run in the SBP election of officers set on May 31.

"Hinding-hindi nila tatantanan ito. Unang-una dalawang letters na ang ipinadala sa akin, including a charge accusing me of stealing money. Why will I do that? Ako na ang gumagasta ako pa ang binabatikos," said Pangilinan.

"Their position is that there's no agreement to dissolve the BAP and Pilipinas Basketball, but the Tokyo communiquŽ was very clear. The articles were signed by everybody, what are they talking about?" said Pangilinan.

The SBP president is surprised Villafuerte, who's not present in the Tokyo and Bangkok meetings, is making a new stand for the BAP.

Pangilinan is hoping more cage associations qualify as voting members of the SBP so that he can't be accused of rigging the screening process.

"Only 15 have qualified but deadline for submission of documents as proofs has been extended to April 15. Hopefully, more will qualify in the next few days. Their (BAP) position is that all of their 66 memberships become members. I don't want to be charged that I rigged the membership so that I could get elected," said Pangilinan.

Granted active and voting membership status on April 4 were UAAP, NCAA, NCAA-South, PBA, PBL, CESAFI, NAASCU, SBPI, NCRAA, WNCAA, COSAA, El Federacion Basketbolista de Zamboanga, Baguio-Benguet Educational Athletic League, Pinoy Basketball Inc. and Cagayan de Oro Basketball Federation.

Validation of the members' list is in fulfillment of the mandate given to the three-man panel formed pursuant to the Tokyo communique agreed upon by both the BAP and PB and witnessed by FIBA.

Two straight years
Active members must be sports associations that actively conduct regular basketball tournaments for at least two consecutive years.

The duration of the tournament is at least three months with at least six ball clubs participating per tournament. Active members have voting rights.

Associate membership is open to sports associations that conduct programs in or allied with basketball as a competitive sport but do not qualify for regular membership.

Back to top