Sport | Other Sports
Government urged to stop Pacquiao fighting de la Hoya
A Filipino congressman has asked the government to temporarily revoke popular boxer Manny Pacquiao's licence to stop him from entering into an alleged mismatch with Oscar de la Hoya.
- By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:32 September 26, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Manny Pacquiao, left, has held various world championship belts but there are fears for his safety when he faces Oscar de la Hoya in December.
Manila: A Filipino congressman has asked the government to temporarily revoke popular boxer Manny Pacquiao's licence to stop him from entering into an alleged mismatch with Oscar de la Hoya in December.
The Filipino boxer will face Dela Hoya in the US in a 12-round non-title fight in the welterweight division. Pacquiao has to increase his weight while de la Hoya must reduce his.
In a TV interview Congressman Rufus Rodriguez said the bout should not go ahead.
He said: "Manny is a national treasure. If something bad happens to him in that fight (with de la Hoya), the government and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) would be blamed.
"GAB should stop the fight which was scheduled on December 6."
Eric Buhain, chairman of the GAB, revealed that the board had passed a resolution in July which said they were against the fight.
He said: "The board asked Manny to update us on his preparation on a weekly basis to appease all those who are supporting him.
"GAB wants Manny to be more cautious in his fight."
Congressman Rodriguez should the GAB should inform the Nevada Commission that the Philippine government did not sanction the Pacquiao-Dela Hoya fight.
"I'm afraid that Oscar can hurt Manny very badly.
"Pacuiao is destined to be a great boxer. We should take care of him," said Rodriguez.
Money not glory
"Their fight in December is not for glory, but for money."
The Filipino congressman said his concerns came from De la Hoya being four inches taller than Pacquiao, and had a five-inch reach advantage over Pacquiao.
Sources have claimed that Pacquiao would earn between $15 million and $20 million in his fight against De la Hoya.
Pacquiao, 29, who is known in the Philippines as The Destroyer, People's Champ, and National Fist, was World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight champion from 1998 to 1999.
He was also International Boxing Commission super bantamweight champion from 2001 to 2004, and featherweight champion from 2003 to 2005.
He began his career in the ring at 25-years-old weighing 106lbs but will face de la Hoya at about 147lbs. American boxer de la Hoya, 35, who is of Hispanic descent and known as Golden Boy, has defeated seventeen world champions.
He has won 10 world championship in six different weight classes.
Both boxers are their own managers and have their own promotional arms.
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